Did you know that around 1.8 million BTC — roughly 8.5% of the total supply — has been sitting untouched in wallets since 2014? That’s billions of dollars just… sleeping and may need professional Bitcoin wallet recovery.
But here’s the good news: not all of those coins are gone forever. With the right information, like backup files, a seed phrase, or even a small password hint, many of those Bitcoin wallets can still be still recovered in 2025.
Of course, some wallets are truly lost. Maybe the owner passed away and never shared the credentials to their offsprings. Maybe someone forgot the wallet even existed, or misplaced the backup files after years of not checking in.
If you’ve lost access to your Bitcoin, don’t panic. There’s still hope. With powerful recovery tools and the right expertise, you might be closer to your coins than you think.
Understanding Bitcoin Wallet Recovery Methods
Bitcoin wallet recovery may differ from the wallet type; however, there are three main available Bitcoin recovery methods. We will start from the easiest and most common ones to the ones you may turn to as the last resort.
How to Recover Bitcoin Wallet Using Seed Phrase
You can recover the bitcoin wallet with the seed phrase, also called mnemonic or recovery phrase in the crypto world. This phrase often consists of 12, 18, or 24 words from a selected list of simple and unique English words. Usually, they are BIP39 or BIP44 standard lists. Users get the seed phrase when they set up the wallet. It is actually intended for such situations to help you get access, for example, when you forget the wallet password or lose the wallet. To the huge relief of the owners, they can use the seed in any other compatible wallet.
Universal steps, how to recover Bitcoin wallet:
- Open any compatible Bitcoin wallet app. You may choose the original wallet which you are trying to restore or find a compatible one.
- Choose “Restore wallet” or “Import wallet.” As soon as you open the app just follow the instructions on the screen.
- Enter your seed phrase in the exact word order. If you swap just two words, the phrase will be invalid. The same goes for typos.
- If you have done everything correctly, your BTC balance should reappear on the screen.
The recovery is actually really simple, but there are some hidden stones and nuances, especially if you don’t restore it in the original app.
Recover Bitcoin Wallet with a Wallet File
Wallet files usually come with software wallets. They store very important information related to the wallet, such as private keys, public keys, transaction history, and others. Each type of bitcoin wallet has different wallet file extensions. If you ever find an old file named wallet.dat, *.wallet, or wallet.aes.json on a drive, it could actually hold real Bitcoins. A lot of people forget about it after the wallet setup and remember only after they need to access the wallet. You are lucky if the file is still intact so you can easily import it into the wallet and get your bitcoins back. However, there is a catch. Usually, a strong password protects the wallet and you need to know it as well.
You need to locate these files on old PCs, USB drives, or backups and open with the same wallet software, or import to another compatible program.
Here is more info on wallet.dat password recovery.
Bitcoin Wallet Recovery with a Private Key
This recovery method is good if you have already exported the private key from the wallet file. A private key gives you access to the specific account it is connected with. When you send BTC, your wallet signs the transaction with the private key. The actual private key is always 256 bits (64 hex characters). If you wrote it down, you may look for something like:
E9873D79C6D87DC0FB6A5778633389F4453213303DA61F20BD67FC233AA33262 or
5J76Yd7LBd1GkZgZBt9J4tzsZ2pS7j7xSbzqkPp6RrGb9aqXyQq
All what you need is to import it into new wallet, but if ypu haven’t written it down and your back up file is not there, you can only open the wallet using the seed phrase.
Comparing Bitcoin Wallet Recovery Methods
In conclusion, recovering Bitcoin wallet with the seed is the easiest method. If you have an intact back up file, you may use it without knowing the seed phrase, but you need to know the password. Private key recovery is only possible if you had exported them before.
| Bitcoin Recovery Method | How? | What May go Wrong? | Advantages | Best to Use When.. |
| Using seed phrase | Type in 12 or 24 words in correct order into any compatible Bitcoin wallet. | If there is a small typo, words in wrong order or even one word is missing, the phrase will be invalid. | You can use it in any compatible wallet. It is the fastest, the easiest & universal method. Suitable for any type of a wallet, even hardware. | You forgot the wallet file password, the back up file is missing and private keys are unknown. |
| Using wallet file | Open or import the file into same or any compatible wallet software. | If the file is lost, deleted or corrupted you will not be able to import it. The file may also be encrypted, so you need to know the password as well. In some cases it needs original software. | Can sometimes recover bitcoin wallet without seed phrase. Usually old wallets need this recovery method. | You saved the file on PC, USB, or backup but don’t have the seed phrase. |
| With private keys (WIF format or raw key) | Import private key into wallet software. | It may not cover all addresses, especially if HD wallet is used. | It works in almost any wallet. | It can be done only if you exported private keys before or found them in old notes. |
If you tried each method and hit the road block, don’t panic, contact Crypto Recovers to learn about your recovery chances.
