Locking and passwords
Intended reader: everyone. Goal: a wallet that is locked when you are not using it, with a password you will still know. Prerequisites: an unlocked wallet.
What the password protects
Section titled “What the password protects”It encrypts the vault on this device. Someone with access to your unlocked computer cannot open the wallet without it.
What it does not do
Section titled “What it does not do”- It is not your backup. Losing it does not lose your funds, as long as you have the recovery phrase.
- It does not protect the recovery phrase anywhere else. Anyone with your phrase does not need your password.
- It cannot be reset. There is no account, no email link, no support override. If you forget it, you reinstall and restore from the phrase. See Backup and recovery.
Auto-lock
Section titled “Auto-lock”Settings, then Lock time. The range runs from 30 seconds to 4 hours, with a default of 30 minutes.
| Your situation | Suggested |
|---|---|
| Shared or public computer | 30 seconds to 5 minutes |
| Personal laptop you carry | 5 to 15 minutes |
| Home machine only you use | 30 minutes, the default |
| Large holdings, anywhere | Shorter than feels convenient |
You can also lock immediately from the wallet menu, which is worth doing every time you step away.
Changing your password
Section titled “Changing your password”Settings, then Password. You need the current one.
Changing it re-encrypts the vault on this device. It does not change your recovery phrase, your keys, your addresses, or anything on any chain. A password change is not a response to a phrase compromise: if your phrase was exposed, the password is irrelevant, and you need If your wallet is compromised.
Choosing one
Section titled “Choosing one”Long beats complicated. Four or five unrelated words you can picture will outlast a short string of symbols you will forget. Do not reuse a password you use anywhere else, because the compromise of an unrelated service should not reach your wallet.
Common failures
Section titled “Common failures”| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Password rejected and you are sure it is right | Keyboard layout, caps lock, or a similar-looking character | Type it into a plain text field first to see it |
| Forgotten entirely | Not recoverable | Reinstall and restore from the phrase |
| The wallet locks constantly | Auto-lock is set very short | Raise it, within reason |
| The wallet never seems to lock | It locks on the timer, not on tab close | Use the immediate lock when you step away |