> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://crossmint-devin-1787949784-wallet-docs-two-concept-model.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Recovery Methods

> How recovery methods prove wallet ownership and restore access.

Recovery is the process of regaining signing access to a wallet when the original signer is no longer available. The most common trigger is a user switching to a new device — the device signer on the old phone or laptop cannot be transferred, so the user must authenticate with their recovery method and enroll a new device key.

Operational signers handle day-to-day wallet actions. See [Signers](/wallets/concepts/signers) for that side of the model.

## What a Recovery Method Is For

A recovery method can authorize:

* Adding a new operational signer, such as a new device.
* Removing an operational signer.
* Adding or removing another recovery method.
* Restoring access when no operational signer is available.

For the recovery flow, including detection, authentication, and device re-enrollment, see [Recover a Wallet](/wallets/guides/signers/wallet-recovery).

## Recovery Method Types

| Method          | Best For                                              | How Access Is Verified                                         |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Email           | Consumer applications                                 | One-time code sent to the user's email address                 |
| Phone           | Mobile applications                                   | One-time code sent by SMS                                      |
| Passkey         | Biometric recovery                                    | Face, fingerprint, or device PIN through WebAuthn              |
| Server key      | Company wallets, backend applications, and agents     | A secret stored in your infrastructure                         |
| External wallet | Applications where the user already controls a wallet | Signature from the external wallet                             |
| Cloud KMS       | Company and treasury wallets                          | Signature from a key held in your cloud key management service |

## Multiple Recovery Methods

Wallets can have one or more recovery methods, and each method can authorize on its own. Recovery methods are configured through the wallet's `recovery` configuration.

In the SDK, `wallet.signers()` returns the wallet's operational signers and `wallet.recovery` returns the recovery method configuration the wallet is currently using.

## Recovery and Custody

Recovery authorization is enforced onchain. Crossmint cannot bypass the configured recovery method.

Whoever controls a recovery method can also change signers and send transactions. Account for that authority when choosing a [Custody Model](/wallets/concepts/custody-models).

<Accordion title="How it works onchain">
  Recovery methods are registered in the wallet's onchain signer set. The REST API field is `recovery`; `adminSigner` is its deprecated alias. Authorization is enforced by the smart contract. Email and phone methods derive their key inside a TEE.
</Accordion>

## See Also

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Configure Recovery" icon="shield-halved" href="/wallets/guides/signers/configure-recovery">
    Set up recovery methods for a wallet
  </Card>

  <Card title="Wallet Recovery" icon="rotate" href="/wallets/guides/signers/wallet-recovery">
    Recover wallet access when an operational signer is unavailable
  </Card>

  <Card title="Operational Signers" icon="key" href="/wallets/concepts/signers">
    Choose signers for day-to-day wallet actions
  </Card>
</CardGroup>