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I lost my encryption passphrase—now what?

Don’t panic. Here’s what you can (and can’t) do.

Thanasis Karavasilis avatar
Written by Thanasis Karavasilis
Updated over a week ago

If you’ve lost your encryption passphrase, we’ll be honest: there’s no way to recover it. That’s the trade-off for a system where only you control access to your data.

But there are still a few things you can do to reduce the impact. This guide walks you through each step.

1. Understand what’s at stake

Your encryption passphrase is the only way to unlock your files. Without it:

  • Hivenet can’t access your data

  • Our support team can’t reset or recover it

  • Your files will remain encrypted and unreadable—by anyone

2. Double-check everywhere

Look for any record of your passphrase:

  • Password managers

  • Secure notes apps

  • Paper backups

  • Physical safes

  • Trusted devices (still logged in)

You’d be surprised how often a copy turns up.

3. If you’re still logged in, back up your data now

If you have a device that’s still logged into Hivenet (desktop or mobile):

  • Open the app

  • Manually copy all important files to a separate, secure location

  • Do this before logging out or uninstalling anything

Once you log out, that device won’t be able to access your encrypted files again without the passphrase.

4. Delete your account (if needed)

If you’re sure the passphrase is lost and you’ve recovered what you can:

Make sure you’ve saved anything important first. This step is irreversible.

5. Create a new account

You’re welcome to start fresh at any time. Just:

  • Sign up again through the Hivenet app or website

  • Choose a new, strong passphrase

  • Store it safely (ideally in a password manager)

And you’ll be back in action—with a bit of hard-earned wisdom.

We know this kind of situation can be stressful. If you need help backing up your files or navigating account deletion, our support team is here to assist.


Previous:
⬅️ Securing your passphrase

Next:
➡️ Wrapping up

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