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Your recovery key

Your recovery key is the safety net that restores your encrypted messages if you ever lose access to all your signed-in devices. Create it, store it somewhere safe, and know how to use it.

Security note: Your recovery key can unlock your secure backup, so treat it like the key to a safe. Store it somewhere only you can reach, and never paste it into a chat, email, or anyone else's device.

What the recovery key is

When you set up secure backup, Letro generates a recovery key — a long string of letters and numbers. It's the one thing that can unlock your encrypted message history on a brand-new device when you have no other verified device to confirm from.

You'll use it in two situations:

  • Signing in on a new device when you can't verify from an existing one.
  • Getting back into your account after being signed out everywhere.

Create and save your recovery key

Your recovery key is created during secure backup setup. If you have it on screen now:

On Web & Desktop

  1. During secure backup setup, Letro shows your generated recovery key.
  2. Select Copy or Download, and store it somewhere safe (see storage tips below).
  3. Continue, and re-enter or confirm the key when Letro asks — this proves you saved it.

To find or reset it later, go to Settings → Security & Privacy → Encryption.

On iOS

  1. During secure backup setup, Letro shows your recovery key.
  2. Copy it and store it somewhere safe.
  3. Confirm the key when prompted.

To manage it later, go to Settings → Security & Privacy → Encryption.

On Android

  1. During secure backup setup, Letro shows your recovery key.
  2. Copy it and store it somewhere safe.
  3. Confirm the key when prompted.

To manage it later, go to Settings → Security & Privacy → Encryption.

Use your recovery key to restore

When Letro asks you to verify a new device and you don't have another device to confirm from:

  1. On the new device, choose Use recovery key (or Verify with recovery key).
  2. Enter your saved recovery key exactly.
  3. Letro unlocks your secure backup and restores your encrypted messages to the new device.

Where to store it safely

  • A password manager — the recommended option. Save it as a secure note.
  • Printed and locked away — for example in a safe or with other important documents.
  • Not in a plain text file on your desktop, a screenshot in your camera roll, or a message to yourself in any app.

Good to know

  • Losing your recovery key isn't fatal — as long as you still have a verified device. From a device that's already signed in, you can generate a new recovery key in Settings → Security & Privacy → Encryption. Do this immediately if you think the key was exposed.
  • If you lose the key and all verified devices, your past encrypted messages can't be recovered — no one, including Letro, can unlock them for you. New messages after you sign back in will be fine.
  • A recovery key is per person, not per device. The same key works to restore any new device you add.
  • Reset it if it may have leaked. Generating a new recovery key invalidates the old one.

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