Blockstream Jade's Recovery Phrase Login feature is used to temporarily access a wallet, ideally by scanning a SeedQR. This will not affect your wallet accessible by PIN and the wallet you log into using this feature will be forgotten as soon as Jade is turned off.
Note: Recovery Phrase Login is typically used to bypass PIN server interaction, which can be helpful for the situations described below.
Use Cases for Recovery Phrase Login
Access a QR Session
Jade QR Scan users are typically trying to avoid USB and BLE connections, which are currently the only methods to unlock Jade via PIN. In order to access Jade for air-gapped functions, a Recovery Phrase Login is necessary.
Tip: View the guide below for more information about accessing a QR session.
Signing with Jade Connected to an Offline device
Blockstream Jade uses a blind PIN server to help protect your assets, which essentially functions as a "remote secure element". This feature provides a great deal of additional security, but it requires your companion app to have communication with the PIN server (and thus an internet connection) in order to log in to your Jade.
However, some users may want to use an offline computer to create and sign transactions. Choosing to access a wallet using Recovery Phrase Login will not require communication with the PIN server, so you can still use your Jade in such a setup. Simply create your transaction using a compatible platform (such as Electrum), login to your Jade using Recovery Phrase Login, sign the transaction on your Jade, then save or export the transaction from your companion app for broadcast using an online device.
Temporary/Multiple Wallet Access
There could be several reasons you may prefer to only access your wallets temporarily. For example:
- If you only log in using this feature and never fully initialize your Jade, it will appear to anyone who finds your Jade that you do not have a wallet setup. This provides some obfuscation as your wallet is actually only accessible using your recovery phrase backup.
- You may choose to setup a wallet via PIN, but also keep a separate wallet only as a recovery phrase backup that you may log into using this feature to spend funds.
- If you have multiple recovery phrases, you can access them all using one Jade without the hassle of factory resetting your device and erasing the current wallet before using the next one.
PIN Server Outage
In the unlikely event your Blockstream Jade's PIN server were to ever experience an outage, you would not be able to unlock Jade using the typical PIN entry method. Instead, you can use Recovery Phrase Login to access Jade and spend any funds in an emergency situation.
Tip: Blockstream Jade also allows you to run and specify your own PIN server so you are not dependent on Blockstream, however requires some additional technical expertise to set up.
Login using your Recovery Phrase
1.
Turn on your Blockstream Jade and select Settings. If your Jade is Initialized, you will see this on the Connect screen. If Uninitialized, navigate to Settings using the scroll wheel.
2.
Next, choose Recovery Phrase Login and make sure to read the warning to understand you are proceeding with a temporary wallet.
Warning: This wallet will be forgotten as soon as Jade is turned off. Make sure you keep a backup of this recovery phrase to access any funds you send to it.
3.
It is recommended to select Advanced then Scan QR to scan your recovery phrase if you have it in QR code format. Otherwise, select the length of your recovery phrase to type it in manually.
Tip: Blockstream Jade supports scanning your recovery phrase in the SeedQR format, as well as a QR simply of your 12 or 24 words. Do not try to create a QR of your recovery phrase using a device that will ever be online.
4.
Scan or type your recovery phrase that you want to temporarily log into. Next, choose between USB and Bluetooth then connect your Blockstream Jade to a compatible platform. You will be temporarily logged into your wallet and this recovery phrase will only be available until Jade turns off.
