Backup & Recovery

Critical guide to backing up your Vultisig vault. Protect your assets with proper vault share storage. No seed phrases - just secure backups.

This is the most important page in the documentation.

Without proper backups, you WILL lose access to your funds if a device is lost, stolen, or damaged. Read this entire page before storing any significant value.

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How Vultisig Backups Work

Vultisig doesn't use seed phrases. Instead, each device in your vault has a unique Vault Share - a file that allows that device to participate in signing.

Key concepts:

• Each device has its own unique vault share

• Each device needs its own backup

• A single vault share alone cannot access your funds

• You need your signing threshold of shares to recover (e.g., 2 shares for a 2-of-3 vault)

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Video Overview

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How to Backup

Step-by-Step

1. Open Vultisig app

2. Go to Settings → Vault Settings

3. Select Backup

4. (Optional) Set an encryption password for extra security

5. Save the .vult file to a secure location

6. Repeat for every device in your vault

Video Guide

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Understanding Vault Share Files

Vault shares use the .vult extension and are named:

vaultname-ID-share(t)of(n).vult

Example: savings-ef8b-share1of2.vult

• savings = vault name

• ef8b = vault ID

• share1of2 = this is share 1 of a 2-share vault

DKLS vaults use "share" in the filename. GG20 vaults use "part" in the filename.

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Where to Store Backups

NEVER store multiple vault shares in the same location!

If someone gains access to enough shares, they can reconstruct your vault and steal your funds.

Recommended Storage Strategy

Share	Storage Location
Share 1	Google Drive
Share 2	iCloud
Share 3	Dropbox

Good Practices

• Use different cloud providers for different shares

• Consider password managers (1Password, Bitwarden) for individual shares

• Use offline storage (USB drive, external hard drive) for maximum security

• Encrypt your backups with a strong password

Bad Practices

• Storing all shares on one device

• Storing all shares in one cloud account

• Emailing shares to yourself (all in one inbox)

• Storing shares unencrypted on shared computers

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Estate Planning (Gold Standard)

For inheritance and emergency access:

1. Share 1: Keep in your personal secure storage

2. Share 2: Give to spouse or trusted family member

3. Share 3: Give to family lawyer or accountant

Ensure the people holding shares cannot easily collaborate without your knowledge.

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Recovering a Lost Device

If you lose a device, you have two options:

Option 1: Import Backup

Import your backed-up vault share into a new device:

1. Install Vultisig on the new device

2. Open the .vult file (or import via app)

3. Enter the encryption password (if set)

4. Your vault is restored on the new device

Vault shares are cross-platform. An iOS backup can be imported on Android, Windows, etc.

Option 2: Reshare (2-of-3+ vaults only)

If you have a 2-of-3 or larger vault:

1. Use your remaining devices to reshare the vault

2. This creates new shares including one for your new device

3. Important: Old backups become invalid after resharing

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Critical Warnings

Backups are reshare-sensitive

After using the reshare feature, all old backups become invalid. You must create new backups after every reshare.

Fast Vaults still need backups

Even though Vultisig's server is a co-signer, you still need to backup your device's share. The server cannot recover your vault alone.

Fast Vault Priority: Device Share First

For Fast Vaults, the device backup is the most important. If you have your device share and remember the password you set during creation, you can always request the server share again via email. Prioritize securing your device share backup.

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Backup Checklist

Before storing significant funds, confirm:

• I have backed up every device in my vault

• Each backup is stored in a different location

• I understand that I need [threshold] shares to recover

• I have tested importing a backup on a spare device (optional but recommended)

• I have set encryption passwords on my backups (optional but recommended)

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Next Step

Once backed up, you're ready for your First Transaction.