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How do I rescue an overwritten wallet?
How do I rescue an overwritten wallet?

How to rescue an overwritten Exodus Mobile or Desktop wallet if you have access to an archived Exodus wallet backup.

Updated over a week ago

How to restore your wallet from an archived wallet backup from the wallet data directory.

It is not possible to rescue an overwritten wallet on Exodus Web3 Wallet. The only way to regain access to an overwritten Web3 Wallet wallet is by restoring from its 12-word secret recovery phrase.


In this article:



What is an overwritten wallet?

Restoring an Exodus wallet with a 12-word secret recovery phrase overwrites and archives the current wallet’s secret recovery phrase, addresses, and private keys.

Have you ever tried to restore your wallet using your 12-word secret recovery phrase and found an empty wallet? You might have overwritten your original wallet by entering an incorrect secret recovery phrase.


Can I rescue my wallet?

Recovering an overwritten Exodus mobile wallet is only possible when the previous wallet files haven’t been permanently erased. Formatting your mobile or desktop device, or uninstalling Exodus, will permanently delete your secret recovery phrase.

Currently, you can only rescue an overwritten wallet on Exodus Desktop and Mobile. The only way to regain access to an overwritten Web3 Wallet wallet is by restoring from its 12-word secret recovery phrase.


How do I rescue an overwritten wallet?

Here's how you might be able to rescue your wallet if you've accidentally overwritten your wallet and don't have your secret recovery phrase to restore it.

Remember that this is a safety feature and is not intended to be the standard for wallet backups and recovery. Ideally, you should use your 12-word secret recovery phrase to restore your wallet.

If you would like help to rescue your wallet, please contact Exodus Support.

Mobile

Due to the nature of each mobile operating system, these instructions will only work if you have not permanently erased your 12-word secret recovery phrase from your device.

  • iOS: Your 12-word secret recovery phrase will be permanently erased if you format your device. It's also possible the secret recovery phrase will be deleted if Exodus is uninstalled. However, this may not always be the case.

  • Android: Your 12-word secret recovery phrase will be permanently erased if you format your device, clear your Exodus storage, or uninstall Exodus.

  1. In Exodus Mobile, a) tap on the Profile icon, then b) tap Security.

  2. Tap Backup.

  3. Make sure you check your surroundings. When you are in private, tap View Secret Phrase.

  4. Now tap the History icon in the top right corner.

  5. Here you will see a list of all your previously used secret phrases and your current secret phrase.

  6. Tap on the secret recovery phrase you want to restore, then tap Restore.


How do I manage my backup history?

  1. From the Backup History screen, tap Manage Backup History.

  2. Select how long Exodus will store an archived secret recovery phrase by tapping one of the following options:

    • a) Keep Forever

    • b) 1 Month

    • c) 3 Months

    • d) 6 Months

  3. Selecting an option other than the default will show you a confirmation screen.

    • To confirm your selection, a) tap Continue.

    • To cancel your selection, b) tap the X.

    And that's it! You've managed your backup history.


Desktop

If your previous wallet files are still on your computer, it's possible that you can restore them by swapping the archived wallet files into the current, active wallet folder.

Your wallet backup files will only be kept for 90 days after overwriting them.

Tutorial video: How to rescue an overwritten wallet on Mac

Mac

  1. Open your Exodus wallet and click Exodus in the top left corner to access the developer menu.

  2. a) Hover over Developer, select b) Data Folder, then c) click on Export Zipped Data Folder.

    This will export a copy of your data directory to your desktop. Ensure the copy of your data directory is exported to your desktop before continuing. You'll need it in case you need to start the process over again.

  3. In the developer menu, a) Hover over Developer, b) then, Data Folder, then c) click on Open Data Folder.

  4. This will open your file explorer, where you can now open the Exodus folder.

    You can navigate to this folder directly by following this route and enabling hidden folders:

    macOS: Hard Drive > Users > YOUR_USERNAME > Library > Application Support > Exodus

  5. Close Exodus. It's important that you close your Exodus wallet before proceeding.

  6. In the Exodus folder, click on the Backups folder.

  7. Click on the Wallet folder.

  8. You will see one or several time-stamped folders. Each one is an archive of previously existing wallets. Click the one you would like to restore. If the folder you used to restore your backup didn't restore the wallet you wanted, please repeat this process with a different folder.

