> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://second.tech/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Back up your wallet

> Write down the 12-word seed phrase of your Swaptopia wallet before your first swap, and learn what it brings back and what only this browser can resume.

Swaptopia offers two backups:

1. **[Write down your seed phrase](/docs/swaptopia/backup#write-down-your-seed-phrase):** This recovers the sats your wallet holds on Ark, with the Ark server's help, if this browser's data is lost. It does not bring back a swap in progress, which only this browser can resume.
2. **[Export the wallet data](/docs/swaptopia/backup#back-up-the-wallet-data-for-an-emergency-exit-optional) (optional):** This lets the Bark CLI run an emergency exit without the Ark server's cooperation.

## Write down your seed phrase

<Warning>
  The seed phrase is the only way to recover your sats if this browser's data is lost. Swaptopia shows it only until you select **Done**. Nobody at Second can recover your sats for you.
</Warning>

<Frame caption="Done stays inactive until you tick the box under the 12 words">
  <video autoPlay src="https://mintcdn.com/second-0659a37d/Ys6dqcbJ8GNgbFCj/videos/swaptopia/back-up-seed.mp4?fit=max&auto=format&n=Ys6dqcbJ8GNgbFCj&q=85&s=934dca5d2fb0dbed814cee8a9a2274b4" aria-label="Screen recording of the Welcome to Swaptopia dialog: Back up now opens the Save your seed screen with 12 words, the I saved these words somewhere else box is ticked, and Done returns to the swap screen" data-path="videos/swaptopia/back-up-seed.mp4" />
</Frame>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Swaptopia">
    Go to [labs.second.tech/swaptopia](https://labs.second.tech/swaptopia/).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Back up now">
    In the **Welcome to Swaptopia** dialog, select **Back up now**. If you closed the dialog earlier, select **Wallet** > **Back up**, or **Back up** in the banner at the top of the page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write down the 12 words">
    Write the words down in order on paper, then keep the paper somewhere safe and offline.

    <Frame caption="Later closes this screen without a backup">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/second-0659a37d/Ys6dqcbJ8GNgbFCj/images/swaptopia/save-seed.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Ys6dqcbJ8GNgbFCj&q=85&s=d69509db0e5ca92d5907668c4f606125" alt="Screenshot of the Save your seed screen, with the 12 numbered words, the Copy and Restore buttons, the I saved these words somewhere else checkbox, and the Done and Later buttons" width="1152" height="792" data-path="images/swaptopia/save-seed.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm you saved the words">
    Tick **I saved these words somewhere else.** The **Done** button becomes active.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Done">
    Swaptopia returns you to the screen you came from. The backup banner and the **Back up** button in the wallet drawer no longer appear.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The same 12 words cover your wallet on mainnet and on signet. To use them, follow [Restore your wallet from the seed phrase](/docs/swaptopia/wallet#restore-your-wallet-from-the-seed-phrase).

<Tip>
  Until you back up, the swap screen shows the "This wallet lives in this browser." banner. **Later** hides it until you close the tab.
</Tip>

## Back up the wallet data for an emergency exit (optional)

If you run the [Bark CLI](/docs/getting-started/bark-cli), follow [Export the wallet data for an emergency exit](/docs/swaptopia/wallet#export-the-wallet-data-for-an-emergency-exit-optional).


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