The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To set up an Exodus Bitcoin wallet, install the correct Exodus edition, create a wallet, and immediately record its 12-word secret key offline. That key—not your app password, phone lock, or cloud-device backup—is what restores the wallet. Exodus is self-custodial: the wallet is created locally, and Exodus says it cannot access your secret key, private keys, or transaction history. See the official overview at Exodus’s getting-started guide.
Choose the Exodus edition you need
| Edition | Supported platforms | How a new wallet starts |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus Desktop | Windows 64-bit, Linux, Mac, and Mac M1/M2/M3 | A new wallet is created automatically the first time you open the app |
| Exodus Mobile | iOS and Android | Tap Create a new wallet |
| Exodus Web3 Wallet | Chrome-based browsers, specifically Chrome and Brave | Click Create New Wallet |
Desktop, Mobile, and Web3 Wallet are separate interfaces documented by Exodus in its wallet setup documentation and Web3 Wallet guide. You can open a portfolio offline, but sending, receiving, and swaps that use third-party exchange APIs require an internet connection.
Set up Exodus Mobile
- Install Exodus from the official iOS or Android app store and open it.
- Tap Create a new wallet.
- Back up the secret key before depositing Bitcoin. Open the Wallet icon, swipe down to the profile screen, then select Settings → Backups → Secret Key.
- The first time you open Secret Key, read the seven security slides: tap Get started, confirm each slide, then press and hold Press and Hold to Reveal.
- Write all 12 words down in order on paper or another offline medium. On the first backup, tap Done, answer the verification question correctly, and tap Done again. On later views, swipe down to close; the first-use Done button does not return.
- Enable an available wallet lock. Device Lock appears when the phone has a passcode or screen lock; Passcode Lock may appear without one. iOS devices with Face ID can use Face ID Lock; Android devices with a fingerprint scanner can use Fingerprint Lock. Android does not support Face ID Lock.
Changing iOS Face ID/Touch ID settings or Android fingerprint settings automatically disables the corresponding Exodus lock. These locks protect the installed app; they cannot restore a deleted or lost wallet. The 12-word key is the recovery method. Follow the complete backup instructions at Exodus’s backup article.
Set up Exodus Desktop
- Install the desktop edition for your operating system and open it. Exodus creates a new wallet automatically on first launch.
- Open the settings icon in the top-right corner and choose the Backup tab.
- Enter a wallet password, click Next, enter it again, and click Next.
- Check the confirmation box, select View secret phrase, then check the box to show the secret key.
- Write the 12 words down offline and click Done. Answer the verification question and click Done.
The Desktop password encrypts and protects the local wallet but is not the recovery phrase. If you lose that password, Exodus cannot reset it; it can be reset only with the wallet’s secret key.
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Set up Exodus Web3 Wallet
- Install the Exodus Web3 Wallet extension in Chrome or Brave and click Create New Wallet. Take the Tour is optional.
- Create a case-sensitive password. The strength indicator changes from red to yellow to green; green is the strongest range. Exodus warns if Caps Lock is enabled. Click Next, re-enter the password, and click Get Started.
- Read the Terms and Privacy Policy, then click Continue.
- Back up the wallet through Profile icon → Security → Back Up. Check the confirmation box, enter the password, choose View Secret Phrase, and select Reveal secret recovery phrase. Record the words offline.
The extension becomes the default browser wallet after setup. Exodus recommends a separate Web3 Wallet rather than importing the wallet used for ordinary holdings because decentralized-app interactions add exposure. Only assets on supported networks appear after an import; Phantom or MetaMask imports restore addresses with prior transaction history, while addresses with no prior history may be newly created.
Use an additional Mobile passkey backup
Mobile can create an encrypted backup alongside the paper record. On iOS, the encrypted secret-key file is stored in iCloud and the passkey is stored in the device’s passkey manager, usually the Passwords app. On Android, the file is stored in Google Drive and the passkey in the default passkey manager.
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iOS path
- Open Wallet, swipe down to the profile screen, and select Settings → Backups → iCloud Backup.
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, a PIN, or a password.
- Name the backup, tap Create Backup, and tap Done.
Restoration requires both the cloud file and its passkey, the same Apple or Google account, the same passkey manager, and a passkey-capable device. An iOS backup restores only on iOS; an Android backup restores only on Android. A normal phone iCloud or Google device backup does not include the Exodus secret key and cannot restore the wallet. New backups can no longer use confirmation email or mobile number; backups made that way before November 2024 must be upgraded to a passkey backup. Details are in Exodus’s Mobile backup-vault guide.
Receive Bitcoin safely
Mobile
- Open Wallet, swipe down, find and tap Bitcoin, then tap Receive.
- If prompted, select the network.
- Give the sender the displayed address or QR code.
Desktop
- Open Wallet, select Bitcoin, and choose the network from the dropdown if necessary.
- Click Receive, then use the copy button beside the address. You can also display the QR code, email the address, or open it in a block explorer.
Web3 Wallet
- Open Wallet → Receive and select the asset.
- Copy the text address or display its QR code.
The sender’s asset and network must match a network supported by the receiving Exodus wallet. An unsupported asset or network may leave funds invisible and can require a recovery process. After broadcast, Mobile labels the transfer Pending; Desktop shows Receiving and Pending; Web3 Wallet shows In Progress. The balance becomes available after blockchain confirmation. Exodus’s transfer instructions are at this receiving guide.
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Organize multiple wallets and portfolios
On Desktop, each operating-system user account can contain one Exodus wallet, and each wallet has its own 12-word secret key. Desktop and Web3 Wallet also support up to three portfolios. Portfolios share one secret key but use separate addresses. For new Mobile wallets created after April 22, 2026, creating new portfolios is not available. See Exodus’s multiple-wallet guidance.
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Common setup mistakes to avoid
- Relying on phone cloud backup: ordinary iCloud or Google device backup does not protect the wallet.
- Confusing the password with recovery: the password protects the local installation; only the 12-word key restores it.
- Sharing recovery data: Exodus says support will never ask for secret keys, private keys, passwords, or sync QR codes. Contact support through the official support channel, but never disclose those credentials.
- Using an arbitrary Bitcoin network: confirm the receiving network before sending.
- Assuming every imported asset appears: visibility depends on supported networks and address history.
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