<p>Most hardware wallet, such as the ones from <a href="https://www.ledgerwallet.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ledger</a>, have a recovery mode that allows you to enter in a mnemonic seed. </p>

<p>Provided that whatever originally generated the seed for you is compliant with <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIP-0039</a> you will be able to recover/reuse the private keys.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T01:07:03.223Z
I would consider ledger to be a computer
Jack Fraser
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T01:14:01.780Z
Fair enough. I thought you might have been asking about avoiding common computer platforms such as a PC etc. Hardware wallets are specialised devices with High Security Modules in that provide superior protection for sensitive data. In that case the only way to do it will be by hand with pen and paper (a calculator is a computer as well) using the algorithm detailed in BIP-0039.
sipsorcery
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T01:03:54.823Z
2017-11-16T01:03:54.823Z
sipsorcery
<p>While theoretically possible, the algorithms involved mean that it is practically impossible. You would need to compute the seed from your mnemonic word according to <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIP 39</a>, and then derive the keys and address from that according to <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0032.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIP 32</a>.</p>
<p>Generating the seed from the mnemonic alone requires executing the <a href="https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2898" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PBKDF2</a> function, which is specifically designed to take a long time for a <em>computer</em> to compute. The time required and the complexity of the problem mean that you've got no chance.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-16T05:32:42.890Z
2017-11-16T05:32:42.890Z
2021-10-07T07:34:52.683Z
Adam Millerchip
<p>I have a 12 word seed and I want to generate an address without exposing it to any computers. How can I accomplish this?</p>

<address-generation><bip32-hd-wallets><coldstorage><seed><mnemonic-seed>
How can I generate a Bitcoin address from a 12 word seed without using a computer?
Jack Fraser
# How can I generate a Bitcoin address from a 12 word seed without using a computer?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-16)

I have a 12 word seed and I want to generate an address without exposing it to any computers. How can I accomplish this?

**Tags:** address-generation, bip32-hd-wallets, coldstorage, seed, mnemonic-seed


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-11-16. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

While theoretically possible, the algorithms involved mean that it is practically impossible. You would need to compute the seed from your mnemonic word according to [BIP 39](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki), and then derive the keys and address from that according to [BIP 32](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0032.mediawiki).

Generating the seed from the mnemonic alone requires executing the [PBKDF2](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2898) function, which is specifically designed to take a long time for a *computer* to compute. The time required and the complexity of the problem mean that you've got no chance.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-11-16. Score: 1

Most hardware wallet, such as the ones from [Ledger](https://www.ledgerwallet.com/), have a recovery mode that allows you to enter in a mnemonic seed.

Provided that whatever originally generated the seed for you is compliant with [BIP-0039](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039.mediawiki) you will be able to recover/reuse the private keys.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I would consider ledger to be a computer  
> **username_1**: Fair enough. I thought you might have been asking about avoiding common computer platforms such as a PC etc. Hardware wallets are specialised devices with High Security Modules in that provide superior protection for sensitive data. In that case the only way to do it will be by hand with pen and paper (a calculator is a computer as well) using the algorithm detailed in BIP-0039.  

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