> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.ellipal.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.ellipal.com/docs/troubleshooting-and-support/loss-security-and-support/why-is-my-seed-phrase-invalid-when-i-import-it.md).

# Why Is My Seed Phrase Invalid When I Import It?

An "invalid seed phrase" error means the ELLIPAL App or device cannot recognize one or more of the words you entered. This almost always comes down to a typo, a word that isn't part of the standard word list, a word out of order, or a stray extra space. Checking the four points below will usually find it.

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### Common Causes of an Invalid Seed Phrase

1. **Incorrect spelling**: Check every word carefully for typos, and make sure all letters are lowercase.
2. **A word that isn't in the BIP39 list**: Your seed phrase is built entirely from a fixed list of 2,048 words defined by the BIP39 standard, the technical spec that hardware wallets use to generate and check seed phrases. If a word isn't on that list, the wallet will reject it. Compare each word against the [official BIP39 word list](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0039/english.txt) to catch misspellings.
3. **Words entered in the wrong order**: Your seed phrase must be entered in the exact sequence it was originally generated in. Even correct words in the wrong order will fail.
4. **Extra spacing**: Remove any extra spaces before, between, or after the words. Each word should be separated by a single space, and there should be no trailing space after the last word.

Once you've corrected the phrase against all four points, try the import again.

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### How to Confirm It Worked

After re-entering the corrected seed phrase, the ELLIPAL App or device should accept it without an error and load your wallet's accounts and balances. If the same error appears again, work through the four causes above one more time, word by word.

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### FAQ

<details>

<summary><strong>What is BIP39, and why does it matter for my seed phrase?</strong></summary>

BIP39 is the technical standard that defines the 2,048-word list used to generate and check seed phrases across most hardware wallets. If a word you entered isn't part of that list, the wallet has no way to recognize it, which triggers the invalid seed phrase error.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>I've checked every word and the phrase still won't import. What should I do?</strong></summary>

Recheck the word order and spacing first, since those are the most commonly missed causes. If the phrase still fails after that, contact ELLIPAL support with the device model and app version so the team can help troubleshoot further.

</details>

<details>

<summary><strong>Can capital letters or punctuation in my seed phrase cause this error?</strong></summary>

Yes. Seed phrase words must be entered in lowercase, with no punctuation or extra characters. Any capitalization or added symbols will cause the word to not match the BIP39 list.

</details>

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### Related Guides