You restored your phrase, and your balance shows zero. Do not panic. This is usually a settings problem. This advanced guide is part of our guide to crypto inheritance and recovery. It assumes that you know about derivation paths.
Why balances go missing
Your phrase creates a whole tree of keys, and a wallet only checks some branches. Your funds are probably sitting in a branch that it is not looking at.
Work through this checklist
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Passphrase | Was one used? See typos |
| Coin or network | Add the right network, such as Ethereum vs a layer 2 |
| Address type | Try legacy, nested SegWit, native SegWit and Taproot |
| Account number | Try account 1, 2 and so on |
| Address gap | Increase the gap limit, if your wallet allows |
| Word order or typo | Confirm against your backup |
| Original wallet | Try the same brand and version |
| Sync | Wait, or rescan the blockchain |
Address types in Bitcoin
| Addresses starting with | Type | Typical path |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legacy | m/44'/0'/0' |
| 3 | Nested SegWit | m/49'/0'/0' |
| bc1q | Native SegWit | m/84'/0'/0' |
| bc1p | Taproot | m/86'/0'/0' |
If you have an old receiving address in an email or exchange history, its first characters tell you which type to try. Look that address up on a public block explorer to confirm that the funds are still there. An address is not secret.
Older and unusual wallets
Older wallets did not always follow standards. Some used their own seed formats, or paths. Electrum, for example, has its own seed format by default. If you remember the wallet's name, search its documentation for its derivation details, using a trusted source.
When to use software tools
Some wallets, such as Sparrow for Bitcoin, let you choose a custom path. Tools exist that scan many paths, but entering your phrase into anything on a computer carries risk. If you do this:
- Use a clean, offline computer if you can.
- Download only from the official source.
- Afterwards, move your funds to a new phrase.
Things that look like theft and may not be
- An account that shows zero until you add a network.
- A token that needs to be added manually.
- A fork coin, which is in a different network.
Beware of help that finds you
Anyone who offers to "fix" your wallet in a direct message is a scammer. See recovery services. If you still cannot find the funds, a legitimate specialist may help, but keep your phrase private.