Troubleshooting: When Bitcoin Wallet Recovery Goes Wrong
Mostly, people cannot use any of the methods above because they simply misplace their backup files containing wallet files or seed phrases, or forget the passwords or passphrases. However, there are still chances to get back the wallet content. You just need to calm down and learn what can cause the issues.
Invalid Seed Phrase
When entering the seed phrase, users may see the “Invalid seed phrase” message on the screen. They don’t know why it happens and usually it is because some words are missing or they are in the wrong order. Here are some tips to make the seed phrase valid:
The recovery phrase has either 12, 18, or 24 words. It depends on the wallet type you have.
They have to be spelled correctly; even a small mistake will lock you out of your wallet.
They have to be in the exact order as you got them when you set up the wallet.
The invalid seed phrase is not a death sentence. As we mentioned before, there is a certain list of words they come from. Crypto Recovers specializes in invalid seed phrase restoration — it may be your last resort.
Lost the phrase entirely? Unfortunately, that’s game over, unless you find an old note, email, or backup where you wrote it down.
Forgotten Wallet Passwords
The wallet files are usually encrypted by a strong password. Since people don’t use them often and set up a strong password for more security, the passwords fade away in memory after some time.
Here you need to check all the possible locations of the password storage. Look in your password managers, check out your emails since some people send the important data not to forget the password, or look up your old notebooks or scraps of paper in the document folders. Any useful information will bring you closer to solving the riddle.
Read here more about bitcoin password recovery. If you still cannot get it right, contact Crypto Recovers, we have some advanced password-cracking tools.
Corrupted or Deleted Wallet Files
The reasons for this issue may range from users simply deleting the files because they forgot about their existence, changing computers over time, or overwriting them accidentally. For example, when users accidentally modify, rename, or move the wallet file, or when the wallet updates your file and the wallet crashes. There can be multiple reasons for this malfunction, but there are solutions as well. You may use data recovery software such as Recuva, EaseUS, or R-Studio on the same drive where you typically stored the wallet file.
Useful tip: Never work with the original backup file. Work on its copy to prevent further damage.
If you don’t know how to run those programs, contact a professional data recovery lab such as Crypto Recovers. We will handle your wallet file with care, so you don’t risk damaging the file even more. We have created our own custom recovery software and our recovery experts have a solid programming background.
Here is more info on how to open your Bitcoin wallet.
Bitcoin Wallets & Recommended Recovery Methods
If you’re still not sure which method to use, here’s a list of the most popular Bitcoin wallets and their recommended recovery methods.
| Bitcoin Wallet | Recommended Recovery Method(s) | Where to Use |
| Electrum | Seed phrase, private key, wallet file backup | In the Electrum desktop or mobile app |
| MetaMask | Secret Recovery Phrase, private key, password reset (if encrypted) | In the MetaMask browser extension or mobile app |
| Ledger | Recovery phrase (24 words) | On a Ledger hardware device using Ledger Live software |
| Trezor | Recovery seed phrase (12–24 words) | On a Trezor hardware device via Trezor Suite |
| TrustWallet | Seed phrase, private key | In the Trust Wallet mobile app |
| Coinbase Wallet | Recovery phrase, password reset, private key | In the Coinbase Wallet app |
| Armory | Wallet backup files, recovery phrases, encrypted backups | In Armory desktop software |
| Phantom | Seed phrase, private key | In the Phantom browser extension or mobile app |
| MultiBit | Backup files, private keys | In the MultiBit desktop app |
| Bitcoin Core | Wallet.dat backup file, private key | In the Bitcoin Core desktop software |
Hardware Wallet Recovery
Mostly, people freak out if the hardware device gets some physical damage or they cannot find it after some time. They are worried they will not access the money anymore or someone can get hold of their fortune. If your hardware wallet breaks down, there is little to worry about if you still have the seed phrase. Your bitcoins are actually on the blockchain, not on the wallet, and the hardware wallet is simply a gateway. No one can use the hardware wallet without the magic 12 or 24 words.
