How do I back up my crypto wallet (recovery phrase)?

Kronos uses a non-custodial wallet for crypto — that means your crypto is held in a wallet whose keys only you control. Kronos cannot freeze, seize, or move your assets without your authorization.

The trade-off: if you lose access to your phone without backing up your recovery phrase first, you lose access to your crypto. Kronos cannot recover it. This article shows you how to back up your wallet so that doesn't happen.

Your 12-word recovery phrase

When your account was created, Kronos generated a unique 12-word recovery phrase for you. Those 12 words ARE your wallet — anyone with them can access your funds.

How to view and back up your phrase

1. Go to Settings → Security → Secret Phrase
2. Confirm with your biometric or PIN — only you can reveal the phrase
3. Write down all 12 words in order on paper. Don't screenshot, don't type into a notes app, don't email it to yourself.
4. Store the paper somewhere safe (a fireproof box, safety deposit box, or split across two locations)

How to restore your wallet on a new device

1. Install Kronos on the new device and log into your account
2. Go to Settings → Security → Restore Wallet
3. Enter all 12 words of your recovery phrase in the original order
4. Confirm — your wallet, all addresses, and all balances are derived from the phrase and restored instantly

Critical security rules

• Never share your phrase. Anyone with these 12 words can access your funds. Kronos support will never ask for your phrase. Anyone claiming to be Kronos support and asking for it is a scammer.
• Never store it digitally on a phone or computer that touches the internet. No notes apps, no photos, no cloud storage, no email, no password managers that sync to the cloud unless they are end-to-end encrypted (1Password is OK; iCloud Notes is NOT).
• Don't enter it on a website. The only place you ever enter your phrase is in the Kronos app's Restore Wallet screen.
• Test your backup. If you're not sure your written phrase is correct, you can verify by deleting and reinstalling the app and going through Restore Wallet — your balances should match exactly.

What if I lose my phone AND I never backed up my phrase?

Your cash balance and Pro subscription are tied to your account login (email + password + 2FA) and can be recovered by signing back in. But your crypto holdings cannot be recovered without the phrase. This is the core trade-off of non-custodial — total control means total responsibility for backup.

Back up your phrase now if you haven't already.