Seed phrase

24 words that are your account. Shown once.

What it does

Pigeon makes your account's keys on your computer and gives you 24 words that stand for them. If a device is lost or stolen, entering the words makes a new account key and shuts out every device you don't keep. You then get a new phrase.

Why only once

Your devices don't keep the words, so someone with your unlocked laptop can't find them. There is no “show my seed phrase” button.

Keeping it

• Write it on paper, and keep the paper away from your devices.
• At sign-up you confirm three of the words. The first four letters of each are enough.
• Pigeon will never ask you for it. Nobody who asks for it is us.

If you lose it

Your account keeps working on your devices. If every device is lost too, the account is gone: nobody, including us, can restore it. Restoring brings back your identity, not your old messages.