Wallet
Armory Wallet Recovery Service
Locked out of Armory? We help when the passphrase is forgotten, the paper backup is damaged or incomplete, or the wallet file sits on an old or failing drive. Free assessment; no recovery, no fee.
Request an assessment+31 85 109 1211
- Since 2019Recovery specialist
- KvK 75927276Registered in the Netherlands
- AmsterdamPhysical office
- Non-custodialYou move the coins
Quick answers
Does Armory use a recovery phrase?
No. The classic model has no BIP-39 phrase; the printed paper backup takes that role. It restores every address the wallet has produced or will produce, and it still works when the passphrase is gone; unless SecurePrint was used it is not encrypted, so that sheet needs the same protection as the coins themselves. Without it, the wallet file or exported keys, there is nothing to recover from.
Can Armory run on a modern machine?
Potentially, but compatibility depends on the build and operating system. Armory is still under active development; current pre-release builds are intended for testing and may not be plug-and-play. Use only the official project repository and releases, work from copies, and never enter a backup into a website.
What if the backup file is on a dead drive?
Then the first step is data recovery: image the drive and work from copies before attempting to open the Armory file.
Our Armory recovery services
Forgotten Armory passphrase
Wallet encryption in Armory is a choice made per wallet, offered when the wallet is created and removable later. Where it was used, the passphrase protects the private keys in the .wallet file; addresses and history stay readable without it. There is no reset, but a surviving paper backup restores the wallet without the passphrase.
Otherwise, a long or random passphrase remembered only as a rough fragment needs a structured search against a copy of the file. Each guess is deliberately slow, so what you remember counts most. Armory backup and passphrase fixes
Damaged or incomplete paper backup
The printed Root Key lines, together with the Chaincode lines where the sheet has them, are the actual backup. A damaged print, a partial photo or a remembered fragment is recovery material: each printed line carries its own checksum, which narrows down a misread character. A sheet printed with SecurePrint also needs its SecurePrint code. Wallet backups explained
Wallet file on an old or failing drive
Many owners kept Armory offline on a separate machine, so the only full wallet may live on an old, offline computer or USB drive. If that drive is damaged or failing, the backup file must first be recovered as data, from an image of the drive, before anyone tries to open it in Armory. A backup that was overwritten needs a case-specific assessment. Wallet on a broken computer or drive
Unsure which wallet file is the right one
Old setups can leave several files behind. Armory names each wallet file after its ID, as armory_[ID]_.wallet, and writes a second copy beside it whose name ends in _backup.wallet. A _WatchOnly.wallet file from the online computer holds no private keys and cannot spend. If you are unsure whether an old backup belongs to the wallet, or which of several files is current, we compare wallet IDs and addresses before any search. Wallet, wallet file and keys
Old Armory version that will not run
The last stable release, 0.96.5, dates from December 2018, and the newest build, 0.97, has been a pre-release since May 2026: published for testing, not as a finished version. It uses a new wallet format, so old wallets have to be imported or restored from the backup string; migration leaves the original files untouched. Recovery does not depend on getting old Armory running, because it works on the wallet files and backups themselves. Old wallet won't open
Before you contact us
Common mistakes to avoid
- Never enter the paper backup, root key or wallet file into a website.
- Don't keep using a drive after the wallet file on it was deleted or the drive started failing. Image it first and work from copies.
- Don't point a test build at the only copy of a wallet holding real coins. Run Armory only on a machine you trust, offline where possible, and on copies.
- Don't wipe or throw away an old offline computer or USB drive from a cold-storage setup. It may hold the only full wallet.
- Don't count on a _WatchOnly.wallet file to restore access. It holds no private keys.
- Never show, scan or send the paper backup to anyone, including us, to get an assessment. Unless it was printed with SecurePrint, it gives full access to the coins.
Information that helps the assessment
- Which Armory version you used, roughly when the wallet was created, and whether it ran on a separate offline computer.
- Which files you have, such as armory_[ID]_.wallet, a _backup.wallet copy, a _WatchOnly.wallet or exported keys, and on which drives.
- Whether a paper backup exists, whether it was printed with SecurePrint and whether you still have the SecurePrint code. Describe its condition; don't send it.
- Whether the backup was fragmented, and how many fragments you still hold.
- Whether wallet encryption was used, and what you remember about the passphrase, such as its length, structure or the period you used it.
- The wallet ID shown in Armory, or a receiving address the wallet used.
Boundaries
What we do not do
Theft, scams or a wrong address
A confirmed blockchain transaction cannot be reversed, cancelled or redirected, by us or by anyone.
A completely lost recovery phrase
With no phrase, wallet file, device, backup or partial information left, there is nothing to reconstruct from.
