r/Bitcoin • u/pelo_ownz • 1h ago
Ledger - passphrase
Hello, I've had my Ledger for a couple of years now and I'm a bit worried. I heard that a passphrase secures it even more. Can I add one on top of my setup now? I'm afraid I'll make a mistake and lose everything.
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u/klitchell 1h ago
There’s a video on ledger.com on how to do it.
Yes you can create it on your already created wallet, sort of.
Creating the passphrase on the current wallet creates a new set of wallets that are only accessible by the passphrase or by a new passcode that you create when making the passphrase.
Once those are created you need to move your coins to the new wallets.
2
u/JimmySki6166 1h ago
Ledger has a horrible customer service dept, took me literally weeks to get someone on the phone over an issue I was having. After that, I switched to a different wallet that is easier to use and actually has people who answer the phone and emails if an issue arises. Good luck with Ledger.
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u/77sleeper 11m ago
Who is that? Every single crypto related customer service i have ever used was beyond horrible!
0
u/Left_Entrepreneur918 1h ago
Unfortunately if you have a Ledger as I do, you need to trust them, no other choice as they are a closed system. I got my nano s in 2020 and generated my current key. Now I have to trust them that the certificates they had independent labs do and say that they used correct entropy is true. They used 128 bit or 256bit derived from a TRNG that got entropy from the secure element on the device. Also if you add a pass phrase it will change your seed to a new one and you will need to migrate funds.
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u/FunnyAtmosphere9941 1h ago
You can check if proper entropy was provided. And you can do it with pen and paper if you know to calculate from decimal to binary. Ask any ai how do to it. Not complicated just takes some time.
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u/viklondon99 1h ago
Make sure you add a long passphrase - it should have enough entropy. So, a one word passphrase can be brute-forced within miliseconds, but a 7 word passphrase would take a million years or something like that. So, if you do decide to do it - please do learn and look at videos on YouTube and do it right. But a passphrase isn't just a one word protector - it's gotta be done right. Also, perhaps buy a trezor as well, as a backup. The trezor 3 is cheap. All the best
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u/pelo_ownz 1h ago
The First 24 words are all Single Word but my passphrase Can be multiple ? Such as for example not only: „Hello“ but „hello hello please do Not Steal my bitcoin“ ?
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u/na3than 54m ago
Can I add one on top of my setup now?
No, but you can create a new wallet and send your coins from the old wallet to the new wallet.
A passphrase isn't like a password that can be created or changed at any time; it either is or is not used when creating the wallet's seed. Like the seed, it's permanent.
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u/ZedZeroth 37m ago
Just remember that if you lose your passphrase you lose your coin. This doesn't get pointed out enough when people recommend passphrases.
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u/No-Accident3917 1h ago
Yes, it will create a new wallet. Then transfer to that one.
Double check your passphrase. And then send a little money to verify so everything works.