Remember a 12-word recovery phrase offline
If you want to practice memorizing your real recovery phrase, you must do it offline. Here's how to safely use SeedPal without exposing your seed to network risks.
Why Offline Matters
Your 12-word recovery phrase is the master key to your cryptocurrency. Anyone with access to it can transfer your funds permanently. While SeedPal is designed to keep your phrase local (no servers, no analytics on sensitive data, no network calls), your operating system is not.
Modern devices constantly sync data: clipboard managers upload to the cloud, screenshot tools auto-backup to photo libraries, browser extensions phone home, and operating systems send telemetry. Going offline eliminates all these vectors simultaneously.
Step-by-Step: Safe Offline Practice
1 Prepare Your Environment
Use a private device. Avoid shared computers, work laptops, or any device with corporate MDM software. These systems often have remote monitoring or backup features you can't control.
Close unnecessary apps. Shut down password managers, cloud sync tools, messaging apps, and anything that might log keystrokes or screen content. Keep only your browser open.
Disable screen recording. On macOS, check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording. On Windows, disable Game Bar and other capture tools. On mobile, check for background recording permissions.
2 Install SeedPal as a PWA
Before going offline, install SeedPal as a Progressive Web App. This caches the entire application locally, including 3D assets and fonts, so it works without any network access.
Installation instructions:
- • Chrome/Edge (desktop): Click the install icon in the address bar, or Settings → Install SeedPal.
- • Safari (iOS): Tap Share → Add to Home Screen.
- • Chrome (Android): Tap the three-dot menu → Install app.
After installation, launch the app from your home screen or app menu. You should see a PWA status badge indicating "Ready" or "Cached."
3 Disconnect from All Networks
This is the critical step. Do not skip it.
Turn off Wi-Fi
Use your system settings to disable Wi-Fi completely. On mobile, use airplane mode.
Disable cellular data
Mobile devices: enable airplane mode and confirm cellular is off. Some phones allow Wi-Fi in airplane mode—turn that off too.
Unplug Ethernet cables
Desktop users: physically disconnect wired network connections.
Verify offline status: Open SeedPal. The app will detect your connection state and show a green "You are offline" badge when you try to import a phrase. If the badge is orange/yellow and says to disconnect, you're not fully offline yet.
4 Enter Your Recovery Phrase
Once you've confirmed offline mode, click "Practice my phrase offline" in SeedPal. The app will prompt you to acknowledge you're offline and understand this is a local practice aid.
Type your 12 words manually. Do not paste from clipboard—clipboard managers often sync to the cloud. Do not use screenshots of your phrase as reference—screenshot libraries auto-upload.
Retrieve your physical backup (metal plate, paper in safe, etc.) and type the words by hand. SeedPal validates the phrase against the BIP39 wordlist and confirms it's valid.
5 Build Your Memory Palace
SeedPal will assign visual emoji cues to each word. Review the generated cues and customize any that don't resonate with you—the goal is memorability, and personal associations work best.
Choose your 12 locations (your memory palace route) and mentally place each cue-word pair. Practice the full route several times while still offline.
6 Wipe the Session Before Reconnecting
When you're finished practicing, click "Clear" or "Wipe now" in SeedPal to remove your phrase from browser memory. This clears the phrase from the current session and local storage.
Important: Reconnection warning
If you reconnect to the internet without clearing your phrase first, SeedPal will detect the connection change and lock the interface. You'll see a warning requiring you to wipe the phrase before proceeding. This prevents accidental exposure.
After wiping, you can safely reconnect. Your phrase is gone from the app, and your memory palace remains in your head.
Additional Safety Practices
Physical Privacy
Practice in a private space. Shoulder-surfing is a real risk. Close blinds, lock doors, and ensure no one (including security cameras) can see your screen while you're entering or practicing your phrase.
Regular Practice Sessions
Memory fades without rehearsal. Schedule monthly offline practice sessions. Go offline, launch SeedPal, re-enter your phrase, and test your recall. This keeps your memory palace sharp.
Keep Your Physical Backup Secure
Your memory palace is a supplement, not a replacement for physical backups. Store your written or stamped seed phrase in a fireproof safe, safety deposit box, or equivalent secure location. Test access periodically.
Alternative: Start with Practice Phrases
If offline practice feels too complex or risky, start with generated practice phrases on the hosted site. This lets you learn the memory palace technique without any exposure risk. Once you're confident with the method, you can decide whether to apply it to your real phrase offline.
Practice phrases only. Never type a funded seed into this site.
Hosted SeedPal is demo/eval. For a real phrase: install, go offline, then practice.
A memory palace is not a backup. Keep a physical backup you can read with your eyes.
Personal phrase practice accepts words only after offline acknowledgment. SeedPal keeps them in the current browser session; it does not back up or recover your seed.
Ready to Practice Safely?
Follow these steps carefully, and you can practice your real recovery phrase without exposing it to network risks. Start with demo phrases to learn the interface first.
Offline Practice Checklist
Related Guides
For full details on SeedPal's trust model and offline use, see the Privacy & Security page.