A private key is the secret that signs transactions for one account—whoever has it can move that account’s funds, no password reset required.
Quick answer
Your seed phrase is the master backup for the whole wallet. A private key is a secret for a specific derived account (for example a TON address). In My Wallet, keys stay on your device. My Wallet never asks you to email a private key, and official support never needs one.
Private key vs seed phrase vs address
| Piece | What it does | Share it? |
|---|---|---|
| Seed phrase (12/24 words) | Recreates the wallet and derived accounts | Never |
| Private key | Signs for one account / network path | Never |
| Public address | Where others send you crypto | Yes—carefully |
Quotable line: the address is the mailbox number; the private key is the only stamp that can send mail out.
How signing works (without the math)
- You decide to send crypto or approve a connection.
- The wallet builds a transaction.
- Your private key signs it on the device.
- The network checks the signature against the public address.
- If it matches, the transfer can go through.
You never need to type the private key into a website to “prove ownership.” Signing happens inside the official app.
Why people confuse private keys and seed phrases
- Restoring with the seed phrase brings back the multichain wallet (when derivation matches).
- On TON, My Wallet can also show a TON Private Key for importing that TON account into other TON wallets—or recovering TON access when you only have that key.
- Help Center warning: restoring with the TON Private Key alone gives access to the TON address and its assets—not the full multichain set tied to your seed.
If you only save a TON private key and lose the seed phrase, you may not see Solana, TRON, or EVM balances that lived under the same multichain wallet. Prefer backing up the seed phrase for full recovery. Details: How to recover using a TON Private Key.
Concrete examples of private-key failure
- Paste into a “claim airdrop” form. The form is the theft.
- Screenshot of export screens. Same camera-roll problem as seed phrases.
- Remote-control “support” sessions. A stranger watches you reveal Backup.
- Reusing a key from a random text file titled wallet.txt. Malware and sync tools love that folder.
Send this to a friend new to crypto: nobody legitimate needs your private key to “fix a stuck transaction.”
How My Wallet keeps keys non-custodial
- Create or import in the official app from get.mywallet.io.
- Backup settings let you view seed phrase and, where offered, TON Private Key—for your export to other supported wallets, not for support tickets.
- App password, biometrics, and app lock protect local access; they do not replace offline backup of the seed.
See also: What security settings does My Wallet offer?.
Download My Wallet
Download My Wallet to keep your private keys with you.
FAQ
Is my private key the same as my password?
No. A password unlocks the app. A private key authorizes on-chain actions for an account.
Can I have multiple private keys from one seed?
Yes. One seed can derive many accounts and network addresses. That is why losing the seed is worse than losing access to a single device.
Should I back up private keys or the seed phrase?
Back up the seed phrase first—it restores the wallet. Treat exported private keys as extra-sensitive; the TON-only key path does not replace a full seed backup.
What if my private key leaked?
Assume the account can be drained. Create a new wallet with a new seed, move remaining funds if you still can, and never reuse the leaked key. Read How to avoid crypto phishing scams.
Will My Wallet support ask for my private key?
No. Never share seed phrases or private keys with anyone claiming to be support.