Can You Memorize Your Recovery Phrase?

[satscraper]

It is not a problem for human with the average memory  ability to memorize 12 or even 24 words SEED phrase. The real  problem is that memory may suddenly fail which  can be caused by variety of reasons - illnesses effecting the brain, casualties resulting in head injury, medications, you name it. Thus I would not consider SEED memorization as the prime. For myself I have developed 100% safe and reliable (which will never fail) way to store my SEED. Feel free to reap its benefits .

[LDL]

Just remembered that I have written the recovery seed phrase of my Electrum on a piece of paper somewhere in my place. I'm wondering what could go wrong since my place isn't too secured.  How about trying to memorize it? Is it possible?

Would you try?
What are the benefits? ... and the setbacks.

If you can memorize your security phase then you can memorize it for a long time. However, if the diary or notebook is kept well in the form of documents, the risk is less in this case. Also, if you can memorize it in rhythmic form, it seems to be good. But if your security phase consists of 12 words then it can be easily memorized. But memorizing security phase is very difficult if it is 24 words.  But in my case I saved the security phases in a document so that I can easily retrieve my security phases.

[Cricktor]

...
Put an end to the nonsense with a piece of paper.

There are reasons to keep it better offline and analog. Your encryption passphrase is of comparable strength/entropy to entropy of your wallet's random seed which is represented and backed up by mnemonic recovery words?
Humans are usually not good at generating sufficiently decent entropy, regarding your encryption passphrase.

With your proposal you rely on safe backups of your encryption passphrase AND safe backups of your PGP secret key AND one or multiple safe hosts for your upload. Sounds like a lot of reliance to me.

Cloud storage data centers can suffer data loss (happens rarely, but there have been severe cases). And don't forget, the cloud is just someone else's computer(s).

But if your security phase consists of 12 words then it can be easily memorized. But memorizing security phase is very difficult if it is 24 words.

Lol, why are 24 recovery words "very difficult" when 12 recovery words can be "easily memorized"? Are you serious?

But in my case I saved the security phases in a document so that I can easily retrieve my security phases.

Likely the worst storage option. Unencrypted document? Online computer, your daily driver? Any backups? Good luck with your digitally exposed recovery words. And pray no ransomware ever gets to your computer to deprive you of access...

[ABCbits]

I was thinking about putting it in an encrypted file and upload it to a host.

Encrypt with good old pgp or pgpi. Perhaps it's to much work thinking about it.

It would give an extra password to remember. For decrypting the file again. And some keys or something.

Put an end to the nonsense with a piece of paper.

Then you might as well as uploading encrypted wallet file (e.g. wallet.dat generated by Bitcoin Core) which also contain TX history, TX label, address label and other data. More information would be backed up, without managing PGP public/private key.

[Rockstarguy]

It is not a problem for human with the average memory  ability to memorize 12 or even 24 words SEED phrase. The real  problem is that memory may suddenly fail which  can be caused by variety of reasons - illnesses effecting the brain, casualties resulting in head injury, medications, you name it. Thus I would not consider SEED memorization as the prime. For myself I have developed 100% safe and reliable (which will never fail) way to store my SEED. Feel free to reap its benefits .

People can try to memorise seedphrase but I think it will be better not to rely on the memory because anything can happen. Memory fails for many reasons, even the mental stress that go through from our daily activities can cause someone not to remember somethings that have been memorised. Even if one thinks of memorising the seedphrase it will be better to back it up with a storing pattern that will last and can't be erased. If one should even think of memorizing the seedphrase it should be something that should be done always,  memorising it once it is very possible for one to miss the words accordingly after a long time.

Normally seedphrase,  password are supposed to be written down in any manner that will be safe for people to always have easy access to it without stressing the brain. When seedphrase us being memorize and the brain fails it is gone forever.

[HelliumZ]

Normally seedphrase,  password are supposed to be written down in any manner that will be safe for people to always have easy access to it without stressing the brain. When seedphrase us being memorize and the brain fails it is gone forever.

