App functionality

• What to 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 to create a wallet? How to activate cards?

  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 App Store and Google Play. You can also tap a 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 the instructions:

  1. Open the Tangem app.

  2. Tap the "Scan" button and scan the card, placing the card 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.

  Then, the wallet will offer you to create a backup. You can backup up your keys to two other blank Tangem Wallet cards. Please note that you can create a backup now or later. However, if you add one backup card now, you will not be able to add more backup cards later. To start the backup process:

  — Select the "Backup 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 for this bundle. You can link up to 3 cards to one wallet.

  — Tap the "Finalize the backup process" button.

  Then, you have to create a single access code to protect all the cards.

  1. Tap the "Continue" button and enter an access code. You can 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, re-enter your access code, and tap the "Submit" button.

  3. Scan all the cards one by one again.

  Here is a video on how to set up your Tangem Wallet, and step-by-step instructions with screenshots are on our blog.

• What to do if I can't make a backup and face the error "This card already has a wallet"?

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

  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 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 following the instruction:

  1. Scan a card on which the wallet is already created.

  2. Tap the "Backup now" button. 

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

  4. Bring the card up to your mobile device. 

  5. Repeat the last 2 points as many times as there are cards for this 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.

  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 and English, 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 are holding; it only acts as a display by visualizing specific data for a particular user via its screen. Your card performs storage of private keys and signing transactions.

• Are Tangem servers used for blockchain operations?

  Tangem doesn't have its own servers that are associated with blockchains. That is, the app on the phone directly communicates with the blockchain. Tangem's philosophy is to provide users only with a technological solution for working with crypto-assets. As a result, we get the following link: Card <-> App <-> Blockchain.

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

  Cryptocurrency is stored in a blockchain, and the card holds the keys to the addresses in the blockchains. Without the Internet, there is no access to the blockchain, and it is impossible to know the current balance, so you can't spend money, but you can top up the balance.

• How to 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 an access code.

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

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

  4. Tap "Continue" and attach the card you want to reset an 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 the card and entering the access code.

  2. Tap three dots in the upper right corner. 

  3. Choose the "Card Settings" option.

  4. Tap the "Scan Card" button and bring the card up 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 a 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 a new code).

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

• What is WalletConnect? How to work with WalletConnect? How do I work 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 at the link.

  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, Ethereum Fair, Ethereum PoW, and Optimistic Ethereum.

  Please note that connecting to a dApp via WalletConnect should be done from the dApp itself — you need to go to the DeFi-service website or app and choose the "Connect your wallet" option — "WalletConnect" — "Tangem" and follow the instructions on the screen.

  You can check via the link how it looks in PancakeSwap.

• How to exchange one cryptocurrency for another in my wallet?

  You can connect Tangem Wallet to various decentralized exchanges (DEX like 1inch, Uniswap, PancakeSwap, etc.) to exchange currencies using WalletConnect. Please note that you have to connect to DEX from the exchange itself. How it looks like in PancakeSwap, for example, is available at the link.

  All DeFi apps, including DEX, that you can connect to Tangem Wallet are available on the WalletConnect website at the link.

  You can find detailed instruction on our blog.

• How to connect to DEX?

  Please note that connecting to a dApp via WalletConnect should be done from the dApp itself — you need to go to the DeFi-service website or app and choose the "Connect your wallet" option — "WalletConnect" — "Tangem", after that, follow the instructions on the screen.

  You can check via the link how it looks in PancakeSwap.

  You can read the detailed instructions on our blog.

• Is staking available in Tangem Wallet?

  Staking is available in dApps through WalletConnect. In the Tangem app, it is also planned but will be released later.

  All dApps for connecting in the Tangem app are available on the WalletConnect website at the link. Please note that connecting to a dApp via WalletConnect should be done from the dApp itself — you need to go to the DeFi-service website or app and choose the "Connect your wallet" option — "WalletConnect" — "Tangem" and follow the instructions on the screen.

  You can check via the link how it looks in PancakeSwap.

  You can read the detailed instructions on our blog.

• How to reset the cards to factory settings?

  The option of resetting the card to factory settings allows you to delete private and public keys on the selected card. It means that you will no longer have access to the current wallet and cannot restore the current wallet on the chosen card.

  To reset the card to the factory settings:

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

  2. Tap three dots in the upper right corner.

  3. Choose the "Card Settings" option.

  4. Tap the "Scan Card" button and bring the card up 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 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 these steps, the card is reset to the factory settings.

• 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. Cryptocurrency must be withdrawn from your wallet before performing a reset. Otherwise, you will lose it.

• How to create a custom token? How to add a token that is not 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 on which 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, Ethereum Fair, Ethereum PoW, Fantom Opera, Gnosis Chain, Optimistic Ethereum, Polygon, RSK, Solana, and Tron.

  3. 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 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 at 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 Explorer.

  6. BIP44 coin type: 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 can be unknown to us. Such custom tokens do not participate in calculating the total balance, and under the token's name, there will be a notification — "No rate".

• 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 any 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 could not be used to calculate the total balance.

• At what rate is the conversion of cryptocurrency into fiat?

  The exchange rates in the Tangem app come from the largest cryptocurrency aggregator coingecko.com and are updated every 15 minutes. Please note that this is just a reference figure so you can estimate the value of your portfolio.

  We recommend following the rate through the exchange app or website for active trading.

• Is mining available on Tangem Wallet?

  There are no restrictions for mining in UTXO-based blockchains (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin) 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 per Tangem Wallet. Examples of account-based blockchains are Ethereum, Avalanche, Ethereum Classic, XRP Ledger, Cardano, Tron, and Solana.

• How does biometrics work? Is it safe?

  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, only the access code, which has no functional value without the card. It is important to note that this function is optional and can be disabled or not enabled at all at any time. You can read more about how biometric authentication works in our blog article.