App Functionality

• What do I do if I can’t scan the card?

  If you use an iOS device, you should tap the card on the top of your iPhone and hold it until it is scanned. When you tap the "Scan" button, an animation shows you how to attach the card correctly to your phone. In some cases, we also advise you to restart the mobile device.

  If you use an Android device, we advise you to pay attention to the following points while scanning the card:
  1. Сheck if the NFC module is enabled on your device and for the Tangem app.
  2. Remove the case from the mobile device, as it may interfere with the NFC module.
  3. The NFC module location is different on Android mobile devices. You need to determine the exact location of the NFC module on your phone. You can do this using the hint by tapping the "How to" button in the scan window. 
  4. Then you need to tap the card on your mobile device a little longer when scanning because sometimes the NFC module on Android devices responds longer than usual.
  5. Sometimes, we advise you to restart the mobile device.

  If the issue is not solved after following all the steps, please send a request through the app in the window "Are you having trouble scanning the card?" by double-clicking "Cancel" when scanning.

• How do I create Tangem Wallet 2.0 without a seed phrase?

  To get started with Tangem Wallet, you'll need an NFC-enabled mobile device and the official Tangem app. You can download the Tangem app from the App Store and Google Play. You can also tap the card on your phone's NFC module, and be prompted to download the app from the store.

  To set up your Tangem Wallet without a seed phrase, follow these steps:
  1. Open the Tangem app.
  2. Tap "Scan" and then scan the card by tapping it on your phone.
  3. Select "Create wallet" and scan the card again. At this point, all the keys are generated inside the card, and the wallet is created.

  The wallet will then prompt you to create a backup. You can back up your keys to two other blank Tangem Wallet cards. All the cards can be used to access our wallet. But if you only add one backup card now, you won't be able to add more later. To start the backup process, follow these steps: 
  1. Select "Backup now".
  2. Tap "Add a backup card".
  3. Scan a backup card by tapping it on your phone.
  If you try to add a card that has been used to create a wallet, the app will ask you to reset the card and proceed with the backup process. You can only use blank Tangem Wallet cards to create a backup.
  Do not reset the card if the attached card contains funds, as this will result in losing those funds. 
  4. You can link a third card if you have it or complete the process. To link the third card, tap "Add a backup card" and scan the card.
  5. Tap the "Finalize the backup".
  

  You will then be asked to create a single access code to protect all the cards.
  1. Tap "Continue" and enter an access code. Use any word, phrase, or number as your access code. You can set a unique access code for each card later.
  2. Select "Continue", re-enter your access code to avoid a mistake and tap the "Submit" button.
  3. Scan all the cards again to finish the process.

• How do I create Tangem Wallet 2.0 with a seed phrase?

  To get started with Tangem Wallet, you'll need an NFC-enabled mobile device and the official Tangem app. You can download the Tangem app from the App Store and Google Play. You can also tap the card on your phone's NFC module, and be prompted to download the app from the store.

  A seed phrase is a series of words that allows you to recover your wallet. Unlike the keys the card generates, seed phrases are unprotected and can be copied and stolen. Use this option at your own risk.

  To set up your Tangem Wallet with a seed phrase, follow these steps:
  1. Open the Tangem app.
  2. Tap "Scan" and scan the card by tapping it on your phone.
  3. Select "Other options".
  4. Select "Generate seed phrase". Your seed phrase will appear on your screen. Write these 12 words down in order and keep them in a safe and secret place.
  5. Tap "Continue". To check whether you've written down your seed phrase correctly, enter the words on the screen in the correct order. 6. Tap "Create wallet" and scan the card. 

  The wallet will then prompt you to create a backup. You can back up your keys to two other blank Tangem Wallet cards. All the cards can be used to access our wallet. But if you only add one backup card now, you won't be able to add more later. To start the backup process, follow these steps: 
  1. Select "Backup now".
  2. Tap "Add a backup card".
  3. Scan a backup card by tapping it on your phone.
  If you try to add a card that has been used to create a wallet, the app will ask you to reset the card and proceed with the backup process. You can only use blank Tangem Wallet cards to create a backup.
  Do not reset the card if the attached card contains funds, as this will result in losing those funds. 
  4. You can link a third card if you have it or complete the process. To link the third card, tap "Add a backup card" and scan the card.
  5. Tap the "Finalize the backup".
  