Absolutely true because the security system will be lost forever if there is an injury to the human brain or memory loss. But instead of memorizing it, it should be stored in an important place where no one outside has access. Or keep it with trusted people in the family so that your security system cannot be accessed by outsiders in any way. I do not consider it safe to memorize or store in any device.  But I think it would be safer to keep it in a document form and give it to a trusted family member.

[Wakate]

Normally seedphrase,  password are supposed to be written down in any manner that will be safe for people to always have easy access to it without stressing the brain. When seedphrase us being memorize and the brain fails it is gone forever.

Absolutely true because the security system will be lost forever if there is an injury to the human brain or memory loss. But instead of memorizing it, it should be stored in an important place where no one outside has access. Or keep it with trusted people in the family so that your security system cannot be accessed by outsiders in any way. I do not consider it safe to memorize or store in any device.  But I think it would be safer to keep it in a document form and give it to a trusted family member.

There are people that have high IQ and they can memorize anything for as long as possible. There are things that we may think that it will be difficult to be possible but their are people that can do that which can be very intriguing. We can as well memorize our seed phrase and also write them down something that we can always have access to. Seed phrase is meant to be out of the reach of people around us because if they could have access to it, we could lose everything about our Bitcoin portfolio. There are also silver inscription we can use to keep our seed phrase safe so that it can not be damaged by water or something else.

[Jaque8]

I don't know if I trust myself to memorize 12 or 24 words.

The main point isn't about memorizing though, it's to make sure no one can get their hands on your full seed phrase.

I've seen the option of using a secret 25th word. I think some Hardware Wallets support this, so even if someone finds your seed, they'd still need that one extra word, and you’d only need to memorize that single word.

Another option is to split your seed phrase in 2 pieces and store them in separate locations.

[Raflesia]

It is not a problem for human with the average memory  ability to memorize 12 or even 24 words SEED phrase. The real  problem is that memory may suddenly fail which  can be caused by variety of reasons - illnesses effecting the brain, casualties resulting in head injury, medications, you name it. Thus I would not consider SEED memorization as the prime. For myself I have developed 100% safe and reliable (which will never fail) way to store my SEED. Feel free to reap its benefits .

Actually memorizing or not is not a problem but in the end we also have to know that sometimes when we really want something safe there must be a double way to make everything under control.
Memorizing is only for a few reasons such as so that we are not too complicated to find the seed writing that we have made or when there are some things that do not want to happen such as our writing is lost or damaged then memorizing is the answer but that does not mean we only have to memorize without writing because after all writing in notes and keeping them in a safe place is of course the best thing to do.

As for when we have written and memorized it is definitely a good thing and indeed it can be a support to further strengthen it so that our assets are not lost just because we forget the seed.

[nakamura12]

It is possible to memorize the seed phrase but it is not recommended to do it since there's a high chance you will forgot some of even all of it after quite some time unless you are using it everytime you access your wallet. It is recommended to write it as your backup instead of using your mind as a backup. You can do it this way, memorizing the seed phrase while you also have a written copy of your seed phrase as your backup. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you have a written copy of your wallet.

[adultcrypto]

I don't know if I trust myself to memorize 12 or 24 words.

The main point isn't about memorizing though, it's to make sure no one can get their hands on your full seed phrase.

I've seen the option of using a secret 25th word. I think some Hardware Wallets support this, so even if someone finds your seed, they'd still need that one extra word, and you’d only need to memorize that single word.

Another option is to split your seed phrase in 2 pieces and store them in separate locations.

I can practice the seed phrase for some times and memorize it but I will definitely not rely on that because I can forget. It will be risky for someone to depend on his memory for something as sensitive as that because any mistake will be disastrous. In the case of sickness, stress or accident, one can easily lose significant portion of his memory, imagine someone who save seed phrase in his memory being in such a situation, that will have economic consequences. What I will not support is saving seed phrase in a medium connected to the internet, apart from that, it could be written down and saved securely.

[Z-tight]

I've seen the option of using a secret 25th word. I think some Hardware Wallets support this, so even if someone finds your seed, they'd still need that one extra word, and you’d only need to memorize that single word.

