Recovery Phrase
When you create your GolemDrive account, you’re given a recovery phrase — 12 random words in a specific order. This is the most important piece of information tied to your account. Treat it like the master key to a safe deposit box.
What the recovery phrase does
Section titled “What the recovery phrase does”Your recovery phrase is a backup of your encryption keys. If you ever forget your password, these 12 words are the only way to regain access to your account and decrypt your files.
Think of it as an emergency spare key. You hopefully never need it, but if you do, nothing else can replace it.
When you get it
Section titled “When you get it”Your recovery phrase is shown to you during account creation. You’ll see 12 words displayed on screen. This is the one and only time GolemDrive generates these words for you.
How to keep it safe
Section titled “How to keep it safe”The single best thing you can do:
- Write it down on paper — yes, actual pen and paper
- Store the paper somewhere secure — a locked drawer, a safe, wherever you keep important documents
- Consider making a second copy and keeping it in a different location
What NOT to do
Section titled “What NOT to do”- Don’t save it in a notes app on your phone
- Don’t email it to yourself
- Don’t take a screenshot of it
- Don’t store it in a text file on your computer
- Don’t put it in your password manager (if that gets compromised, so does your recovery phrase)
- Don’t share it with anyone — ever
Digital copies can be hacked, leaked, or accidentally synced to cloud services. Paper in a secure location is the safest approach.
Viewing your recovery phrase later
Section titled “Viewing your recovery phrase later”If you need to see your recovery phrase again (for example, to write it down after initially skipping that step):
- Go to Account > Settings
- Find the Recovery Phrase section
- Confirm your password when prompted
- Your 12 words will be displayed
Write them down immediately if you haven’t already.
What happens if you lose your password
Section titled “What happens if you lose your password”If you forget your password but have your recovery phrase:
- You can restore access to your account
- Your files will be decrypted and accessible as before
- You’ll set a new password during the recovery process
What happens if you lose BOTH
Section titled “What happens if you lose BOTH”If you lose both your password and your recovery phrase, your files are permanently locked. There is no way to recover them. Not by contacting support, not by verifying your identity, not by any means.
This isn’t a limitation we can fix with a software update. It’s a fundamental consequence of how encryption works. Your encryption keys were derived from your password and backed up by your recovery phrase. Without either one, nobody in the world — including us — can reconstruct those keys.
Why we can’t “just reset” your account
Section titled “Why we can’t “just reset” your account”With most online services, you can click “Forgot password” and reset everything via email. That works because the service holds the keys to your data.
GolemDrive is different. We don’t have your encryption keys. We never did. That’s the whole point — it’s what makes your files truly private. But it also means we can’t reset your access if you lose your credentials.
This is the trade-off for real privacy: you’re in control, and that means the responsibility is yours too.
Summary
Section titled “Summary”| Situation | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Forgot password, have recovery phrase | Full recovery possible |
| Have password, lost recovery phrase | You can still log in — go view and write down a new copy immediately |
| Lost both password and recovery phrase | Files are permanently inaccessible |