Seed Phrase

A 12-word phrase that serves as the master key to access and recover Bittensor wallets.

What is a Seed Phrase?

Think of a seed phrase as a special password made of 12 common words in a specific order (also called mnemonic). This phrase can restore your wallet even if you lose access to your computer or forget your password. In Bittensor, seed phrases are created when setting up both coldkeys and hotkeys. For additional security, advanced users can create 24-word seed phrases using btcli.

WALLET RECOVERY

If you lose access to your wallet, you can use your seed phrase to restore it. This works for both basic wallets created through the Chrome Extension and local wallets created with btcli. The recovery process requires entering your words in the exact original order.

Security Importance

Your seed phrase holds complete control over your wallet and TAO tokens. Anyone who knows these words can access your funds. Unlike a regular password, a seed phrase cannot be changed or reset. If someone gets your seed phrase, they own your TAO tokens.