Independent wallet support

Coldcard Recovery Phrase Help And Restore Safety

Use this Coldcard recovery phrase help page before restoring, resetting, changing passphrase settings, updating firmware, or responding to any support message asking for seed words.

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Independent wallet security guidance. This site is not Coldcard.

Coldcard help topics

Wallet security

Quick issue summary

Ledger and Trezor support teams should never ask for a recovery phrase, seed phrase, private key, or remote access to a wallet.

Recently Reported Issues

Wallet users recently reported phishing attempts involving fake firmware update pages.
Some users recently reported zero-balance displays after restore, network changes, or passphrase confusion.
Others recently reported fake support accounts asking for recovery phrases or remote access.

Coldcard wallet guidance

Coldcard recovery help starts with one rule: do not share or type the recovery phrase into websites, chats, forms, screenshots, or remote sessions. Restore only on a trusted device flow.

Common wallet topics include Coldcard recovery phrase help, seed phrase problem, restore issue, passphrase context, missing Bitcoin accounts after restore, reset concern, or fake Coldcard support request.

Never share your recovery phrase, seed phrase, private keys, or PIN.

Wallet topics

Common Coldcard Help Topics

Coldcard balance not showing

If funds look missing after restore, check xpub, passphrase, and derivation context.

Open

Coldcard firmware update problem

Review backup readiness before firmware or reset work.

Open

Coldcard PSBT signing problem

PSBT signing help should not require seed phrase entry.

Open

Recovery Phrase Help

Review general recovery phrase safety before restoring any wallet.

Open

Coldcard support hub

Return to Coldcard support for safe next steps.

Open

Report this recovery issue

Report non-private recovery symptoms to PhraseWallet.

Open

Coldcard / Bitcoin wallet app Troubleshooting Checks

Coldcard / Bitcoin wallet app troubleshooting is safest when you separate display, sync, device, firmware, and recovery phrase concerns before changing wallet settings. Use official Coldcard support links for device-specific instructions.

Seed phrase safety

Passphrase context

Restore preparation

Missing accounts

Fake support warning

Coldcard Troubleshooting Checks

Use these checks to separate ordinary setup friction from wallet safety risk before you reset, restore, reinstall, or open wallet support portals.

PSBT direction

Separate unsigned PSBT export, Coldcard signing, signed PSBT import, and Bitcoin broadcast. Importing the wrong file makes signing look broken.

SD card handling

Card format, file location, filename, adapter reliability, and stale files can all interrupt an air-gapped signing or firmware workflow.

Bitcoin wallet context

Missing balances can come from xpub, script type, derivation path, account index, gap limit, wallet sync, or passphrase context.

Firmware source

Use verified official Coldcard firmware paths. Fake downloads and support pages may ask for seed words to complete a fake update.

Recovery phrase handling

Keep seed words offline and private. Do not photograph them, paste them into support, or use a validation page from an ad or message.

Transaction review

Read the Coldcard screen before signing. Reject unexpected destination, fee, coin selection, change address, or account context.

Likely Causes

Start with the most common causes before resetting the wallet, restoring from a recovery phrase, or trusting a support message.

The user is confusing PIN, passphrase, wallet password, and recovery phrase

A restore used the wrong words, word order, passphrase, account path, script type, or Bitcoin wallet app import

A reset, firmware update, or wallet software reinstall was started before backup readiness was confirmed

A fake support page claims the wallet can be validated or synchronized by entering seed words

Missing balances after restore are caused by xpub, passphrase, derivation path, gap limit, or sync context

The recovery phrase may have been exposed to a website, chat, photo, cloud note, or remote session

Recovery And Troubleshooting Steps

Step 1

Stop before sharing words

Do not type, upload, photograph, or read Coldcard seed words to any website, support account, form, caller, or screen-sharing session.

Step 2

Separate PIN, passphrase, and seed phrase

A PIN unlocks local device access. An optional passphrase changes the wallet. The seed phrase restores wallet keys and must stay offline.

Step 3

Prepare restore context

If restore is necessary, confirm word order, phrase length, passphrase context, account type, derivation path, and Bitcoin wallet software import path.

Step 4

Treat exposure as urgent

If seed words were entered online or shared, treat the wallet as at risk and use official safety guidance before depositing more or signing transactions.

Coldcard / Bitcoin wallet app And Device-Specific Help

Coldcard device

Do not reset until you understand recovery requirements and have offline backup confidence.

Bitcoin wallet app

After restore, check xpub, account type, passphrase context, gap limit, and sync before restoring repeatedly.

PSBT signing

Recovery phrase troubleshooting should not require approving unknown PSBTs, remote access, or transaction requests.

Coldcard Official Support Checklist

For official Coldcard help, downloads, updates, or contact options, use Coldcard's official portal and verified official channels. This page helps you prepare safe, non-private context before opening support portals.

Device model

Coldcard / Bitcoin wallet app version if known

Issue type

Screenshots without private info

Never include recovery phrase

Never include private keys

Coldcard Recovery Phrase Safety

No legitimate wallet guidance should need your recovery phrase.

A recovery phrase controls wallet restoration. Treat it as private self-custody information and review how phrases work before using any wallet.

Recovery Phrase Help What Is a Recovery Phrase?12 vs 24 Word Phrase

Report wallet issue

Describe Your Wallet Problem

Submit a non-secret wallet problem for moderated review and safer routing. PhraseWallet is independent and this is not official wallet support or emergency recovery assistance.

Never enter your recovery phrase, private key, password, PIN, or payment details.

Reports are reviewed before use and should include only device, app, country, and issue context.

FAQ

Common Coldcard Help Questions

Can Coldcard support recover my wallet for me?+

No. Self-custody recovery depends on the recovery phrase and any passphrase context. Legitimate support should not ask you to share them.

Is my Coldcard PIN the same as my seed phrase?+

No. A PIN unlocks the device. The seed phrase restores wallet keys, and an optional passphrase changes the wallet context.

What if I entered my Coldcard seed phrase online?+

Treat the wallet as potentially compromised, avoid further deposits, and use official safety guidance before moving funds.

Why are accounts missing after Coldcard restore?+

Possible causes include wrong phrase, word order, passphrase, script type, derivation path, account index, gap limit, or wallet app sync.

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Need Official Coldcard Next Steps?

Use official Coldcard support links for device-specific support, and keep private wallet recovery data offline while you troubleshoot.

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