How Often Do You Check Your Seed Phrase.

[Zaguru12]

I was lucky to have kept a duplicate of it somewhere else not just in my house else I would have  ended up losing my funds to some people who understands what seed phrase is all about.

Firstly I would advice you actually change wallet since you can’t find the other back up to seed phrase to avoid any chances of lost. It is better to check your seed phrase back up even it shouldn’t be regularly most especially if it is on paper. For more security reasons i would recommend a steel washer to avoid damage of the paper.

One other back up we do not pay too much attention to is the addition of passphrase to our seed phrase. Passphrase are easier to remember although highly not recommended but once you back it up somewhere even if the seed phrase gets compromised the pass phrase will be another layer of security

[1714694247]

1714694247

[1714694247]

1714694247

[1714694247]

1714694247

[sokani]

Conclusion: Knowing too well that keeping the seed phrase and other account related information of a user private are some ways to ensure adequate security, I think we need to do a constant check on our seed phrase so that we don't end up losing it.

I think its a good idea to occasionally check on the seed phrase to see if it's there and intact, especially in homes where there are many children. Though, I don't do this because I've mine stored in a very secured location out of reach of anyone. Also, I've duplicate in multiple locations.

I was lucky to have kept a duplicate of it somewhere else not just in my house else I would have  ended up losing my funds to some people who understands what seed phrase is all about.

If you had not seen your seed phrase, I don't think you'd have lost your funds since you still have your phone or laptop where the fund is stored. You'd have simply created a new wallet, backed it up and send the funds there.

[Abu-Naim]

Lessons( 1) Do not keep your seed phrase in a particular place (2) Always check your seed phrase to be sure it is intact (3) Be sure you alone have access where your seed phrase is kept.

Conclusion: Knowing too well that keeping the seed phrase and other account related information of a user private are some ways to ensure adequate security, I think we need to do a constant check on our seed phrase so that we don't end up losing it.

Checking your seed phrase from time to time is very important irrespective of where you save them.

In your own case that you duplicated your seed phrase, I think it is a good idea to duplicate it, but saving them in the same place is not advisable. To ensure adequate security, if you duplicated your seed phrase, ensure you save them in different location so that you will minimize the risk of losing them all due to relocation you just mentioned, and natural disasters like earth quake, fire out brake and flood.

[Wiwo]

Since wallet seed phrase is not like wallet address that I have being using multiple time,  I don't check it at any interval but also I always know that my seed phrase are safe and securely kept so there be no need for me to keep checking it all the time.

The most important thing to do is to make sure that your seed phrase are properly stored and also for such once you achieve that,  you can go ahead and be at peace all the time even though you may not necessarily be checking on the seed phrase unless you want to use the seed phrase to restore/recover your wallet on new device.

[EarnOnVictor]

Lessons( 1) Do not keep your seed phrase in a particular place (2) Always check your seed phrase to be sure it is intact (3) Be sure you alone have access where your seed phrase is kept.

Thank you for this advice, the seed phrases are very important in keeping self-custody assets, losing or allowing unscrupulous elements to have access to them is very dangerous. But I must confess that I am guilty of number 1 and I hope I can "turn a new leaf" before it's too late. Having it in at least two locations can't hurt, so I see no reason why I can't duplicate it.

But for 2, I don't stress myself and I won't either, duplicating or even triplicating it should have done the work. While for the 3, the way I coded it is enough for anyone seeing it not to have any use for it.

[Sim_card]

I don't check my seed phrase often because where I kept them is somewhere safe which I believe that no one will get at reach. The only time I do see my seed phrase is when I phone screen got blank and I needed to have access to my coins. I had to import my seed phrase to the second phone that I was using. I feel that it is not really that necessary to keep checking on it when it is in a safe place because you might expose the place unknown to you. Just make sure that you have enough back up so that it wouldn't be a problem.

