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Recovery key

What the recovery key is, how to save it, how to use it if you lose every passkey, and how to repair or replace it.

The recovery key is your way back into the vault if you lose every passkey. It is made on your device at setup and shown once. StackHangar doesn't keep a copy.

#What it looks like

Eight groups of four characters, for example XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.

#Save it

At setup, Save your recovery key offers three ways:

  • Copy: paste it into your password manager, then copy something else so it doesn't stay on your clipboard.
  • Download as a text file: the file is made on your device.
  • Write it down.

Then type the last group and choose I saved it.

Warning

Don't store it in email. Keep it in a password manager or on paper, apart from the devices that hold your passkeys.

#Use it

Use it when no passkey works.

  1. Sign in with an email code or GitHub.
  2. On Unlock your vault, choose Lost your passkeys?.
  3. Enter the recovery key and choose Recover. It is checked on your device and never sent to us.
  4. Approve three passkey prompts: create a passkey on this device, confirm it, then approve the recovery.
  5. Save the new recovery key and choose I saved it, open my vault.

Recovery removes your other passkeys, because those devices are presumed lost. Add them back afterwards. See passkeys. Your old recovery key stops working.

#Replace it

To make a new key, for example if you think the old one was seen:

  1. Open Settings, then Security, and find Recovery key.
  2. Choose Generate a new recovery key, then Create new key, and approve the passkey check.
  3. Save the new key, tick I saved it and choose Done.

The old key stops working as soon as the new one is created. The key is shown only once.

#Repair

If setup or a recovery stopped before you confirmed the key, you may never have seen it. The next time the vault opens, StackHangar shows Make a new recovery key. It takes one passkey check, and any earlier recovery key stops working. Save the new one and confirm it. If you're not ready, choose Lock your vault. You'll be asked again after unlocking.

#If something goes wrong

If you lose the recovery key and all your passkeys, we can't help recover the vault. If you lose only the recovery key, make a new one while you are unlocked.