  You will then be asked to create a single access code to protect all the cards.
  1. Tap "Continue" and enter an access code. Use any word, phrase, or number as your access code. You can set a unique access code for each card later.
  2. Select "Continue", re-enter your access code to avoid a mistake and tap the "Submit" button.
  3. Scan all the cards again to finish the process.

• How do I import a wallet to Tangem Wallet 2.0?

  You can import your wallet to Tangem Wallet using a seed phrase of 12, 14, 18, 21 or 24 words. To do this, follow these instructions:
  1. Open the Tangem app.
  2. Tap "Scan" and scan the card by tapping it on your phone.
  3. Select "Other options" and then "Import wallet".
  4. Enter your seed phrase, tap "Import" and scan the card.

  The wallet will then prompt you to create a backup. You can back up your keys to two other blank Tangem Wallet cards. All the cards can be used to access our wallet. But if you only add one backup card now, you won't be able to add more later. To start the backup process, follow these steps: 
  1. Select "Backup now".
  2. Tap "Add a backup card".
  3. Scan a backup card by tapping it on your phone.
  If you try to add a card that has been used to create a wallet, the app will ask you to reset the card and proceed with the backup process. You can only use blank Tangem Wallet cards to create a backup.
  Do not reset the card if the attached card contains funds, as this will result in losing those funds. 
  4. You can link a third card if you have it or complete the process. To link the third card, tap "Add a backup card" and scan the card.
  5. Tap the "Finalize the backup".
  

  You will then be asked to create a single access code to protect all the cards.
  1. Tap "Continue" and enter an access code. Use any word, phrase, or number as your access code. You can set a unique access code for each card later.
  2. Select "Continue", re-enter your access code to avoid a mistake and tap the "Submit" button.
  3. Scan all the cards again to finish the process.

• How do I create Tangem Wallet 1.0?

  To get started with Tangem Wallet, you'll need a mobile device that supports NFC and the official Tangem app. The Tangem app is available for download from the App Store and Google Play. You can also tap the card on your phone's NFC module, and be prompted to download the app from the store.

  To set up your Tangem Wallet with a backup, follow these instructions:

  1. Open the Tangem app.

  2. Tap the "Scan" button and scan the card by placing it close to the device.

  3. Choose the "Create wallet" option and scan the card again.

  At this point, all the keys are generated and the wallet is created.

  The wallet will then prompt you to create a backup. You can back up your keys to two other blank Tangem Wallet cards. Please note that you can either create a backup now or later. If you add one backup card now, however, you won’t be able to add more backup cards later. To start the backup process:

  — Select the "Back up now" option.

  — Tap the "Add a backup card" button.

  — Scan a backup card, placing the card close to the device.

  — Repeat the last 2 points as many times as there are cards in your bundle. You can link up to 3 cards to one wallet.

  — Tap the "Finalize the backup process" button.

  You will then be asked to create a single access code to protect all the cards.

  1. Tap the "Continue" button and enter an access code. Choose any word, phrase or number you want as your access code. You can set a unique access code for each card later.

  2. After that, select the "Continue" option, enter your access code again, and tap the "Submit" button.

  3. Scan all the cards one by one again.

  Here is a video explaining how to set up your Tangem Wallet, while step-by-step instructions with screenshots can be found on our blog.

• What do I do if I can't create a backup and see the "This card already has a wallet" error message?

