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

# Use a Passphrase to Create Hidden Wallets in Trezor

> A passphrase adds a custom word to your seed phrase, creating an entirely separate hidden wallet — perfect for advanced security and plausible deniability.

A passphrase — sometimes called the **25th word** — is an optional advanced security feature that combines with your recovery seed to generate a completely separate wallet. Unlike your PIN, which controls access to the device itself, a passphrase controls which wallet you enter. Every unique passphrase unlocks a different wallet, and none of them leave any trace on the device.

## How It Works

Your Trezor uses your 24-word recovery seed as the foundation for your wallet. When you add a passphrase, the device mathematically combines the seed with that passphrase to derive an entirely different set of private keys and addresses. Change even one character of the passphrase and you get a completely different wallet.

Leaving the passphrase field **empty** brings you to your standard wallet — the one generated from your seed alone. This is the same wallet you access without the passphrase feature enabled, so enabling the feature does not affect your existing funds.

## Enable Passphrase

Before you can use a passphrase, you need to turn the feature on in Trezor Suite:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Trezor Suite">
    Connect your Trezor and unlock it with your PIN.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Device settings">
    Navigate to **Settings → Device → Enable passphrase**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Toggle the passphrase feature on">
    Confirm the action on your Trezor device when prompted. The feature is now active.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using a Passphrase

Once the feature is enabled, Trezor Suite will prompt you to enter a passphrase each time you connect. You can also enter the passphrase directly on the device if you are using a **Trezor Model T**, which has a touchscreen.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Connect and unlock your Trezor">
    Enter your PIN as usual when prompted by Trezor Suite.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your passphrase">
    Type your passphrase in Trezor Suite, or use the on-device keyboard on the Model T. Entries are case-sensitive and every character matters.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm on the device">
    The device asks you to confirm the passphrase entry. Approve it using the physical button(s).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access your hidden wallet">
    Trezor Suite loads the wallet derived from your seed and passphrase combination. You are now inside that hidden wallet.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Your passphrase is **not stored anywhere** — not on the device, not in Trezor Suite, and not on any Trezor server. If you forget your passphrase, the funds in that wallet are permanently and irreversibly inaccessible. There is no reset option, no recovery process, and no way for Trezor support to help. Treat your passphrase with the same care as your recovery seed.
</Warning>

<Tip>
  Write your passphrase down and store it in a different secure location from your recovery seed. If both are stored together and that location is compromised, an attacker gains full access to your funds. Keeping them separate maintains the security benefit of the passphrase.
</Tip>

## Plausible Deniability

Because any passphrase generates a valid wallet, you can maintain two or more wallets simultaneously: a standard wallet (empty passphrase) with a small amount of funds, and one or more passphrase-protected wallets where you keep the majority of your holdings.

If you are ever coerced into revealing your wallet, you can disclose the PIN and the empty-passphrase wallet without exposing your main funds. An observer has no way to tell whether additional hidden wallets exist.

***

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Is the passphrase case-sensitive?">
    Yes. Every character in your passphrase matters exactly as entered — including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, spaces, and special characters. `MyPassphrase` and `mypassphrase` produce completely different wallets. Double-check your passphrase carefully every time you enter it, and make sure you record it exactly as you intend to use it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I have multiple hidden wallets?">
    Yes. Every unique passphrase generates a distinct wallet. You can create as many hidden wallets as you like by using different passphrases. Just remember that each passphrase must be remembered or recorded accurately — there is no way to recover a passphrase-protected wallet without the exact passphrase.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the passphrase the same as the PIN?">
    No. These are two separate security features. Your **PIN** protects the device itself from unauthorized physical use — it locks and unlocks the Trezor hardware. Your **passphrase** is a cryptographic input that determines which wallet you access. A PIN can be changed or reset; a passphrase is mathematically baked into your wallet's keys and cannot be changed after funds are deposited into that wallet.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>