How to Set Up and Use Tangem Wallet Without a Seed Phrase

This guide is for anyone who wants to set up a Tangem Wallet without a seed phrase. With this method, the Tangem cards in one set act as both the key for using the wallet and its backup, so store each card separately from day one.

Before you start

• Use an iPhone or Android phone with NFC switched on
• Download Tangem App from the App Store or Google Play only
• Keep every Tangem card in the set close by, especially for a 2-card or 3-card set
• Set up somewhere private, and do not let anyone see your screen or cards while you do it

Before you begin, check that the box and cards look normal. If anything seems wrong, or you are not sure the device is unused, stop and contact SIAMBC before going any further.

How to set up Tangem Wallet without a seed phrase

1. Open Tangem App and choose Scan card

Open the Tangem app and tap Scan card to start checking and setting up the first card.

2. Tap the first card against the back of your phone

Hold the card against the back of the phone and keep it still until the app has finished reading it. The NFC antenna sits in a different place on each phone model, so if the app cannot read the card, slide it slowly around the back of the phone without leaving this screen.

3. Choose Create wallet

Once the app has read the card, it offers to create a wallet. Choose Create wallet for setup without a seed phrase. Do not choose Other options, because that menu is for setup with a seed phrase.

At this step the card creates the wallet's key inside its own chip, so there is no list of words to write down or copy from the screen.

Add the backup cards

After the wallet is created, the app takes you to adding backup cards. Every backup card in the set opens the same wallet. Finish this step before you receive or send any assets.

4. Tap Add a backup card

Tap Add a backup card to start linking a backup card to the wallet you just created.

5. Scan the second card

Tap the second card against the phone and wait for the app to confirm it has been added. For a 2-card set, this is the only card you add.

6. For a 3-card set, add the third card, then tap Finalize the backup

Tap Add a backup card again to add the third card. When every card is added, tap Finalize the backup to confirm the backup cards for this set.

Set an Access Code

The Access Code protects the cards from being used by someone else. Do not use a code that is easy to guess, such as a birthday or phone number, and never send it to anyone by chat or email.

7. Read the explanation, then tap Continue

This screen explains that the Access Code protects the cards, and that you can set a separate code for each card later.

8. Set the Access Code

Enter a code you can remember that others would find hard to guess, then tap Continue. The code can be numbers, a word or a phrase, as the app allows.

9. Enter the same code again to confirm

Type the Access Code again exactly as before, then tap Submit to confirm.

Scan every card to finish setup

The app asks you to scan the cards in order to confirm the set. Check the last four digits shown on screen each time, then tap the card that matches.

10. Scan the primary card

Tap Scan the primary card, then hold the first card against the phone until the app has finished.

11. Scan the first backup card

When the screen shows Backup card #1, scan the backup card whose last digits match the ones the app shows.

12. If you have a third card, scan Backup card #2

A 3-card set has one more round for the second backup card. Skip this step for a 2-card set.

13. Tap Continue to my wallet

When the app shows that setup is complete, tap Continue to my wallet to go to the wallet's main screen.

What to do after setup

• Keep each card in a different place. Never keep them in the same bag or the same drawer.
• Open the wallet with at least one backup card to confirm it works.
• Before receiving a large amount, test with a small one and check the whole address, every character.
• If anyone claiming to be support asks for your Access Code or asks you to make a transaction, stop contacting them at once. Neither SIAMBC nor Tangem ever asks for this.

Frequently asked questions

If the primary card is lost, can I use a backup card?

Yes. Once a backup card has been added to the set, any other card in the same set can open the same wallet.

What happens if every card is lost?

With setup without a seed phrase, there is no seed phrase to recover from if the whole set is lost or stops working at the same time. That is why the cards must be stored apart.

What if I forget the Access Code?

Do not keep guessing. If you still have other cards in the set, contact SIAMBC for advice that fits your situation, and never reveal your code or any private wallet details to anyone.

Summary

Setting up Tangem without a seed phrase uses the cards in one set as the backup. The heart of this method is adding every backup card, setting a secure Access Code and storing each card separately, with a plan.

Last checked: 29 August 2026. Screens and button names may change with new versions of Tangem App.