[coolcoinz]

It may sound strange, but never. Literally for the last 5 years I haven't touched my backups or my seeds. The only thing I check from time to time is the address in blockchain, to make sure there were no transactions and my money is still where it should be. There's no way there could be a transaction, but I check it maybe twice a year.

So, I have a backup + seed locked safely in a fireproof security safe and also another backup in the form of electrum wallet file on an airgapped PC that I can connect fast if I ever need to move my coins. I haven't even powered up the PC in 2 years, but it was bought brand new and the hard drive is a brand and model known for durability, so I'm not worried about that. If I ever need to relocate, I'll move the whole safe, so there's no need to check if the seed is there.

[philipma1957]

Lessons( 1) Do not keep your seed phrase in a particular place (2) Always check your seed phrase to be sure it is intact (3) Be sure you alone have access where your seed phrase is kept.

This is a very good update @ O.P on you elaborating about the importance of constantly checking our wallet seed phrase, because if only you never had duplicated yours that how you would have ended up losing all your coins, and this should be a strong lessons to each and every one of us here on this forum if we never want to encounter such incident. So on that note, I was able to make a rough sketch trying to explain on the good and bad ways of storing our seed phrase, so that if mistakenly it happens to get into the hand of a third party, they won't be able to know they are holding a seed phrase of a bitcoin wallet.


This first image explains that while storing a wallet seed phrase, it's more advisable you do not write on the heading the word "Wallet Seed phrase" or the name of the wallet, but instead leave it blank, so that who ever happens to come across it will never know it is a wallet seed phrase, but if he/she is smart enough to know it's a seed phrase, he will not know which wallet it belongs to. (i.e Bluewallet, electrum Trust e.t.c). While secondly the words can be written either ascending or descending order, so that whoever finally figures out the wallet, will not know which order is the right order of words but only you alone.


This second image also explains just like the first about how it's advisable to not also write on the heading the word "Wallet Seed phrase" or the name of the wallet, while the words can be written either vertically on ascending/descending order or in a diagonal form.

word to the wise.
peace for all.
art for most.
music for some.
orange for none.
goodness is but a wish.
gift of life was for all of us.
machine destroys us.
miracle wanted is:
war is over for us all
zealous ones are
special at this writing style.


I think this way is better.
In case you don't see it.

look below

word to the wise.
peace for all.
art for most.
music for some.
orange for none.
goodness is but a wish.
gift of life was for all of us.
machine destroys us.
miracle wanted is:
war is over for us all
zealous ones are
special at this writing style.

[Wiwo]

I rarely check my seed phrase because it’s located on a secret location which I don’t want to be exposed by checking it frequently. The last time I check it is when I change hardware wallet.

Your idea of keeping it on a secret location  is cool since it is not meant to be seen by someone else but I think it's not bad if you go check it out once in awhile to be sure it is still in order, seeing that you have changed your hardware wallet proved that you understood what I meant by seeing if it's in order. If we don't confirm if it's in order how do we know when something has gone wrong or when it's missing? We don't always pray for unforseen circumstances but things do happen and having a proper check can help us to dictate when it has been tampered by someone else.

Just pushed to ask you Giftedman this question even though I have stylishely cover that part in the earlier comment on what the need is to keep checking your wallet seed at regular internal even though you have no need for it?

Alot have to be made secret about wallet see phrase and keeping it where is safe and secured and out of regular reach is the best approach to it so for me,  there is no need to keep constant check on your seed phrase unless you have need for it,  but anything other than that,  I see it as needless.

[ajiz138]

It may sound strange, but never. Literally for the last 5 years I haven't touched my backups or my seeds. The only thing I check from time to time is the address in blockchain, to make sure there were no transactions and my money is still where it should be. There's no way there could be a transaction, but I check it maybe twice a year.