  This error can occur if the second card has already created a wallet. In such cases, you should reset the second card to factory settings:

  1. Open the Tangem app by scanning the card.

  2. If you have any crypto on this card, transfer it to the first card.

  3. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

  4. Select "Card settings", then "Reset to factory settings".

  5. Scan the card.

  After that, you can create a backup by following these instructions:

  1. Scan the card that has already been used to create a wallet.

  2. Tap the "Back up now" button. 

  3. Tap the "Add a backup card" button. 

  4. Bring the card close to your mobile device. 

  5. Repeat the last 2 points as many times as there are cards in your bundle. You can link up to 3 cards to one wallet.

  6. Tap the "Finalize the backup process" button. 

  7. Select "Continue" and create an access code. 

  8. Scan all the cards one by one again.

  P.S. Remember to withdraw your cryptocurrency beforehand if you already have funds on the second card!

• What languages does the Tangem app support?

  The Tangem app is fully available in Russian, English and Chinese, and partially available in Italian, French and German.

• Can I use multiple wallets on one device?

  You can use an unlimited number of wallets on one mobile device. The phone itself doesn't store any assets you hold; it simply acts as a display by visualizing specific data for a particular user on screen. The storage of private keys and signing of transactions is done by your card.

• Are Tangem servers used for blockchain operations?

  Tangem doesn’t have its own servers that connect to blockchains. It is the app on your phone which communicates directly with the blockchain. Tangem's philosophy is to provide users with a technological solution for interacting with crypto assets and nothing more. The wallet protocol looks like this: card <-> application <-> blockchain.

• Can I use the Tangem app without the internet on my phone?

  Cryptocurrency is stored on blockchains, and the card holds the keys to the blockchain addresses. Without the internet, there is no access to the blockchain, and it is impossible to know your current balance so you can't spend money. You can, however, top up your balance.

• How do I change an access code?

  Method 1, if you have forgotten your card access code:

  1. Open the Tangem app and scan the card on which you want to reset your access code.

  2. On the access code entry screen, tap the "Forgot your code?" button.

  3. On the next screen, enter the new access code twice.

  4. Tap "Continue" and attach the card for which you want to reset the access code. Wait 15 seconds for the countdown to finish.

  5. Tap "Continue" and attach a backup card (second or third from the set). Wait 15 seconds for the countdown to finish.

  6. Scan the card you want to recover again.

  Method 2, if you remember the card access code:

  1. Open the Tangem app by scanning your card and entering the access code.

  2. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

  3. Choose the "Card settings" option.

  4. Tap the "Scan card" button and bring the card to your mobile device.

  5. Enter your current access code.

  6. Tap "Continue" and bring the card to your mobile device.

  7. Choose the "Change access code" option.

  8. Enter the new access code twice.

  9. Tap "Continue" and bring the card to your mobile device.

  10. Enter your current access code to confirm the change (note: do not enter the new code).

  11. Tap "Continue" and bring the card to your mobile device.

• What is WalletConnect? How do I use it? How do I interact with DeFi?

  WalletConnect is an open source protocol that allows you to connect mobile wallets to decentralized applications (DApps) securely. You can use WalletConnect to link Tangem Wallet to a wide range of DApps from desktop and mobile devices.

  All DApps for connecting in the Tangem app are available on the WalletConnect website via the link.

  The WalletConnect feature in Tangem Wallet is currently available for EVM networks such as Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Smart Chain, Avalanche C-Chain, RSK, Fantom Opera, Ethereum Classic, Arbitrum, Gnosis, EthereumFair, Ethereum PoW, Optimistic Ethereum, Kava EVM and Cronos.

  You can read more about how to use WalletConnect on Tangem Wallet on our blog.

• How do I connect to a DApp?

  To establish a connection with the DApp (decentralized application), please follow these steps:
  1. Open the website or app of the DeFi service.
  2. Choose the "Connect your wallet" feature.
  3. In the subsequent menu, opt for "WalletConnect".
  4. If you're accessing the DApp via a mobile device, search for "Tangem" among the available wallet options. Follow the on-screen prompts provided by the Tangem app. You can follow the link to see how it looks in PancakeSwap.
  5. When connecting on a PC, a QR code will be displayed on the screen. To scan a QR code, follow these steps:
  • Open the Tangem app.
  • Tap on the three dots located in the top right corner.
  • Select "WalletConnect."
  • Tap on the "+" symbol in the top right corner.

