This report demonstrates how to use a 12-word mnemonic to retrieve the full public and private keys for all accounts (BTC, ETH, LTC, etc.) stored on a hardware wallet. When a hardware wallet is setup, a recovery sentence is given to be stored in place of a set of keys like a paper wallet.
These twelve words represent the public and private keys to all accounts stored on the hardware wallet no matter the coin/token. If the hardware wallet is lost or broken, the twelve words can be used to recover all accounts onto another hardware wallet.
Alternatively, if there is a situation where you do not have access to another hardware wallet it is important to know how to transform your twelve-word recovery sentence into public and private key sets. To obtain the key sets, a mnemonic key converter must be used. This can be done offline by downloading the webpage and storing it locally to ensure you always have access.
Mnemonic Code Converter: https://iancoleman.github.io/bip39/
To use the mnemonic code converter, type out the all twelve words and select the coin account you want the keys for (ex. Bitcoin). The twelve recovery words are typed into the BIP39 Mnemonic box to retrieve the keys. Once this step is complete, a list of accounts is displayed at the bottom of the screen. To find the correct set of keys, you will need to know what the address of the account was on the hardware wallet. This is the address that was used to send funds to the accounts.
The address can then be found on the list and the public and private keys are shown to the side. If there is only one account of a certain coin on the hardware wallet, then it should be the first set on the list. To retrieve the keys for another coin on the hardware wallet, simply change the drop down menu selection to the other coin, using the same twelve words, and the keys will be displayed.
Warning: Do not use this tool for accounts you plan to continue using. Once your words are exposed to the internet, the security of your accounts is at risk!
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