Onboarding and Access

Choose a path on the welcome screen

Open the extension with no wallet yet and you land on the welcome screen. Pick one of five paths: Create New Wallet, Import Existing Wallet, Load from Ledger, Load from Polkadot Vault, or Restore from Backup. Set theme to dark, light, or follow the system setting, and switch view mode between popup and side panel here.

Create a new wallet

Set a password that meets strength requirements. The wallet generates a seed phrase; choose 12, 15, 18, 21, or 24 words. Regenerate the phrase if you want a new one, copy it when ready, and name the account. Confirm the phrase word by word before the wallet is created. After verification you can enroll passkey unlock (optional). You then arrive on the home screen.

Import an existing wallet

Set a password, then paste a BIP-39 mnemonic or a hex-encoded seed. The wallet derives the account and shows the address as you type. Name the account and finish import. Optional passkey setup follows, then the home screen.

Set up with Ledger

Set a password, connect the Ledger over USB, and authorize the device. The wallet waits for the Bittensor app. Select one or more accounts from the device (multi-select, balance preview, load more, load by index). You land on the home screen when done.

Set up with Polkadot Vault

Set a password, then scan the address QR code from your Polkadot Vault device. The extension opens the camera inline; if permission is missing, it opens a tab to authorize it first. Review the scanned address, name the account, and tap Create Wallet. You land on the home screen when done. No seed phrase is stored in the wallet - it exists only on the air-gapped device. For details on Vault usage after setup, see Polkadot Vault.

Restore from a backup file

Pick a .tawb file (the wallet's encrypted backup format). Enter the backup password; the extension checks it locally by trying to decrypt. Review metadata: creation date, account count, and an optional password hint if one was saved. Decide how to secure the restored vault: keep the current password if a wallet already exists, reuse the backup password, or set a new one. Optional passkey setup, then home. If a wallet is already present, you see a warning before you continue.

Unlock the wallet

You unlock from the lock screen whenever a vault already exists but is locked. Enter the wallet password or use a passkey if you enabled it. After failed attempts, a lockout timer counts down before you can try again. Network status appears on the row; on Finney the current TAO price shows. Pending dApp approvals surface as a tappable banner at the bottom. Change theme or popup vs side panel from here. Savant AI input sits at the bottom for queries.

Forgot password

Open this flow from the unlock screen. The copy explains there is no server-side reset: restore from a backup or delete the wallet and start over. Delete Wallet and Start Over asks you to type DELETE to confirm, then returns you to the welcome screen.

Switch between popup and side panel

Run the wallet as a small toolbar popup or as a persistent browser side panel; most behavior matches in either mode. Enrolling a passkey needs the side panel, and the wallet will ask you to switch when required. Change display mode from the welcome screen, the lock screen, or Settings > Appearance.