If your Ledger hardware wallet has reset, you can restore access to the accounts it controls by choosing Restore from recovery phrase on the device and entering the original Secret Recovery Phrase there. The phrase must have the correct length, spelling, and word order. Never type it into Ledger Wallet, a computer, phone, website, support form, chat, or any other app.
A reset device is not the same as lost cryptocurrency. Your recovery phrase is the backup for the private keys that authorize transactions. If you still have the phrase, follow the recovery process below. If the phrase is gone, the outcome depends on whether the Ledger device and its PIN still work.
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First, identify which situation you are in
Look at the Ledger’s screen before doing anything else. If it displays the welcome or initial setup screen, Ledger considers the device reset. A reset removes the wallet configuration from that device, but it does not by itself erase assets recorded on their blockchains. Restoring the correct Secret Recovery Phrase recreates the private-key access on the device.
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| What you have | What it means | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Reset Ledger and the original Secret Recovery Phrase | The private keys can generally be restored. | Use the device’s Restore from recovery phrase option. |
| Working Ledger, working PIN, but no recovery phrase | You may still be able to manage the assets currently accessible on the device. | Move assets to temporary accounts, then generate a new recovery phrase and set up the device again, following Ledger’s lost-phrase guidance. |
| No recovery phrase and no working device/PIN access | Ledger says it cannot reconstruct the phrase or recover the assets. | Do not send the device or personal information to anyone promising to recover the words. |
The last two cases are explained in Ledger’s lost Secret Recovery Phrase guidance. A PIN is the local unlock code for a device; it is not a replacement for the recovery phrase.
What you need before starting
The original phrase, in writing
Find the handwritten or otherwise offline record created when the Ledger wallet was initialized. Ledger supports restoration from 12-, 18-, or 24-word phrases. Most Ledger devices generate 24 words by default, but a restored wallet can use any of those three supported lengths. Select the length that matches your record exactly; do not add, remove or substitute a word to make the count fit.
Treat every word and its position as significant. The phrase is not a password that customer support can reset. It is the backup from which the wallet’s private keys are derived, so anybody who obtains all the words can attempt to control the associated assets.
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- Use the Ledger device’s own screen and buttons to enter the words.
- Work where nobody can see or photograph the phrase.
- Keep the written backup in your possession throughout the process.
- Disconnect from unsolicited support chats and ignore requests for the phrase, PIN or screenshots.
Ledger Support states: “Never share your recovery phrase with anyone, nor type it into any app or website, including Ledger Wallet™ (formerly Ledger Live).” The same warning says that a request for your 24-word phrase is always a scam. See the full safety notice at Ledger’s customer-service security guidance.
Restore the wallet on the Ledger device
The labels below describe the common recovery path. Your model may present the prompts in a different order, so use the device screen as the authority.
- Confirm that the device is reset. A welcome or setup screen indicates that the previous configuration is no longer loaded. Do not create a new wallet if your intention is to recover the old one; creating a new phrase would produce different private keys.
- Choose the restore option. On the Ledger device, select Restore from recovery phrase (or the equivalent wording shown by your firmware). Do not select an option that generates a new recovery phrase.
- Select the recorded length. Choose 12, 18 or 24 words to match the physical backup. The device will reject a phrase if the count does not correspond to the selected option.
- Enter each word on the device. Use the device controls to select letters and confirm the suggested word. Never type the phrase on a computer or phone, paste it into software, or use a camera or scanner to capture it.
- Preserve the original order. Enter word 1 first, then word 2 and so on. A phrase with the right words in the wrong order is not the same wallet; it can trigger an error or derive a different set of keys.
- Finish the device prompts. The Ledger will check the phrase format and complete key restoration. Keep the device connected only as required by its current setup instructions and do not disclose the phrase to anyone assisting you.
- Reconnect accounts using the official wallet software for your model. After restoration, account discovery and synchronization can vary by asset, device and firmware. Use the current model-specific Ledger documentation for those steps rather than assuming every account appears automatically.
Ledger’s reset article documents the restore choice but does not provide one universal button-by-button sequence for every hardware model. That is why the device’s current prompts and the model’s official guide should take precedence over a generic video or an old screenshot.
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Why a recovery phrase is rejected
If the device reports an invalid phrase, stop and check the backup instead of repeatedly guessing. Ledger lists three principal causes: an incorrect length, a word that is misspelled or outside the BIP-39 word list, and words entered in the wrong order. Its troubleshooting article is Recovery phrase is invalid.
Wrong number of words
Count the written words again and compare that count with the length selected on the device. Supported restoration lengths are 12, 18 and 24. A missing word, a duplicated line, or two words written as one can change the count. Do not infer a missing word from context; the phrase has a checksum and exact key derivation, so a plausible-looking substitute may still be wrong.
Spelling or word-list problems
Check each word against the device’s suggestions and the original handwriting. Common transcription problems include confusing similar-looking letters, omitting a final character, or recording a word that is not in the BIP-39 list. Do not “correct” an unfamiliar word by searching online: publishing or typing the phrase into a search engine exposes the backup.
Wrong order
Number the physical record privately, then compare the sequence without entering the words anywhere else. If the words are all valid but shuffled, the resulting key set is different. A successful device check therefore depends on both the vocabulary and the original order.
Damaged or incomplete backup
If ink is faded or a word is unreadable, make no public copy and do not ask an online service to identify it. Check whether you have another securely stored record made at wallet creation. If no reliable copy exists, treat the phrase as incomplete rather than experimenting with guesses.