  You can find step-by-step instructions on our blog.

• Is staking available in Tangem Wallet?

  Staking is available in DApps through WalletConnect. Functionality inside the Tangem app will be introduced soon.

  All DApps for connecting in the Tangem app can be viewed on the WalletConnect website via the link. You can also find detailed instructions on our blog.

• How do I exchange one cryptocurrency for another in my wallet?

  The Tangem app allows you to exchange cryptocurrencies thanks to the integration of Tangem Wallet with 1inch, the largest DEX aggregator. Transactions can be executed on Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Avalanche C-Chain, Gnosis, Polygon, Fantom Opera, Arbitrum and Optimistic Ethereum.

  To exchange tokens you need to:

  1. Go to the Tangem app.

  2. Choose the cryptocurrency you want to exchange.

  3. On the next screen select "Actions" and then "Swap".

  4. Enter the number of coins you want to swap and select the currency you want to exchange for.

  5. Tap the card to sign the transaction.

  Once the transaction is signed and sent to the blockchain, you can view the transaction data in Explorer. You can find step-by-step instructions on how to exchange currencies on our blog.

   

  You can also connect Tangem Wallet to various decentralized exchanges (DEXs like Uniswap, PancakeSwap etc.) to exchange currencies using WalletConnect. Please note that you have to connect to the DEX from the exchange itself. You can see how it looks in PancakeSwap, for example, via the link. All DeFi apps, including DEXs, that you can connect to Tangem Wallet can be found on the WalletConnect website via the link.
  You can also find detailed instructions on how to exchange currencies via WalletConnect on our blog.

• How do I revoke smart contract permissions?

  When giving permission to use smart contracts, you have the option to authorize them for the current transaction or grant unlimited access. Opting for unlimited access can result in significant cost savings, as it eliminates the need to pay confirmation fees for each individual swap.
  You can revoke permissions through the following services:
  ETH: https://etherscan.io/tokenapprovalchecker;
  BSC: https://bscscan.com/tokenapprovalchecker;
  Polygon: https://polygonscan.com/tokenapprovalchecker;
  Arbitrum: https://arbiscan.io/tokenapprovalchecker;
  Avalanche: https://snowtrace.io/tokenapprovalchecker;
  Fantom: https://ftmscan.com/tokenapprovalchecker;
  Optimistic Ethereum: https://optimistic.etherscan.io/tokenapprovalchecker.
  Future updates are planned to add functionality to revoke permission in the app.

• How do I reset the cards to factory settings?

  Before resetting the card to the factory settings, please ensure you move any cryptocurrency stored in your Tangem wallet to a different location for a while (for instance, another wallet or exchange). This is important as resetting the card will result in the complete loss of all funds currently stored on it!

  It's also crucial to remember the access code for each card. If you forget, you'll need to first reset the access codes on all cards using the backup card. Failing to do so will make a wallet reset on the backup card(s) impossible.

  To reset the card to factory settings:

  1. Open the Tangem app and enter your wallet.

  2. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

  3. Choose the "Card settings" option.

  4. Tap the "Scan card" button and bring the card to your mobile device.

  5. Enter your access code.

  6. Tap "Continue" and bring the card to your mobile device.

  7. Choose the "Reset to factory settings" option.

  8. Please carefully read the warning that informs you that there will be no access to the current wallet on the chosen card after completing this action. If you agree, tap the "Reset the card" button.

  9. Confirm the action by tapping "Reset" again.

  10. Enter the access code and scan the card.

  After taking these steps, the card will be reset to factory settings.

  You can read the detailed instructions on our blog.

• What happens to the balance on the card if you reset the cards to factory settings?

  Resetting a card to factory settings leads to a total zeroing of the card and deletion of the keys. After this action, there will be no access to the current wallet on the chosen card. You must withdraw your cryptocurrency from your wallet before performing a reset to ensure that you don’t lose it.

