> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/sovranBitcoin/sovran/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Wallet Recovery

> Restore your Sovran wallet from your BIP-39 seed phrase

Sovran supports full wallet recovery from your 12-word BIP-39 seed phrase. This process contacts all your trusted mints to restore ecash proofs and recover interrupted transactions.

## Recovery Process

<Info>
  Recovery uses the `restoreMint()` function from the cashu wallet manager to contact each mint and restore your proofs.
</Info>

### How Recovery Works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Derive Keys from Seed">
    Sovran derives your Nostr keys (NIP-06) and Cashu wallet keys (BIP-32) from your mnemonic.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Contact Each Mint">
    For each trusted mint in your configuration, Sovran:

    * Connects to the mint server
    * Requests restoration of proofs for your derived keys
    * Validates and stores recovered tokens
  </Step>

  <Step title="Recover Pending Operations">
    Checks for interrupted send/receive operations and attempts to complete or cancel them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Refresh Balances">
    Reloads all mint balances to reflect recovered funds.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using the Recovery Screen

### Accessing Recovery

1. Open **Settings**
2. Navigate to **Security**
3. Select **Recover Wallet**

### Recovery Interface

The recovery screen shows:

* **Mint count**: Number of mints to recover from
* **Progress indicator**: Real-time status for each mint
* **Results summary**: Success/failure count per mint

<CodeGroup>
  ```tsx Recovery Logic (app/settings-pages/recovery.tsx:59-109) theme={null}
  const handleStartRecovery = async () => {
    if (mints.length === 0) {
      setErrorMessage('No mints found to recover from. Add a mint first.');
      setRecoveryState('error');
      return;
    }

    setRecoveryState('recovering');
    const recoveryResults: RecoveryResult[] = [];

    try {
      // Restore from each mint
      for (let i = 0; i < mints.length; i++) {
        const mint = mints[i];
        setCurrentMintIndex(i);

        try {
          await restoreMint(mint.mintUrl);
          recoveryResults.push({ mint: mint.mintUrl, success: true });
        } catch (error) {
          recoveryResults.push({
            mint: mint.mintUrl,
            success: false,
            error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
          });
        }
      }

      // Recover pending send operations
      const manager = CocoManager.getInstance();
      await manager.send.recoverPendingOperations();

      // Reload mints/balances
      await loadMints();

      setRecoveryState('complete');
    } catch (error) {
      setErrorMessage(error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error');
      setRecoveryState('error');
    }
  };
  ```

  ```typescript Restore Mint (hooks/coco/useMintManagement.ts:87-104) theme={null}
  const restoreMint = async (mintUrl: string) => {
    setIsLoading(true);
    setError(null);

    try {
      await manager.wallet.restore(mintUrl);
      await loadMints();
    } catch (err) {
      const error = err instanceof Error ? err : new Error('Failed to restore mint');
      setError(error);
      throw error;
    } finally {
      setIsLoading(false);
    }
  };
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Recovery States

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Idle">
    Initial state showing:

    * Number of mints to recover from
    * What happens during recovery
    * **Start Recovery** button
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Recovering">
    Active recovery showing:

    * Progress indicator for each mint
    * Current mint being processed
    * "Please do not close this screen" warning

    <Warning>Navigation is locked during recovery to prevent data corruption.</Warning>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Complete">
    Success screen showing:

    * Number of mints successfully recovered
    * Number of failures (if any)
    * Detailed results per mint
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Error">
    Error state showing:

    * Error message
    * **Try Again** button
    * **Close** button
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Recovery Scenarios

### New Device Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install Sovran">
    Download and install Sovran on your new device.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Import Seed Phrase">
    Enter your 12-word recovery phrase when prompted during first launch.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Mints">
    Re-add the mints you were using (Sovran doesn't know which mints you trusted).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run Recovery">
    Go to Settings → Security → Recover Wallet to restore your balances.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Your Nostr identity and contacts will also be restored automatically from your seed phrase.
</Info>

### Partial Recovery

If some mints fail to recover:

* **Network issues**: Check internet connection and retry
* **Mint offline**: Wait and try again later
* **Mint shutdown**: Funds may be unrecoverable if mint is permanently offline
* **Wrong derivation path**: Ensure you're using the same account index

<Warning>
  Ecash is **mint-specific**. If a mint permanently shuts down, funds held with that mint cannot be recovered.
</Warning>

## Technical Details

### Key Derivation for Recovery

Recovery uses deterministic key derivation:

```typescript Key Derivation Paths theme={null}
// Nostr keys (NIP-06)
m/44'/1237'/<account>'/0/0

// Cashu wallet (NUT-13 / BIP-32)
m/44'/129372'/0'/<account>'/0/0
```

See [Key Derivation](/security/key-derivation) for full technical details.

### Recovery Limitations

<Warning>
  **What cannot be recovered:**

  * Settings and preferences (theme, display currency, etc.)
  * Passcode (must be re-configured)
  * Mint trust list (must re-add mints)
  * Transaction labels and notes
  * Scan history
</Warning>

<Check>
  **What can be recovered:**

  * Nostr identity (npub/nsec)
  * Cashu wallet balances
  * Ecash proofs from trusted mints
  * Pending send/receive operations
</Check>

## Security Considerations

### Seed Phrase Security

<Warning>
  Your 12-word seed phrase is the **only** way to recover your wallet. Anyone with access to your seed phrase has full control of your funds.
</Warning>

**Best practices:**

* Write seed phrase on paper, never digital storage
* Store in a secure location (safe, safety deposit box)
* Never take photos of your seed phrase
* Never share with anyone, including Sovran support
* Consider using a metal backup for fire/water resistance

### Recovery Privacy

During recovery:

* Your device contacts each mint server
* Mints can see your recovery request (but not link to previous activity due to Cashu privacy)
* No personal information is transmitted
* All recovered data is stored locally

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Recovery hangs or times out">
    * Check internet connection
    * Verify mint URLs are correct
    * Some mints may be slow; wait or skip and retry
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Zero balance after recovery">
    * Ensure you added all mints you previously used
    * Verify correct account index (default is 0)
    * Check if mints are still online and operational
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="'No mints found' error">
    You must manually re-add your trusted mints before running recovery:

    1. Go to **Mints** tab
    2. Add each mint URL you previously used
    3. Return to recovery screen
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Partial recovery (some mints failed)">
    This is normal if:

    * Mint is temporarily offline
    * Network connectivity issues
    * Mint URL changed or shutdown

    Successfully recovered mints will show your balance. Retry failed mints later.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related Documentation

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Key Derivation" icon="key" href="/security/key-derivation">
    How keys are derived from your seed phrase
  </Card>

  <Card title="Mint Management" icon="building-columns" href="/cashu/mint-management">
    Adding and managing trusted mints
  </Card>
</CardGroup>