Use Recovery Check without exposing the phrase
Ledger provides a Recovery Check process that can verify the spelling and order of a written backup on a compatible device. It is designed to be performed through the hardware wallet, not by sending the words to an app or website. The official troubleshooting page is My Secret Recovery Phrase failed a recovery check, what should I do?.
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- Open the Recovery Check function using the current instructions for your Ledger model and firmware.
- Enter the words on the Ledger device, matching the recorded length and sequence.
- If the check fails, review the physical record for count, spelling and order, then retry on the device.
- Keep the backup private after the check and store it offline again.
Ledger says a failed Recovery Check can be retried and does not lock your accounts or reset the device. A failed check therefore indicates a mismatch in the supplied words or their order; it is not a signal to disclose the phrase to support.
What happens when the phrase is missing?
You still have the Ledger and the PIN works
Ledger says a working device and PIN can still allow you to manage the assets currently accessible on that device, even when the written phrase has been lost. The safer course is to move those assets to temporary accounts that you control, then generate a new recovery phrase and set up the device with that new backup. Record the new phrase offline and verify it according to the device’s instructions before relying on it.
This procedure changes the backup for the newly created wallet; it does not recreate the lost phrase. Move assets before resetting or creating a new wallet, because resetting first can remove the only device access you still have.
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Without the Secret Recovery Phrase, a usable PIN or another functioning device that still holds the keys, Ledger says it cannot recover the phrase or the assets. Ledger does not store your private keys and will never ask for your Secret Recovery Phrase, as stated in its lost-phrase support article. Anyone claiming to be able to reconstruct the words from your wallet address, serial number or identity is not offering a legitimate recovery service.
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Never enter the phrase online
The phrase should remain on the hardware device and your offline record. Do not type it into Ledger Wallet, a desktop or mobile wallet, a browser extension, an exchange, a support ticket, a form, a cloud note, email, messaging app or password manager. Do not photograph it or upload an image for optical character recognition.
Ignore urgent requests and fake support
Legitimate support does not need the words to diagnose a reset or explain a menu. Requests for all 24 words, a partial phrase, a PIN, a one-time code or a screenshot are credential-theft attempts. Close the conversation and use the support site by navigating to it yourself, not through a link sent in a message.
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Protect a phrase that may already have been exposed
If you typed the phrase into software, photographed it, shared it or entered it on a website, assume it is compromised. A metal or paper backup can protect against physical loss, but it cannot make an already exposed phrase secret again. While you still control the device and PIN, move assets to accounts generated from a fresh phrase and retire the exposed wallet.
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After the device says restoration is complete
Verify the wallet without publishing sensitive data
- Confirm that the device no longer shows the initial setup flow.
- Use the official account software for your Ledger model to check that expected accounts can be accessed.
- Verify receiving addresses on the Ledger’s own screen before using them; do not rely only on an address displayed by a computer.
- Check balances and transaction history on the relevant network or service without sharing the recovery phrase.
Account discovery is not identical for every asset or configuration. A restored phrase may require adding the appropriate account again, and optional passphrase-protected accounts need their exact passphrase and model-specific procedure. The general restore instructions alone do not establish how every chain, account type or optional passphrase behaves.
Keep the backup and PIN separate
Store the recovery phrase offline in a location protected from unauthorized access, fire, water and accidental disposal. Keep the PIN private and do not write it on the same card as the phrase. Anyone with the phrase can derive the keys even without your PIN; anyone with only the PIN still needs the physical device to use it.
Common mistakes and the safer alternative
| Mistake | Why it fails | Safer alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Creating a new wallet on a reset device | It generates a different phrase and different private keys. | Select the restore option and use the original phrase. |
| Entering a 24-word phrase after selecting 12 or 18 words | The device expects a different length. | Select the exact recorded length first. |
| Reordering words to make a sentence look sensible | Order is part of the key derivation. | Follow the numbered sequence on the original record. |
| Typing the phrase into a support form or app | A copy can be captured and used to steal the assets. | Enter it only on the Ledger device. |
| Resetting a working device before moving funds when the phrase is lost | The remaining access may disappear. | Move assets first, then create and record a new phrase. |
| Assuming a restored device automatically displays every account | Account discovery varies by asset and configuration. | Follow the current instructions for the exact model and asset. |
A practical decision checklist
- Screen check: Is the Ledger showing the welcome/setup screen? If yes, treat it as reset.
- Backup check: Do you possess the original 12-, 18- or 24-word phrase, in readable form?
- Safe-entry check: Can you enter it privately on the hardware device without using a phone or computer?
- Restore check: Did you choose Restore from recovery phrase, select the matching length and preserve order?
- Error check: If rejected, inspect count, spelling, BIP-39 validity and order; use Recovery Check on the device if supported.
- Access check: After restoration, use model-specific account instructions and verify addresses on the device screen.
- Lost-phrase check: If the phrase is missing but the device and PIN work, move assets and create a new phrase before resetting. If both phrase and device access are unavailable, do not trust anyone promising recovery.
When to consult model-specific documentation
Use the exact Ledger guide for your hardware model when you need button-by-button navigation, firmware requirements, account discovery, optional passphrase accounts or asset-specific instructions. The official reset article establishes the general restore path, but a single sequence cannot safely cover every model and firmware revision. Do not follow an old tutorial that tells you to reveal the phrase to a computer or website, even if its menu names look familiar.
The key distinction is simple: the Ledger device is the secure place where the phrase is entered; the written phrase is the backup that recreates private-key access; and Ledger support cannot reconstruct a phrase that has been lost. Keep those three facts separate while troubleshooting, and a reset device with an intact phrase can usually be restored without exposing the wallet.
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