So you simply need to import the words into any software.
Read this article for details on what to do if your hardware wallet breaks down or you lose it.
Crypto Exchange Wallet Recovery
This typically concerns people who keep their money on exchange platforms such as Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, and others. You most likely forgot the password to your exchange account and need to recover it using the original email you used for registration and reset the password. They will ask you to prove your identity and ownership, so additionally you need to provide them with your ID, proof of past transactions, and place of residence. Very often you will need to have your seed phrase as well.
Here you need to contact the support and follow the instructions or contact Crypto Recovers if you need more help.
How to Recover Lost Bitcoin Due to Scam
If your bitcoins were hacked or scammed, no one can guarantee you recovery success. It is a time-consuming and unpredictable process. Most likely the hackers sent the bitcoins to a new wallet address and you need to track the transactions at first. Scam-specialized crypto recovery companies often collaborate with governments and lawyers to recover stolen funds. However, sometimes these are cross-continent crimes, and not every country has strong legislation to protect the victims and return the assets to the owners.
Losing Bitcoin to a scam or a fraudulent investment is incredibly frustrating, and recovering it can be very challenging since blockchain transactions are irreversible. Still, there are steps you can take to try to get your funds back:
- Report the scam to local authorities and financial regulators as soon as possible.
- Gather all evidence like transaction IDs, wallet addresses, messages, emails, anything that shows what happened.
- Reach out to professional crypto recovery services which specialize in tracing and attempting to recover lost crypto.
- Consider legal action if you know who the scammer is.
While there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back, acting quickly can significantly improve your chances of tracking and recovering your funds.
Tips to Keep Your Bitcoin Wallet Safe After Recovering it
In order to avoid situations like the above, you need to create multiple backups of your wallet files, private keys, passwords, and seed phrases. This is the only way to prevent future loss of your wallet. Even if you accidentally delete your wallet app, lose your hardware, or the wallet gets discontinued, you will have a safe option to restore it in any other compatible software wallet. The crypto always stays on the blockchain; you may choose different wallets as a door, and you will need your seed, password, and wallet file as a key to open it. If the key is broken or missing, you may need contacting crypto recovery services.
“Always back up seed phrases offline in multiple secure places. Never share your seed phrase or password with anyone who might take advantage of the situation and steal your funds. — Crypto Recovers”
Still Cannot Recover Bitcoins? Contact Crypto Recovery Services
If you have tried all recovery methods and still there is something that keeps you away from the bitcoins and you cannot figure it out, contact professional crypto recovery services.
The advantages of crypto recovery services are that they have access to tools and expertise most people don’t have. They can easily get access to old and corrupted wallets. They specialize in finding the missing parts of the seed phrase. Additionally, it will save you so much time compared to bruteforcing the password yourself. They can easily retrieve deleted information from crashed hard drives and others.
When contacting specialists, you need to remember a few most important signs which legitimate companies show. First of all, they never ask for payment upfront. Because lost Bitcoin recovery is never guaranteed, they take commission only after they successfully restore the wallet. Additionally, check the business registration number depending on the country they are.
Here is more about the crypto recovery process at Crypto Recovers.
Why Crypto Recovers?
At Crypto Recovers, we’ve been helping people restore access to their Bitcoin wallets since 2019. Based in the Netherlands, we’ve recovered over 200 wallets of different complexity across more than 30 countries — from the EU and Americas to Australia and Asia.
We specialize in:
- Fixing invalid or incomplete seed phrases
- Password recovery
- Retrieving data from corrupted wallet files
- Repairing broken hardware wallets
- Setting up multisig wallets
Here’s an inspiring story of how our client regained access to his deprecated Bitcoin wallet after years of being locked out — with the help of Crypto Recovers.
We built our own custom recovery software that can brute-force passwords and seeds faster and more efficiently than standard tools. And because we’re crypto enthusiasts ourselves, we treat every case with dedication and care. You can also check the satisfied reviews of our clients both on Google and Trustpilot.