  9. Right-click on the exodus.wallet folder and select Copy.

  10. Return to the top of the Exodus folder. There will already be a folder here called exodus.wallet. Rename it to exodus.walletBACKUP.

  11. Right-click and select Paste Item.

  12. You should then see the copied exodus.wallet folder.

  13. Open your Exodus wallet. Your previous wallet should be restored. If you had a password set, you will still need to enter it to access the wallet.

Remember to write down your secret recovery phrase so you don't have to go through this process again! Here's a helpful guide for how to back up your wallet.


Windows

  1. Open your Exodus wallet, on your keyboard press and hold the 3 following keys ctrl + shift + D at the same time to access the developer menu. Click Developer in the top left corner to access the developer menu.

  2. a) Hover over Developer, then b) Data Folder, then c) click on Export Zipped Data Folder.

    This will export a copy of your data directory to your desktop. Ensure the copy of your data directory is exported to your desktop before continuing. You'll need it in case you need to start the process over again.

  3. In the developer menu, a) Hover over Developer, b) then Data Folder, then c) click on Open Data Folder.

  4. This will open your file explorer, where you can now open the Exodus folder. You can navigate to this folder directly by following this route, and enabling hidden folders:

    Windows: Windows (C:) > Users > YOUR_USERNAME > AppData > Roaming > Exodus

  5. Close Exodus. It's important that you close your Exodus wallet before proceeding.

  6. In the Exodus folder, click on the Backups folder.

  7. Click on the Wallet folder.

  8. You will see one or several time-stamped folders. Each one is an archive of previously existing wallets. Click the one you would like to restore. If the folder you used to restore your backup didn't restore the wallet you wanted, please repeat this process with a different folder.

  9. Right-click on the exodus.wallet folder and select Copy.

  10. Return to the top of the Exodus folder. There will already be a folder here called exodus.wallet. Rename it to exodus.walletBACKUP.

  11. Right-click and select Paste.

  12. You should then see the copied exodus.wallet folder.

  13. Open your Exodus wallet. Your previous wallet should be restored. If you had a password set, you will still need to enter it to access the wallet.

Remember to write down your secret recovery phrase so you don't have to go through this process again! Here's a helpful guide for how to back up your wallet.


Linux

  1. Open your Exodus wallet and enter the key combination ctrl + shift + D to access the developer menu. Click Exodus in the top left corner to access the developer menu.

  2. a) Hover over Developer, then b) Data Folder, then c) click on Export Zipped Data Folder.

    This will export a copy of your data directory to your desktop. Ensure the copy of your data directory is exported to your desktop before continuing. You'll need it in case you need to start the process over again.

  3. In the developer menu, a) Hover over Developer, b) then Data Folder, then c) click on Open Data Folder.

  4. This will open your file explorer, where you can now open the Exodus folder. You can navigate to this folder directly by following this route, and enabling hidden folders:

    Linux: /home/YOUR_USERNAME/.config/Exodus

  5. Close Exodus. It's important that you close your Exodus wallet before proceeding.

  6. In the Exodus folder, click on the Backups folder.

  7. Click on the Wallet folder.

  8. You will see one or several time-stamped folders. Each one is an archive of previously existing wallets. Click the one you would like to restore. If the folder you used to restore your backup didn't restore the wallet you wanted, please repeat this process with a different folder.

  9. Right-click on the exodus.wallet folder and select Copy.

  10. Return to the top of the Exodus folder. There will already be a folder here called exodus.wallet. Rename it to exodus.walletBACKUP.

  11. Right-click and select Paste.

  12. You should then see the copied exodus.wallet folder.

  13. Open your Exodus wallet. Your previous wallet should be restored. If you had a password set, you will still need to enter it to access the wallet.

Remember to write down your 12-word secret recovery phrase so you don't have to go through this process again! Here's a helpful guide for how to back up your wallet.

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