What is a Recovery Phrase?
A Recovery Phrase is 12 words, shown once when you create a Vault, that you write down. They let you set a new pattern or passphrase if you forget the old one, and they decrypt an Export Package when you move the Vault to a new iPhone. StrongRoom keeps no copy.
Why
A Vault has no account behind it and no server holding a reset key. The Recovery Phrase is the one thing that stands in for that. The words come from a fixed list of 2,048 English words in a standard format, but they are not a wallet seed and are not used for anything outside StrongRoom. On this phone, the words are combined with a secret kept on the device, so on their own they open nothing. For a new phone, the Export Package carries the data and the words unlock it. Each Vault has its own phrase. The app shows it once, when the Vault is made or when you choose a new one. Choosing a new one retires the old one.
What to do
- Write the 12 words on paper, in order, when the app shows them.
- Keep the paper somewhere other than the phone, and away from anyone you would not trust with the Vault.
- Do not photograph it or store it in a notes app, a cloud drive or a message.
- Make an Export Package, and keep the phrase with the thought that the file and the paper together open the Vault.
- Check the phrase works by trying Forgot on a Vault you do not mind resetting.
What this does not cover
The optional Recovery PIN is a different, weaker tool that works only on the phone where you set it. Anyone who has both your Export Package and your phrase can open the Vault: see the limits.
Frequently asked questions
Can StrongRoom show me my phrase again?
No. The app keeps no copy, so it cannot show it again. Choose a new one if you lost the paper while the Vault is still open.
Is it the same as my passphrase?
No. A passphrase unlocks the Vault each day. The Recovery Phrase is for emergencies and for moving the Vault.
Sources
No platform facts are stated on this page.