<p>Mnemonic is used to make it easier for us to create the root private key (for signing transactions). When you insert your mnemonic, behind the scene it's actually using the <strong>BIP39</strong> mechanism to create the <strong>root private key</strong>. And this private key is the one that is actually being stored, <em>not</em> the mnemonic seed phrase itself. If you'd like, you can 'walk back' the private key into a mnemonic seed phrase, but it's quite tasking.</p>
<p>I don't really know much about the Daedalus wallet, but with a light wallet (Like Eternl, Nami, Yoroi, etc), the private key is stored encrypted with your wallet password.</p>
<p>References on how <strong>BIP39</strong> and <strong>Key Derivation works</strong> in Cardano:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://developers.cardano.org/docs/get-started/technical-concepts#mnemonic-seed-phrase-bip39" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://developers.cardano.org/docs/get-started/technical-concepts#mnemonic-seed-phrase-bip39</a></li>
<li><a href="https://developers.cardano.org/docs/get-started/technical-concepts#key-derivation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://developers.cardano.org/docs/get-started/technical-concepts#key-derivation</a></li>
</ul>
<p>In newer Daedalus, <strong>there isn't any information regarding the location of the secret.key</strong>, only in older Daedalus.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://iohk.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900000623463-Importing-wallets" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://iohk.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900000623463-Importing-wallets</a></li>
<li><a href="https://forum.cardano.org/t/where-are-the-public-and-private-keys-located-in-daedalus/6522" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://forum.cardano.org/t/where-are-the-public-and-private-keys-located-in-daedalus/6522</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-29T14:07:42.727Z
2022-03-29T14:07:42.727Z
Dani Ihza Farrosi
<p>I'd like to know where the mnemonic (if at all) is stored in the Daedalus directory. I am running on Ubuntu 20.04, and I'd like to extract the mnemonic from the filesystem. (Assuming I am not using a hardware wallet).</p>

<wallet><daedalus>
Where is the mnemonic stored in Daedalus?
# Where is the mnemonic stored in Daedalus?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-24)

I'd like to know where the mnemonic (if at all) is stored in the Daedalus directory. I am running on Ubuntu 20.04, and I'd like to extract the mnemonic from the filesystem. (Assuming I am not using a hardware wallet).

**Tags:** wallet, daedalus

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-03-29. Score: 3

Mnemonic is used to make it easier for us to create the root private key (for signing transactions). When you insert your mnemonic, behind the scene it's actually using the **BIP39** mechanism to create the **root private key**. And this private key is the one that is actually being stored, *not* the mnemonic seed phrase itself. If you'd like, you can 'walk back' the private key into a mnemonic seed phrase, but it's quite tasking.

I don't really know much about the Daedalus wallet, but with a light wallet (Like Eternl, Nami, Yoroi, etc), the private key is stored encrypted with your wallet password.

References on how **BIP39** and **Key Derivation works** in Cardano:

* <https://developers.cardano.org/docs/get-started/technical-concepts#mnemonic-seed-phrase-bip39>
* <https://developers.cardano.org/docs/get-started/technical-concepts#key-derivation>

In newer Daedalus, **there isn't any information regarding the location of the secret.key**, only in older Daedalus.

* <https://iohk.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900000623463-Importing-wallets>
* <https://forum.cardano.org/t/where-are-the-public-and-private-keys-located-in-daedalus/6522>


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