How Does Vault Work?
Creating your Vault generated 3 keys:
- The Vault Key (Yours)
- The Backup Key (Yours)
- The Uphold Key
Vault uses a multi-signature (“multi-sig”) setup that requires two of your three keys to move funds..
Lose either of your keys and Uphold will help you replace it, restoring access to the funds in your wallet.
The Uphold Key can co-sign transactions (that you initiate) from your Vault to your Uphold wallet, and it can also help with key replacement.
Vault Keys Explained
This key is generated when you set up your Vault and is stored securely on your device. For convenience, it’s automatically used (alongside the Uphold Key) whenever you transfer assets from Vault into your Uphold trading account.
Uphold can’t access or see this key, so we strongly recommend that you back it up. When setting up your Vault Key, you’ll be prompted to back it up to either your iCloud or Google Drive account in case you lose your device.
Your Backup Key is generated during setup and serves as a secondary way to access your Vault assets. It comes into play under rare circumstances, such as if you lose access to the Uphold platform, or if you wish to move your assets without involving Uphold.
As part of setting up your Vault, you’ll be guided through the steps to create this key and back it up securely. For better security, make sure you store your Backup Key in a location separate from your Vault Key. This ensures that a potential breach of your iCloud or Google Drive account doesn't compromise both keys simultaneously.
This is used day to day, as directed by you, to co-sign transactions from your Vault into your Uphold wallet.
How to locate your keys
Both your Vault Key and Backup Key were generated when you signed up to Vault.
The table below is a summary of that process and your recovery options.
| Vault Key | Backup Key | |
| How was it stored? | Automatically stored in the secure element of your device and optionally in your cloud storage (e.g. iCloud / G-Drive). |
Prompted to write it down during sign-up, advised to store it securely offline.
Tip: May be recorded on paper or a steel backup plate. |
| How/Where can I retrieve it? | Navigate to your cloud storage, open folder "DO NOT DELETE - Uphold" to find the file vault.txt containing the 12-word Vault Key. | Stored physically, so only you can know where it is. |
| Additional Info | If you have replaced your key before, pick the file with the most recent date in the filename: vault (date).txt | Only you can know the status of your Backup Key. It is your responsibility to store it safely. |
Replacing a lost or compromised Key
As long as you have access to either your Vault Key or your Backup Key, you can use the Uphold app to replace a key if it’s lost or you think it’s been compromised..
Tapping on Manage Keys within the Vault section of the Uphold app presents you with the ability to check on the ‘health’ of the Vault Key stored on that device, as well as the option to replace either key.
Health Check Options:
The below table summarizes the different messages and possible actions that you can take to safeguard or replace your keys.
| Health Check status | Message | Recommended action | |
| Vault Key | Yellow warning | Cloud service provider is disconnected | Tap Connect to Cloud and verify key storage. |
| Yellow warning | Your Vault Key is missing from the cloud | Tap Save in the Cloud to back up your key to your storage | |
| Red warning | Your Vault Key is missing from your device and the cloud | Tap Add Vault Key to generate a new vault key or to connect to an alternative cloud service where the key may be stored. | |
| Backup Key | Not Applicable | You alone know the status of your Backup Key. If you wish to replace it, tap Want a New Key? | |
| Both Keys | Not Applicable | If both keys are lost and neither backed up, permanent loss of asset access will occur. |
Vault Assist: Accessing your funds outside of the Uphold App
Vault Assist allows you to access and move all funds from your Vault at any time.
Because it is designed as a last-resort recovery tool, it only supports full withdrawals (100% of funds) for each blockchain-linked Vault—partial withdrawals are not possible.
The hosted location is operated independently of Uphold so that it remains accessible in the extremely unlikely event that Uphold is no longer available.
Requirements to use Vault Assist:
To complete a withdrawal, you must have access to all of the following:
- Vault Key
- Backup Key
- The wallet address for each Vault (per blockchain) and, for BTC Vaults, the BTC Output Descriptor:
- Both are included in the confirmation email sent after each Vault creation;
- Email subject: “Vault account successfully created!”;
- The Vault address is also visible in the Uphold app by selecting the specific Vault and tapping Receive.
- Destination address and tag for the wallet receiving the funds.
Steps to withdraw funds:
- Open Vault Assist Tool.
- Select the crypto asset you want to withdraw (e.g., XRP*, BTC).
- Enter your Vault Address (and for BTC Vaults, your BTC Output Descriptor) and tap Submit.
- Review the Vault balance, then tap Withdraw from Vault to continue.
- A notice will appear explaining what to expect when withdrawing with Vault Assist — if you agree, tap Continue to proceed.
- Enter the destination address and tag, then tap Submit.
- Enter your Vault Key and Backup Key, then tap Confirm and withdraw.
*If you hold XRPL tokens like SOLO or CORE, you must withdraw these tokens first before you can withdraw XRP. XRP is required to transfer any other tokens on the network.
🚨 Important:
- Removing your assets from a Vault via the Vault Assist Tool will result in that Vault being deactivated.
- You can create a new Vault at anytime
- Once you have used the Vault Assist tool, we strongly recommend that you do not reuse those keys.