How to Migrate or Upgrade Seed Phrase: 12 to 24 Words?

Migrating from a 12-word seed phrase to a more secure 24-word seed is a recommended step for users looking to enhance the safety of their crypto assets—especially in wallets that now support this upgrade. 

This guide provides a clear walkthrough of the migration process while offering insights into why a 24-word seed phrase significantly boosts your digital security.

Why Upgrade to a 24-Word Seed Phrase?

Seed phrases (also known as mnemonic phrases or recovery phrases) are a fundamental part of securing non-custodial cryptocurrency wallets. A 12-word seed phrase provides a good level of security, but a 24-word seed offers exponentially stronger protection due to the increased entropy. 

In simple terms, entropy is the measure of randomness. More words mean more potential combinations, which makes brute-force attacks significantly harder.

According to industry leader Ledger, a 24-word seed has 256 bits of entropy compared to the 128 bits of a 12-word seed—meaning it's mathematically much more secure. 

That’s why upgrading to a 24-word phrase is becoming standard practice among security-conscious users.

Also read: What Is a Crypto Hardware Wallet and How to Use It? A Comprehensive Guide

Step-by-Step Guide to Upgrade from 12-Word to 24-Word Seed in Wallet

1. Backup Your Current Wallet

Before making any changes, it’s critical to back up both your 12-word seed phrase and all private keys. Unlike the seed, which covers all accounts in your wallet, private keys are unique to each blockchain account.

• Open the Wallet website/app.
  
   
• Go to Menu > Security > Backup Wallet.
  
   
• Input your PIN to access the seed and keys.
  
   
• For each account (TRX, ETH, BNB, etc.), copy or write down its private key securely.
  
   

Pro Tip: Always write down the keys on paper and avoid storing them digitally to prevent hacks or data breaches.

2. Reset the Wallet

Once you've securely backed up everything:

• Go to Menu > Security > Reset Wallet.
  
   
• Confirm your PIN to proceed.
  
   
• This clears your wallet data and prepares it for a new setup.
  
   

Important: Do NOT reset your wallet without backups. Losing access to both your seed and private keys means permanent loss of funds.

3. Create a New Wallet with 24-Word Seed

After the reset:

• Open Wallet website/app and agree to the terms and privacy policy.
  
   
• Tap Create Wallet and set a secure PIN.
  
   
• The app will now generate a 24-word seed phrase.
  
   
• Write the phrase down carefully and store it in a secure, offline location.
  
   
• You’ll be asked to verify the phrase by entering all 24 words.
  
   

Never share this phrase with anyone—not even support teams. Any legit wallet provider will never ask for it.

4. Import Your Old Accounts Using Private Keys

Now that your 24-word wallet is active, it's time to bring your old accounts in:

• Go to Portfolio > (+) Add Account > Import with Private Key.
  
   
• Select the blockchain and paste in each private key.
  
   
• Assign a name and import each account one at a time.
  
   

This process doesn’t permanently tie the imported accounts to the 24-word seed—it merely helps you access and move funds.


 

5. Transfer Funds to Your New Wallet

To fully migrate to the more secure wallet:

• Go to each imported account.
  
   
• Use the Send function to transfer assets to your new main account.
  
   
• Leave a small amount of crypto (like BTC or ETH) in the old wallet to cover transaction fees, if necessary.
  
   

You can repeat this process for all your tokens, ensuring your new wallet holds your entire portfolio.

Also read: 12 Words vs 24 Words Seed Phrase: Which One Offers Better Security?

Why Not Just Keep Using the Old Accounts?

While technically you could keep using your old private-key-imported accounts, they aren't governed by your 24-word seed. This means they aren’t backed by your new recovery phrase, and therefore don't benefit from the enhanced security. 

Transferring your funds ensures the integrity of your new wallet's security structure.

Also read: Are Hardware Wallets and Cold Wallets the Same? Learning Crypto Terms

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Final Thoughts

Upgrading from a 12-word to a 24-word seed is not just a trend—it’s a serious security enhancement endorsed by wallet providers and cybersecurity experts alike. It might require a bit of effort, but the peace of mind it offers is well worth it.

As always, ensure you follow best practices: never share your seed, always verify you're using the official app, and store recovery details offline.

Also read: Using the Metamask Wallet for DeFi Transactions: A Complete Guide

FAQs

1. Why is a 24-word seed phrase more secure than a 12-word one?

A 24-word seed phrase offers 256 bits of entropy compared to 128 bits in a 12-word phrase, making it exponentially harder to crack through brute-force attacks. It’s the standard for high-security wallets.

2. Can I still access my crypto with the 12-word seed after upgrading?

Yes, as long as you have your private keys or the original 12-word seed, you can access the funds. However, it’s safer to transfer your assets to the new 24-word seed wallet.

3. What happens if I lose my 24-word seed phrase?

If you lose your 24-word seed and don’t have a backup, your wallet—and the crypto inside—cannot be recovered. Always write it down and store it in multiple secure, offline locations.

4. Are imported accounts using private keys protected by the 24-word seed?

No. Imported accounts remain separate and aren’t covered by the 24-word seed's recovery system. It's highly recommended to move funds from imported accounts to your main wallet accounts for full protection.