MetaMask · MetaMask Terms of Use · View original document ↗

Secret Recovery Phrase — No Recovery Guarantee

High severity Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

MetaMask cannot recover your wallet password or Secret Recovery Phrase under any circumstances — if you lose it, your crypto is gone forever.

This analysis describes what MetaMask's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This provision means users bear 100% of the risk of credential loss, with no safety net from MetaMask, which is a fundamentally different risk model than traditional financial services where banks can restore access.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

If you lose your Secret Recovery Phrase, you permanently lose access to all cryptocurrency held in your MetaMask wallet with no recourse — MetaMask has no obligation and no technical ability to help you recover your funds.

Cross-platform context

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
You are solely responsible for the security of your Secret Recovery Phrase and private keys. MetaMask does not have access to your Secret Recovery Phrase or private keys, and cannot help you recover them if they are lost. If you lose your Secret Recovery Phrase, you will permanently lose access to the digital assets held in your MetaMask wallet.

— Excerpt from MetaMask's MetaMask Terms of Use

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implicates consumer protection standards under FTC Act Section 5 (unfair or deceptive acts or practices) and state UDAP statutes, as the adequacy of disclosure of permanent loss risk may be assessed against reasonable consumer understanding. For EU users, GDPR Art. 25 (data protection by design and by default) and the EU's proposed framework for crypto-asset service providers under MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, Title II) are relevant, as custodial versus non-custodial distinctions affect regulatory obligations.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC Act Section 5 governs adequacy of consumer risk disclosures for digital asset services, including whether the permanent loss risk is communicated clearly enough.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State Attorneys General enforce consumer protection statutes (e.g., California CLRA, New York GBL §349) that may require more prominent disclosure of the permanent fund loss risk.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
MetaMask Terms of Use
Entity
MetaMask
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 20, 2026
Last verified
April 28, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-003658
Document ID
CA-D-00279
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
ec053f4776b90b65eb51c2683e3e1424a11d07e9193f47929c65fd9551785fde
Analysis generated
March 20, 2026 07:12 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: MetaMask
Document: MetaMask Terms of Use
Record ID: CA-P-003658
Captured: 2026-03-20 07:12:45 UTC
SHA-256: ec053f4776b90b65…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/metamask/metamask-terms-of-use/secret-recovery-phrase-no-recovery-guarantee/
Accessed: May 14, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Built from archived source documents, structured governance mappings, and historical version tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MetaMask's Secret Recovery Phrase — No Recovery Guarantee clause do?

This provision means users bear 100% of the risk of credential loss, with no safety net from MetaMask, which is a fundamentally different risk model than traditional financial services where banks can restore access.

How does this clause affect you?

If you lose your Secret Recovery Phrase, you permanently lose access to all cryptocurrency held in your MetaMask wallet with no recourse — MetaMask has no obligation and no technical ability to help you recover your funds.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with MetaMask?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by MetaMask.