How to Recover Your Monero Wallet: Technical Guide

Regain access to your XMR with precise, file-based methods

📝 Before we start.....

1. No seed or file = No recovery — Monero's cryptography makes recovery impossible without a seed or .keys file.

2. Restore height is critical — Optimizes sync time and avoids full blockchain scans.

3. Wallet files are version-sensitive — GUI v0.18+ wallets are not compatible with older versions.

4. Argon2id encryption — Makes brute-force 500x slower than Bitcoin wallets.

What you need for Monero Wallet Recovery?

You must have at least ONE of the following:

• 25-word mnemonic seed (full or partial)

• .keys wallet file + password hint

• Wallet creation date (approx. month/year)

Highly recommended:

• Public address

• Restore height (approx. block number)

• 3 redundant backups (USB/cloud/paper)

Step 1: Identify Your Monero Recovery Scenario

Scenario A: Have Seed Phrase (Full or Partial)

• Ideal case

• Method: Wallet restoration

• Time: 10 min – 2 hours

Scenario B: File but Forgot Password

• Requires brute-force attack

• Method: Hashcat or JohnTheRipper

• Time: Hours to years (based on password complexity)

Scenario C: No Seed/No Files

• Last resort

• Method: Forensic analysis + metadata recovery

Step 2: Scenario-Specific Recovery Methods For Monero Wallet

🔐 Scenario A: Full Seed Recovery

1. Download official GUI wallet from getmonero.org

2. Select "Restore wallet from keys or mnemonic seed"

3. Enter the following:

   • 25-word seed phrase

   • Wallet name

   • Restore height (see below)

   # Restore height guidelines (approx.): • Jan 2020 wallet → Block 2,000,000 • Jan 2023 wallet → Block 2,800,000 • Unsure? Use Block 1 (slower full scan) • Use [moneroblocks.info] to lookup by date

4. Set a new strong password during wallet creation

🧹 Scenario A: Partial Monero Seed Recovery

1. Use Feather Wallet (featherwallet.org / GitHub)

2. Enable advanced mode > Recover from incomplete seed

3. Input known words; use x for unknowns:

   Example: word1 x word3 x x word6 ... word25

4. Input possible word guesses for missing positions

5. Set restore height ~500,000 blocks before earliest transaction

⚠️ Partial seed recovery becomes infeasible with >5 missing words

🔐 Scenario B: .keys File Password Recovery

1. Convert to hash format:

   python3 monero2john.py wallet.keys > monero_hash.txt

2. Brute-force using Hashcat (Argon2id mode 16900):

   hashcat -m 16900

   Performance Estimates:

   • RTX 4090: ~120 H/s (vs 150,000 H/s for Bitcoin SHA-256)

   • 8-character password: ~3 weeks

   • 10-character password: >10 years

For complex passwords or time-critical recovery, use FPGA/ASIC recovery rigs

🛠️ Scenario C: Forensic Recovery (No Seed/Files)

1. Gather any residual data:

   • Device used (OS version, storage media)

   • Transaction history (dates/amounts)

   • Cloud backups (Google Drive, iCloud)

   • Exchange records showing deposits

2. Forensic options:

   • File carving from original drives

   • Registry/config file scraping (Windows/Linux)

   • Mobile backups from Android (root access needed)

View-only wallets (with public address + view key) may help confirm balances

Monero-Specific Recovery Tools

Tool	Purpose	Best For
Monero GUI Wallet	Native seed restoration	Full seed recovery
Feather Wallet	Partial seed brute-force	1–5 missing words
Hashcat Mode 16900	Argon2id brute-force .keys file	Known format + pattern
monero2john.py	Convert wallet to Hashcat format	Pre-brute-force setup
XMRig (optional)	CPU optimization for sync	Fast blockchain scans

Recovery success depends on preparation, not luck. The 24h after password loss determine your odds — act methodically, not desperately.

Need Help?

If you get stuck during recovery or need expert assistance, our team is here for you:

✉️ Email: contact@cryptorecovery.io (24-hour response)

📱 Telegram: @CryptoRecovery_io (fast response)

Monero FAQ

Q: Can I recover without the 25-word seed?

A: Only if you have the .keys file and password. No seed + no file = no recovery.

Q: Why does restore height matter so much?

A: It cuts sync time from days to hours. Incorrect height = unnecessary full scan.

Q: Are Monero wallets harder to crack than Bitcoin?

A: Yes. Monero uses Argon2id which is 500x slower than SHA-256 used by Bitcoin.

Q: Can hardware wallets (Ledger) be recovered?

A: Only with seed phrase. Physical damage may require chip-off recovery.

Q: What’s the most common mistake in Monero recovery?

A: Forgetting to record the restore height with your seed.

Q: What if I remember my public address but nothing else?

A: You can view past transactions via view keys, but cannot spend funds.

When to Use Professional Services

Stop DIY if:

• You are not tech savvy

• Password >5 characters and no clues

• Device suffered physical damage (Ledger, Trezor)

• Seed words are missing

Why Choose CryptoRecovery.io:

• Monero-focused forensic engineers

• Seed phrase reconstruction tools

• FPGA/ASIC Argon2 recovery infrastructure

• PGP-secured, NDA-compliant communication

• No recovery = No fee policy