Quick start 07 — SLIP-39 backup

SLIP-39 splits a seed into shares; a threshold of shares is needed to rebuild it. This guide creates a 2-of-3 backup and stores shares on SeedKeeper cards.

SLIP-39 is disabled by default. Enable SLIP-39 seeds in Settings → Advanced first. Enable Extendable SLIP-39 shares if you plan to extend the backup later.

Part 1 — Create the shares

1. Go to Tools and choose SLIP39 seed (camera) or SLIP39 seed (dice).

   

2. Choose the word length (20 or 33 words) and the share configuration. For a simple 2 of 3, choose 3 shares with a threshold of 2.
3. Generate entropy and write down the shares, or continue to store them.

Part 2 — Store shares on a SeedKeeper

There are two ways:

• From the generation flow — after the shares are generated, save each one to a card in turn.
• From a loaded SLIP-39 seed — load the seed (see below), then Seed Options → Backup seed → To SeedKeeper and pick which share to store.

SeedSigner stores each share as its own labelled secret (SLIP39:<label>). A single share is useless on its own, so distributing shares across cards/locations is the point.

Part 3 — Recombine the shares

1. Seeds → Load a seed → SLIP-39 Shares.
2. Enter shares until the threshold is met. You can enter them from any mix of:
   • Text — type the words.
   • QR — scan a share QR.
   • SeedKeeper — load a stored share.
3. SeedSigner reconstructs the seed and shows its fingerprint.

Part 4 — Optional: seed a Satochip from the result

With the recombined seed in memory, use Satochip Functions → Initialise with Seed and pick the seed (or SLIP-39 Shares). See Quick start 04.

Related

• SLIP-39 shares
• SeedKeeper