• How do I create a custom token? How do I add a token that isn’t in the "Manage tokens" list?

  The Tangem app allows you to add custom tokens on the networks supported by the app. To do this, choose the "Manage tokens" section in the app, then the "+" icon in the upper right corner of the token list.

  To add a token, you need the following inputs:

  1. The token's smart contract address. The address can usually be found on coinmarketcap.com or in the explorer (browser) of the corresponding blockchain.

  2. The network where you want to add the token. The Tangem app offers the following networks: Arbitrum, Avalanche C-Chain, BNB Beacon Chain, BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, EthereumFair, Ethereum PoW, Fantom Opera, Gnosis Chain, Optimistic Ethereum, Polygon, RSK, Solana, TRON, Kava EVM and Cronos.

  3. The token name (for example, Bitcoin) and token symbol (for example, BTC).

  4. Decimals determine the value into which one token can be split for transactions. This value can be found in the token overview in the explorer of the corresponding blockchain.

  5. BIP44 coin type. For this operation, "Default" is usually selected.

   

  For example, to add the BinaryX (BNX) token on the BNB Smart Chain network, you need to fill in the fields as follows:

  1. Contract address: 0x8C851d1a123Ff703BD1f9dabe631b69902Df5f97 You can see this contract address in the “Contracts” section via the link.

  2. Network: BNB Smart Chain. 3. Token name: BinaryX.

  4. Token symbol: BNX.

  5. Decimals: 18. You can see the number of decimal places in the token card in the explorer.

  6. BIP44 derivation: Default.
  
  

  Detailed instructions are also available on our blog.

• Why is the price of custom tokens not displayed?

  If you added a custom token through a smart contract address, the price of that token may be unknown to us. These custom tokens are not included in your total balance, and you will see a "No rate" notification below the token name.

• What does "The amount does not include some of your funds" mean?

  The notification "The amount does not include some of your funds" may be displayed for several reasons:
  1. The balance of a given token has not been loaded.
  2. If you added a custom token through a smart contract address and the price of that token is unknown to us. Since the conversion rate of this custom token is unknown to us, this asset cannot be used to calculate the total balance.

• What rate is used to convert cryptocurrency into fiat?

  The exchange rates in the Tangem app come from the major cryptocurrency aggregator coingecko.com and are updated every 15 minutes.

  Please note that this is just a reference figure so that you can estimate the value of your portfolio.

  We recommend following rates through an exchange app or a website for active trading.

• Is mining available on Tangem Wallet?

  There are no restrictions for mining in UTXO-based blockchains (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Dash, Kaspa, Ravencoin) on Android, and the wallet can sign thousands of inputs. On iOS, there is a temporary limit of up to 700 inputs per minute. In account-based blockchains, there is no concept of inputs, so there are no restrictions on mining with Tangem Wallet. Examples of account-based blockchains include Ethereum Classic, Ethereum Fair, Ethereum PoW.

• How does biometric authentication work? How do I activate it?

  You can use biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition) instead of entering an access code and scanning your card to log in to the Tangem app, view your coin and token balances, switch between wallets if you have more than one.

  To activate this biometric authentication, follow these steps:
  1. Open the Tangem app.
  2. Tap on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen.
  3. Go to "App Settings".
  4. Enable "Wallet saving" and "Access code saving".
  

  When you enable "Wallet saving", all Tangem wallets (if there is more than one) will be linked to the app. You can now gain access to the app with biometric authentication. 
  

  When you enable "Save access code", the access codes will be stored on your phone in encrypted form. When dealing with the cards, you'll have to use biometric authentication instead of an access code.
  Important! To sign a transaction, you must still need your Tangem card.

• Is it safe to use biometrics?

  When using biometric authentication, the access code from the card is stored in encrypted form in the device's secure storage: the keychain. In this case, the keys do not migrate anywhere from the card. The access code, meanwhile, has no functional value without the card. It is important to note that this function is optional and can be disabled at any time or not enabled at all. You can read more about how biometric authentication works in our blog article.