If you've lost access to your account or wish to use it on other devices, you can restore it using either the mnemonic phrase or a JSON file. Talisman Wallet provides the option to restore accounts created from Talisman Wallet or other compatible wallets.


This article will walk you through the process of restoring an account using either the mnemonic phrase (also called recovery phrase) or a JSON file.


‼️ IMPORTANT

Talisman Wallet is a non-custodial wallet, which means that only you have access to your accounts. For this reason, it is imperative that you keep your mnemonic phrase safe. Without it, it is impossible to restore your account if you ever lose access to it.


ℹ️ GOOD TO KNOW

If you have any questions about Talisman or run into any issues and require further assistance, feel free to ask our AI chatbot or contact us.

Alternatively, you can join Talisman's Discord server and receive specialized assistance from the team that developed the wallet. This communication channel is also an important feedback loop for the Talisman team to improve the wallet, and they always appreciate hearing from users.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

To restore an account in Talisman Wallet, click the hamburger menu icon ("More"), and then select "+ Add account":




Four options will appear: "New", "Import", "Connect", and "Watch". To restore an account, choose the second option, "Import an existing account." This option allows you to import the account via a recovery phrase, via private key, or JSON file:

How to restore from a recovery phrase


The most common method of backing up a Polkadot account is using its 12-word mnemonic phrase (also known as a recovery phrase). This section guides you through restoring your account in Talisman Wallet using this method.


1. Follow the instructions at the beginning of the article to click "+ Add account", then select "Import account" and "Import via Recovery Phrase":



2. Talisman Wallet can import various account types from a recovery phrase, such as Polkadot or  Ethereum accounts. The process is similar for both, but we'll focus on restoring a Polkadot account.


3. Enter your recovery phrase. If they are correct, you could click "Import" and that's it, your account will now be part of your portfolio:




If you created additional accounts from one recovery phrase by deriving them from it, you will need to select "Import Multiple Accounts" from the drop-down menu and then select the ones you would like to restore:



ℹ️ GOOD TO KNOW

If the mnemonic phrase you entered is not valid (possibly because a word is misspelled or the word are not in the wrong order), a message will appear ("Invalid secret") and the "Import" button will be disabled.

Check the most common causes in the article "My Mnemonic Phrase is Invalid!"

How to restore from the JSON file

Most ecosystem wallets offer the option to export your account as an encrypted JSON file. This file can then be imported into other compatible wallets, allowing you to restore your account. This section provides guidance on how to import it into Talisman Wallet.


1. In Talisman Wallet, click "Import via JSON" within the "Add account" option, as shown above:



2. After clicking, a new screen will appear, allowing you to either browse your hard drive to find and upload the JSON file or simply drag and drop it:



3. Choose the JSON file and enter the password you set when creating the account or exporting the JSON file from the wallet:



4. If the password is correct, the JSON file will be unlocked, and you can now select the account or accounts you want to restore:



5. Click "Import" and that's it! Your restored account should appear as part of your portfolio now.