In this article, we look step-by-step into how to create a new account in Polkawallet.


ℹ️ GOOD TO KNOW

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

Alternatively, you can also search Polkawallet's documentation or contact their team directly through email, and receive specialized assistance from the team that developed the wallet.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

How to create your first account

‼️ IMPORTANT

Polkawallet 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.


Follow these instructions to create your first account after you have downloaded Polkawallet to your phone.


1. After the introductory screens you'll be presented with this screen. Tap on "Create Account" to create a new account.


2. In the next screen, you can select to create a Substrate account or an EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) account. Check the Account types section below for more details. 


To proceed, click on "Substrate account".


3. In the next screen, you will see some security advice regarding storing and handling your mnemonic phrase. 



⛔️ READ THIS FIRST!

Read these security instructions carefully and follow them closely! Failing to follow proper security practices with your mnemonic phrase can result in your account being compromised and losing all your funds on all chains!


Once you've read these instructions, click Next. A new modal appears, warning you not to take a screenshot of your mnemonic phrase in the next screen. Head this warning and write down your mnemonic phrase on paper!


4. In the next screen you'll be presented with your account's mnemonic phrase. At the top is the address of the account on Polkadot. 


Write down the 12 words on paper as shown on the screen and make sure that:

  • you don't misspell a word
  • you write them down in the correct order
  • you use only small letters

Once you have written down your mnemonic phrase, click "Next".



5. Then, you are presented with the 12 words you wrote down in the previous step in a random order. Tap on each word to put them in the right order. This is done to ensure you have written down your mnemonic phrase properly. Once you're done, click "Next".



6. In the next screen, you are asked to give your new account a name and set its password. The name is stored locally on your phone and it's for your convenience only.


The password will be needed when you want to make a transaction from your account. You can also select to use your phone's biometrics (fingerprint or FaceID) instead of your password (this is enabled by default).



7. Once done, click "Next", and you'll be taken to the "Assets" page. Congratulations! You have just created your first Polkadot account!


How to create an additional account

If you have already been using Polkawallet and want to create a new account, follow these steps:


1. From the "Assets" screen, tap on the "wallet" icon at the top left.



2. In the screen that opens up, tap on "+ Create Account" at the bottom.



3. Then follow the instructions from Step 3 in the above section to create your new account.

Account types

Polkawallet supports two account types: Substrate and EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine).


Substrate accounts can be used with Polkadot, Kusama, and the parachains Polkawallet supports. 


Accounts of the EVM type can be used with EVM chains that Polkawallet supports, which are Ethereum, Goerli, EVM-Acala, and EVM-Karura.


‼️ IMPORTANT

All our articles focus on Substrate accounts. For support with EVM accounts, please contact Polkawallet's support.