A passphrase is great as an extra layer of security, however, do not depend on your memory to back up your passphrase. Your passphrase should be very strong, so that if your seed phrase ever gets compromised, an attacker would be unable to bruteforce the passphrase and steal your funds.

Set up a strong passphrase and back it up in a different location from your seed phrase, trying to memorize it can mean locking yourself out of your funds someday, and setting a weak passphrase that you can commit to memory means it is vulnerable to being bruteforced.

[Rabata]

I don't know if I trust myself to memorize 12 or 24 words.

The main point isn't about memorizing though, it's to make sure no one can get their hands on your full seed phrase.

I've seen the option of using a secret 25th word. I think some Hardware Wallets support this, so even if someone finds your seed, they'd still need that one extra word, and you’d only need to memorize that single word.

Another option is to split your seed phrase in 2 pieces and store them in separate locations.

I can practice the seed phrase for some times and memorize it but I will definitely not rely on that because I can forget. It will be risky for someone to depend on his memory for something as sensitive as that because any mistake will be disastrous. In the case of sickness, stress or accident, one can easily lose significant portion of his memory, imagine someone who save seed phrase in his memory being in such a situation, that will have economic consequences. What I will not support is saving seed phrase in a medium connected to the internet, apart from that, it could be written down and saved securely.

If a holder does not want to lose his money then he must take care of the security keys. If someone does any kind of alchemy with the recovery phrases i.e. does not keep those keys in a good place then it is sure that he will lose his wealth anytime. It is never safe to keep those keys only in human brain. A person may have such a strong memory that he can retain it once he sees it, but any time he forgets one of those phrases, his fortune is at risk. A sane person would never want to take such a risk. Generally it is possible to remember 12 word phrases but 24 word phrases will be more difficult to remember. Those who do not write such phrases are careless about their wealth. They will never be able to retain their wealth.

[Pandu Geddon]

If a holder does not want to lose his money then he must take care of the security keys. If someone does any kind of alchemy with the recovery phrases i.e. does not keep those keys in a good place then it is sure that he will lose his wealth anytime. It is never safe to keep those keys only in human brain. A person may have such a strong memory that he can retain it once he sees it, but any time he forgets one of those phrases, his fortune is at risk. A sane person would never want to take such a risk. Generally it is possible to remember 12 word phrases but 24 word phrases will be more difficult to remember. Those who do not write such phrases are careless about their wealth. They will never be able to retain their wealth.

I believe people can forget someday. But that doesn't mean memorizing all the words of the recovery seed is impossible. But what we remember is that there is a risk if we only memorize the recovery seed without saving a backup in the right way.
There are many memorization methods that can be done, maybe you have also seen it when someone managed to memorize the entire contents of a holy book. Maybe it can't be the same, but it shows that humans have quite good memories, although it's not forever.
However, memorizing seeds will not be good because it is related to the ownership and security of our assets.

[pinggoki]

It's a possibility to memorize but know how my memory works, I'd rather not risk it because there's a really high chance that I would be getting in some kind of confusion that would lead me to jumbling up the sequence of the recovery phrase so I'd rather not risk doing anything if there's a way to prevent things that's available to me in the first place. It would be really cool to have the ability to memorize your recovery phrase especially when you've got multiple wallets, you would be the most impenetrable bitcoin/crypto owner out there.

[Popkon6]

Just remembered that I have written the recovery seed phrase of my Electrum on a piece of paper somewhere in my place. I'm wondering what could go wrong since my place isn't too secured.  How about trying to memorize it? Is it possible?

You can store this Electrum wallet key on a piece of paper or in a diary, and it is sure to keep it for a long time. The human brain is not always the same, it changes with age. The human brain is designed to forget previous memories and learn new ones, so if you're memorizing the keys to your wallet, it's more likely to get it wrong. You can lose your wallet, so you can write the wallet keys in a diary and store it in a safe place for a long time like I did.

Would you try?
What are the benefits? ... and the setbacks.

If you memorize it, you are more likely to fail, because your brain may not be in control. Sure you can use this method above it will be best.