Guaranteed outcomes
No honest service can guarantee success. Whether recovery is possible depends on what you still have, and the assessment tells you before you commit.
We tell you honestly what is realistic before you commit — including when the answer is no.
How it works
A clear process from first contact to handover.
Tell us what happened
Share the wallet or software name, approximate year, device, problem and what material still exists. Do not send a seed phrase, private key, password, wallet file or ID document.
Initial feasibility view
Once we have enough information, we usually explain the likely recovery route, the main uncertainties and an initial indication of duration.
Verify and agree
We verify identity and ownership or legal authority. Scope, working method, fee and sensitive-material handling are agreed in writing before sensitive work begins.
Transfer or hand over material
PGP, our secure encrypted upload environment, in-person handover or agreed shipment may be used. We request only what is needed and work with copies where possible.
Technical recovery
We test the agreed recovery route in a controlled environment. You receive meaningful updates when findings affect the outlook, scope or next decision.
Client-controlled handover
Access is handed back through the agreed route. You open the wallet and move the assets to a wallet you control; case material is then handled according to the agreement and privacy policy.
Trust
A real company with a verifiable process.
Registered & named
Registered in the Netherlands (KvK 75927276) with a named team and a physical office in Amsterdam.
A written agreement first
Scope, fee and security measures are agreed in writing before any work. If you prefer, we can sign an NDA before you share substantive case details.
Always non-custodial
We restore access; you move the coins yourself. We never hold, manage or transfer your assets.
Ownership is verified
Identity, ownership and legal authority are verified with risk-based KYC/AML checks.
Good to know about Armory recovery
- What Armory is. One of the first serious Bitcoin desktop wallets, known for offline signing, multisignature and cold storage. It stores bitcoin only. Its original developers stopped in 2015, and an open-source fork has carried the project since February 2016. See Bitcoin wallet recovery.
- Why passphrase searches are slow. Armory stretches the passphrase with a memory-hard function, ROMix, tuned on the computer that created the wallet: by default about a quarter of a second and up to 32 MB of memory per guess. Every candidate is expensive, which is why there is no shortcut around the encryption.
- Armory needs Bitcoin Core. Armory works with a full node based on Bitcoin Core, so using a restored wallet in Armory means running Bitcoin Core and letting it sync.
- Fragmented backups. Armory can split the paper backup into fragments with Shamir's Secret Sharing, and a restore needs the required number of fragments. Fragmented backups made before version 0.96.3 have a known weakness: Armory's maintainer advises treating such wallets as compromised and moving the funds to a new wallet once you have access.
- Multisig lockboxes. Armory calls its multisig wallets lockboxes. Recovery needs enough of the participants' keys to meet the threshold; a damaged key backup can sometimes be repaired, but a key that is missing entirely cannot be recreated. Multisig wallets explained
Armory wallet recovery FAQ
Can I restore an Armory wallet without the passphrase?
Yes, from the paper backup: it restores the wallet without the passphrase, and you can set a new one. From the wallet file alone, the passphrase is needed to spend, so a forgotten one means a structured search against a copy of the file.
What files do I need to restore an Armory wallet?
Either the armory_[ID]_.wallet file or its _backup.wallet copy, plus the passphrase if the wallet was encrypted, or the paper backup, with its SecurePrint code if one was used. A _WatchOnly.wallet file is not enough, because it holds no private keys.
Can Armory be recovered without the wallet file or paper backup?
Only with exported private keys or another copy of the key material. With no backup file, no paper backup and no exported keys, Armory has no built-in phrase to fall back on, and no service can restore access without usable key material.
Is Armory still maintained?
Yes, as open source. The last stable release is 0.96.5 from December 2018, and 0.97 is a pre-release for testing. The state of the project does not change what the keys are, so existing wallets remain restorable as long as a backup still exists.
How long does Armory recovery take?
It depends on what is missing. Armory makes each passphrase guess deliberately slow, so the quality of the candidate list matters. Most cases take a few days to a few weeks; complex searches can take months. After the free assessment you get a realistic estimate.
How much does crypto wallet recovery cost?
It depends on the wallet's value and how complex the case is: our success fee runs from 20% of the recovered amount down to 2%. The exact rate is agreed in writing before any work starts — no hidden costs and no hourly rates.
Do you take custody of the assets at any point?
No. We restore access; you open the wallet and move the funds yourself. We cannot initiate a transaction on your behalf.
Do I need to send my seed phrase or password?
No — first contact needs no sensitive material, and we never ask for it through forms or chat. Under a written agreement we can work with copies of wallet files in a controlled environment, so your keys stay under your control.
What if my wallet was stolen or I was scammed?
We do not take stolen-crypto or scam cases, and blockchain transactions cannot be reversed. That is a police and legal matter.
