Metamask-extension: How to import new account with seed words?

[stefek99]

I had a few accounts.

Something happened (not sure what)

Now no accounts.

I've created a new den.

I have my 12 words recovery phrase.

I can import account only via private key.

What is the recommended workflow now?

• how do I remove the newly created den?
• how do I remove account in a den?

[Zanibas]

It's not immediately obvious, but to restore from seed phrase (and consequently overwrite your current seed phrase saved, be careful), lock MetaMask and click on "restore from seed" at the bottom of the screen.

[fabricus]

Thanks for the tip Zanibas.... huge issue on my side though as I've imported the seed but my first wallet is no longer available :( How can I get the initial wallet back?

[bwheeler96]

@Zanibas I personally think this is still an issue. Developing with multiple accounts is already hard enough. If I have to overwrite my existing config to do something like... add my ropsten wallet seed phrase, then it is IMO a bug with the UX.

It also seems like if I want to add another account to MetaMask by seed phrase, then I have more recovery options even for non-dev users

[stefek99]

Asked on StackOverflow: https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/30824/what-is-the-easiest-way-to-convert-mnemonic-phrase-into-keystore-file

[daevski]

You originally asked about Seed words, which is why I'm here. Restore with seed (and the same password as my other den) appears to create me a new den with only one (new) account. I was expecting it to import the 3 accounts I had in the other browser (just on another PC).

What am I doing wrong? What is "restore from seed" supposed to do!?

[bwheeler96]

@daevski the seed word generates accounts in order, deterministically.

Click "new account" twice and you'll have your three accounts back.

[daevski]

@bwheeler96 First of all, that sounds like a horrible way to implement that, secondly, are you talking about this "Create Account" link? That doesn't help, it just creates empty accounts, and ones with different addresses from the ones I wanted to restore...

[bwheeler96]

@daevski this wasn't implemented by MetaMask, and it sure wasn't implemented by me (I don't work for MM). This was the design of the BIP 39 standard.

Were your other accounts created from that same seed phrase? If so, this would be how you get them. If not, you will have to import those private keys manually

Does the first account get imported correctly?

[daevski]

@bwheeler96 Okay, good questions - only the first account was part of that seed, the other 2 accounts were 'loose,' so with that in mind, I can see how they might not be generated with that same seed. I think I will need to import them again. I expected them to appear when using the same seed, but they were not generated with that seed originally. Thanks for the assistance.

Edit: I didn't note the address of the first account, since I wasn't planning on using it. I imported the other two to transfer funds. I'm willing to bet that one was created correctly and I can check it next week and leave feedback.