So, I have a backup + seed locked safely in a fireproof security safe and also another backup in the form of electrum wallet file on an airgapped PC that I can connect fast if I ever need to move my coins. I haven't even powered up the PC in 2 years, but it was bought brand new and the hard drive is a brand and model known for durability, so I'm not worried about that. If I ever need to relocate, I'll move the whole safe, so there's no need to check if the seed is there.

The same actually as long as I have a hardware wallet to store bitcoins not too often reach the seed phrase maybe occasionally but it is very rare, just like that but I more often check from the secure bitcoin wallet address whether there are no transactions of any kind, when there is no change then I consider it no problem.

Maybe you store in the most secure place in the safe, I don't do that but what I do to store the seed phrase is quite more secure in my version, I even back up 4 copies in different places to make sure all copies are safe and no one touches it.

I don't even have a dedicated PC like you, no storing on a hard drive, the important thing is that the copies are safe.

[suzanne5223]

I understand that several thread has been created concerning the importance of keeping our seed phrase save but the question now is this, how often do you check your seed phrase?

Checking the wallet seed phrase after securely storing it is a good idea cause it helps to know the condition of the seed phrase but checking more often is not a good idea since you need to follow the step that will not expose the seed phrase and if checking often there's a chance for human error wish will expose the seed phrase.

recently I relocated to another place, when I was moving my things it never occurred to me that I had mistakenly removed my seed phrase from where it was kept not until I had spent more than five months before something struck my mind to check where my seed phrase was written but I couldn't find it there. I was lucky to have kept a duplicate of it somewhere else not just in my house else I would have  ended up losing my funds to some people who understands what seed phrase is all about.

However, you still end up losing the fund either if you don't move the coin to a fresh wallet. The lost seed phrase may fall into the wrong hands
 

[Z-tight]

recently I relocated to another place, when I was moving my things it never occurred to me that I had mistakenly removed my seed phrase from where it was kept not until I had spent more than five months before something struck my mind to check where my seed phrase was written but I couldn't find it there. I was lucky to have kept a duplicate of it somewhere else not just in my house else I would have  ended up losing my funds to some people who understands what seed phrase is all about.

The point in this your story isn't about checking your seed phrase regularly, it should be about you reviewing your opsec, let's say you store millions in cash in your home, if you are relocating, it would be among the first things you make provisions on how to move, that should be how you treat your seed phrase when you are relocating. You cannot forget or mistakenly move it without knowing its present location, what if you left it in your previous home and someone swept your funds.

Take note that your seed phrase is already compromised, and your funds should be swept out of that wallet completely, you don't know who is going to get their hands on your 'lost' seed phrase, so move it into a fresh wallet.

[Woodie]

Back in the day when I frequently checked my seedphrase/private key  I accidentally changed a character unknowingly and when I tried to access my wallet I lost control of the wallet just like that..and ever since ,all I do is create wallet, back it up and try get into my account and if all goes smooth it's never again checking on the seedphrase to avoid messing up what I have.

[Rruchi man]

Lessons( 1) Do not keep your seed phrase in a particular place (2) Always check your seed phrase to be sure it is intact (3) Be sure you alone have access where your seed phrase is kept.

If your seed phrase is documented on paper or any other surface, and kept in a place like a file or safe along with other important personal documents of your choice, it will be wise to occasionally check where these documents are stored so that you will be able to know and detect if someone careless tried to tamper with it.

 If you do not occasionally check, you will never know.

[SatoPrincess]

I don’t think it’s necessary to check where you keep your seed phrase everyday. That’s paranoia. I only go to where I store my seed phrase is when I want to import my wallet into a new device. It’s a good thing you have another copy of your seed phrase stored elsewhere, now that you have access to the wallet, I suggest you move your coins to a new wallet as your seed phrase may already be compromised.

[Stalker22]

I understand that several thread has been created concerning the importance of keeping our seed phrase save but the question now is this, how often do you check your seed phrase?

