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Show HN: Offline, open-source app to recover a seed phrase with a missing word
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
A new offline, open-source tool enables users to retrieve partially forgotten BIP39 seed phrases. It fixes typos, brute-forces up to three missing words, and searches word order. The application never connects to the internet, keeping sensitive phrases local.
BIP39 seed phrases consist of 12 to 24 words that back up crypto wallets. A single misspelling or missing word can lock users out of funds. Online recovery services require entering the phrase into a website, exposing it to theft. This tool runs entirely on the user's machine.
The core logic, under 200 lines of Python, is validated against official Trezor/BIP39 test vectors. It supports Bitcoin addresses starting with 1, 3, bc1q, and bc1p, plus Ethereum addresses. A 12-word reorder takes minutes; longer phrases can take days.
The tool addresses a security gap by letting users verify code and run it offline. It checks candidates against a known Bitcoin or Ethereum address, returning the correct phrase rather than a list of valid ones. Developers warn that a fully lost phrase cannot be recovered.
Developers call the project an early prototype that has not been fully audited. They encourage users to read the source, run test vectors, and disconnect from the internet before handling real phrases. Installers are not code-signed, so Windows and macOS show warnings.
A free tier covers typo fixes, one missing word with address check, and word order. A paid tier, gated by an Ed25519-signed license key, enables multi-word searches. The desktop GUI uses Tauri and Rust, with continuous integration tests on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
The project aims to provide a trustless recovery method for self-custody users. Future work includes independent audits and code signing. Developers stress that no legitimate tool can recover a completely lost phrase, and any such claim is a scam.
