Seed Phrase Storage: Best Practices for UK Crypto Holders

How to store a recovery phrase safely in the UK: backups, locations, tamper resistance, and what never to do.

Your seed phrase is the master key

Your seed phrase (recovery phrase) is the master key. If someone gets it, they can take the funds. If you lose it, you may lose access forever. This guide covers best practices for UK crypto holders who want to store their recovery phrase safely while maintaining a path to recovery. For broader crypto security guidance, see our dedicated page.

What never to do

Never share your seed phrase with 'support' — legitimate services will never ask for it. Never type it into a website. Never store it in email, cloud notes, screenshots, or photos. Ledger's security guidance is clear that recovery phrases must never be shared and phishing is common.

What good storage looks like

Good storage is: offline (not on any connected device), redundant (more than one copy), kept in separate secure locations, and documented (without revealing the phrase itself). The goal is to survive fire, flood, theft, and your own memory failure.

Option 1: Paper (minimum viable)

Write clearly, check spelling, and store in a sealed envelope. Create a second copy stored separately. Downside: vulnerable to fire, water, and prying eyes. Paper is a reasonable starting point but not ideal for long-term high-value storage.

Option 2: Metal backup (more resilient)

Metal backups are designed to survive fire and water better than paper. They still need safe storage and a second location strategy. Many options exist — choose one from a reputable supplier and test that you can read it clearly.

Option 3: Split knowledge (advanced)

Instead of one complete phrase in one place, you can use structures that avoid a single failure. This is often implemented via multisig rather than literally splitting words. See our multisig guide for more on this approach.

Location strategy (UK reality check)

Two separate secure locations usually means: one at home in a locked, hidden, fire-resistant place, and one off-site — a trusted family safe, solicitor storage (process only), or another secure location you control. Avoid obvious places (desk drawer, labelled folder, 'crypto' envelope). The NCSC's baseline advice includes using password managers and 2SV to protect accounts — that same mindset (reduce easy wins) applies here.

Add a recovery process

Your family or executor needs a process, not secrets in a panic. Document: what wallet type it is, where the device is, which apps to use (official sources), and who to contact for coordination. Link your storage strategy to your inheritance planning and crypto security approach. See how Bitzo works for a coordinated approach.