I understand the temptation to frequently check one's seed phrase, given the warnings about keeping it secure.  However, in my view, constantly verifying it is often unnecessary.  If you are confident in your initial storage methods and there have been no changes to make you doubt that security revisiting the phrase frequently seems excessive.  

Personally, I stored my phrase very carefully when I first created it.  Unless I have a specific reason to question whether it has been compromised, I dont feel the need to keep inspecting it.  Sure, checking it occasionally as a precaution is reasonable.  but doing so too often crosses over into paranoia in my opinion.

I am sure we all want to protect our assets.  But there is such a thing as going overboard.

[JoyMarsha]

Wherever the keys to someone's fortune are kept, that's where he or she should be conscious of at any given time. Since the seed phrase is the key to our crypto assets, it is advice to always have a duplicate of it on a piece of paper in different places to avoid the incident of losing it as a result of your own kinda experience.

 As for me, where my seed phrase is kept, I have normalized to check on it, once every week to know how intact my crypto funds are. I can't leave checking on it on weeks intervals with the mindset of, it is secured all the time when I know that my siblings can rearrange the house at any time when I am not around.

[rachael9385]

Its been months now since I have checked my seed phrase, although I am sure about where I kept it but I will have to check it again.
However, since I write down my seed phrase and keep it in a safe, I haven't changed the position where I kept it, as this discussion have remind me of it, I will try to check it out first thing in the morning tomorrow as it is already late over here.

[Issa56]

I understand that several thread has been created concerning the importance of keeping our seed phrase save but the question now is this, how often do you check your seed phrase?. My personal experience on why I think you should always check your seed phrase to ensure that it is in a good condition:

Seriously, whenever it comes to my mind, I do decide to check where I store them. You are supposed to be checking your private key often, you can’t just secure your private key and you will decide to abandon it at the place. We all know anything can happen at any time, so once in a while, it won’t be bad if you just decide to check your private key. For some people that do decide to write their private key on paper, we all know that’s not the appropriate place to write our private key. Paper can easily be damaged by either water or fire, and it can be damaged by other things, so if your private key is on paper, it’s better you check it often.

Seriously, I will say paper is not the appropriate place to write your private key. If you will be storing your private key, it’s better to carve it on iron steel. I think it’s better because it can’t be damaged by either water or fire. In case there is a fire or water accident, your private key will still be safe.

Lessons( 1) Do not keep your seed phrase in a particular place

It’s better to store your private key in different places in case anything happens and you lose access to one of them, then you are going to have backup, but if you write and store your private key at just a single place, in case if you lose that, then just know that all your funds are gone already, so I do recommend storing your private key in different places, but make sure it’s places that nobody will be having access to.

[Silberman]

I understand that several thread has been created concerning the importance of keeping our seed phrase save but the question now is this, how often do you check your seed phrase?. My personal experience on why I think you should always check your seed phrase to ensure that it is in a good condition: recently I relocated to another place, when I was moving my things it never occurred to me that I had mistakenly removed my seed phrase from where it was kept not until I had spent more than five months before something struck my mind to check where my seed phrase was written but I couldn't find it there. I was lucky to have kept a duplicate of it somewhere else not just in my house else I would have  ended up losing my funds to some people who understands what seed phrase is all about.

Lessons( 1) Do not keep your seed phrase in a particular place (2) Always check your seed phrase to be sure it is intact (3) Be sure you alone have access where your seed phrase is kept.

Conclusion: Knowing too well that keeping the seed phrase and other account related information of a user private are some ways to ensure adequate security, I think we need to do a constant check on our seed phrase so that we don't end up losing it.

I stand to be corrected if there are things that were not listed as this thread is based on personal encounter and observation.

I check from time to time the state of my seed words and I have a backup as well that I do not check as often but that is still in good condition, however it would not surprise me if there were a lot of people that thought their seed words were safe and they were just one mistake away from losing all their stash for good, however this is a difficult risk to counter as it is not as if we can check the status of our seed words every day, since such a thing will be very impractical.