[Iamgoat]

It is not a problem for human with the average memory  ability to memorize 12 or even 24 words SEED phrase. The real  problem is that memory may suddenly fail which  can be caused by variety of reasons - illnesses effecting the brain, casualties resulting in head injury, medications, you name it. Thus I would not consider SEED memorization as the prime. For myself I have developed 100% safe and reliable (which will never fail) way to store my SEED. Feel free to reap its benefits .

Though I'm not so technically knowledgeable to interpret the above solution. However, you have worked towards a good alternative on your above link which a couple of people here will explore. Nonetheless, I believe the most effective and lasting solutions to the recovery of one's seed phrase is by writing it on a piece of paper and keeping it next to your will. I was deliberate with mentioning your WILL because it's one paper you always hold with treasure and always check the paper out time to time to ensure it's safe.

What I do in my own case was to buy two little diaries and have the seed phrase written all over the pages of both diaries then stored each of the diary in a separate plastic to avoid them being chopped up by cold or something else. I dug a hole in my bedroom in my hometown and kept one of the diaries inside the hole, still ensuring it was inside the plastic so it doesn't decay while the other diary was hidden together with my WILL in my residence.

[Blitzboy]

It is not a problem for human with the average memory  ability to memorize 12 or even 24 words SEED phrase. The real  problem is that memory may suddenly fail which  can be caused by variety of reasons - illnesses effecting the brain, casualties resulting in head injury, medications, you name it. Thus I would not consider SEED memorization as the prime. For myself I have developed 100% safe and reliable (which will never fail) way to store my SEED. Feel free to reap its benefits .

I value your memory's confidence. Particularly with something as vital as your SEED word, nothing is 100% perfect. Though strong, the human mind is not unbeatable. Life throws curveballs, thus we have to be ready. Lets diversify rather than stacking all your eggs into one basket. Learn that SEED phrase, absolutely, memorably. But also make backups: encrypted digital copies, or even a hard copy hidden in a safe place.

Your first, rapid and easily available line of protection is your memory. Your backups serve as your safety net should something unanticipated arise and as insurance policy. Combining these techniques not only guards our assets but also presents a clever, flexible method of protection. And in this new digital age, success results from the kind of thinking that drives this. Recall, people, the strategy is equally as important as the technology.

[Baki202]

I can practice the seed phrase for some times and memorize it but I will definitely not rely on that because I can forget. It will be risky for someone to depend on his memory for something as sensitive as that because any mistake will be disastrous. In the case of sickness, stress or accident, one can easily lose significant portion of his memory, imagine someone who save seed phrase in his memory being in such a situation, that will have economic consequences. What I will not support is saving seed phrase in a medium connected to the internet, apart from that, it could be written down and saved securely.

I won't even attempt it me I won't try it because it been long I left school and my memory will only read to understand at this point to memorizing things at this point, I like the fact that you did. It is good that you are not relying on your memory because if it eventually fails you their is no going back because you will lose your fund, and it won't be a nice thing at all. If their is another word more than risky that is what relying on your memeory will be called, plenty times your memory can fail you. And I know their are people that will want to test run but it's their risk to take. And cases that you stated can affect the head and the mind so the best thing is to safe it strategically even if it with images but trying to memorize. Should not be something anyone should want to even think of consider.

[Dzwaafu11]

Just remembered that I have written the recovery seed phrase of my Electrum on a piece of paper somewhere in my place. I'm wondering what could go wrong since my place isn't too secured.  How about trying to memorize it? Is it possible?

Would you try?
What are the benefits? ... and the setbacks.

I can’t try to memorise my seed phrase; I would rather write and hide it somewhere safe. The brain can skip something sometimes, or you may forget how it is arranged. It's kind of dangerous to me. Further, god forbid, we don't pray for such, but something happens to touch your memory. You can't remember what you memorized again, or you have an issue, maybe sickness, and you can't even be able to talk.

 I think if you write it somewhere, you can just point out the place, and someone you trust will get your seed phrase for you. But if you memorise it, it will be impossible in such a situation. However, I don’t know how strong your memory is, and I don’t know the reason you have behind memorising your seed phrase, so I won’t discourage you from doing that, but I think the best is to write it down and hide somewhere safe, even if you memorise it.