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Expand Up @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ id: learn-account-generation
title: Account Generation
sidebar_label: Account Generation
description: Generate a Polkadot Basic Account.
keywords: [account, account generation, polkadot account, polkadotjs, polkadot vault, ledger]
keywords: [account, account generation, polkadot account, polkadot vault, ledger]
slug: ../learn-account-generation
---

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ See our Support Articles for more information about how to create an account usi

- [Ledger Hardware Wallet](#ledger-hardware-wallet)
- [Polkadot Vault](#polkadot-vault)
- [Polkadot-JS Browser Extension](#polkadot-js-browser-extension)
- [Polkadot-JS UI](#polkadot-js-ui)
- [Subkey](#subkey)
- [Vanity Generator](#vanity-generator)

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -103,155 +101,6 @@ See [**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/hgv1R9mPEXw?t=407) and
[**this support page**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000167901-how-to-restore-an-account-in-parity-signer)
to learn how to restore your account on the Polkadot-JS UI.

## Polkadot-JS Browser Extension

[![Polkadot-JS Browser Extension Tutorial](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DNU0p5G0Gqc/0.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNU0p5G0Gqc)

:::info

For guidelines about how to create an account using the Polkadot Extension, see
[**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/DNU0p5G0Gqc) and visit
[**this support article**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000098878-how-to-create-a-dot-account).

:::

The Polkadot-JS Browser Extension (the Polkadot Extension) provides a reasonable balance of security
and usability. It provides a separate local mechanism to generate your address and interact with
{{ polkadot: Polkadot :polkadot }}{{ kusama: Kusama :kusama }}.

This method involves installing the Polkadot Extension and using it as a “virtual vault," separate
from your browser, to store your private keys. It also allows the signing of transactions and
similar functionality.

It is still running on the same computer you use to connect to the internet and thus is less secure
than using Parity Signer or other air-gapped approaches.

### Account Backup using the Polkadot-JS Browser Extension

:::info

See [**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/DNU0p5G0Gqc) and visit
[**this support page**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000177677-how-to-export-your-json-backup-file)
to know how to back up your account.

:::

### Reset Password using the Polkadot-JS Browser Extension

:::info

See [**this video tutorial**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNU0p5G0Gqc&t=280s) to learn how to
change the password for an account that has been created on the Polkadot-JS browser extension (i.e.
an injected account).

:::

:::warning

Before following the instructions below, make sure you have your mnemonic phrase stored in a safe
place accessible to you.

:::

Let's say you created `ACCOUNT 1` protected by password `PSW 1`. To reset the password of your
`ACCOUNT 1` using the browser extension, you must follow the following steps:

- Go to `ACCOUNT 1` on the browser extension and click "Forget account". This action will delete the
access to your account. Note that your tokens are still in your account on the
{{ polkadot: Polkadot :polkadot }}{{ kusama: Kusama :kusama }} blockchain network.
- On the browser extension click the "+" button in the top right corner and select the option
"Import account from pre-existing seed". After entering the mnemonic phrase, you can choose a new
password, `PSW 2`.

:::info JSON files do not allow changing account passwords

If you add the account to the extension using the option "Restore account from backup JSON file",
this will allow you to restore access to your account using a JSON file protected by the password
`PSW 1`, but does not let you set a new password. Thus, `PSW 1` will become the account password by
default.

:::

:::info Accounts on Cold wallets do not need passwords

For hardware wallets such as [Ledger](https://www.ledger.com/), you may have to set a PIN for
accessing the accounts on the device, but you do not need to set a password for every individual
account. When you need to make transactions with your account, you are required to sign using your
Ledger device. Also, Ledger wallets let you generate multiple accounts for multiple blockchain
networks without setting different passwords to access such accounts.

:::

### Restore Account on the Polkadot-JS Browser Extension

:::info

See [**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/9ohp8k4Hz8c) and
[**this support page**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000169952-how-to-restore-your-account-in-the-polkadot-extension)
to learn how to restore your account on the Polkadot-JS UI.

:::

## Polkadot-JS UI

:::info

For guidelines about how to create an account using Polkadot-JS UI, see
[**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/DNU0p5G0Gqc) and visit
[**this support article**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000180529).

:::

:::caution

If you use this method to create your account and clear your cookies in your browser, your account
will be lost forever if you do not [back it up](#restore-account-on-the-polkadot-js-ui). Make sure
you store your seed phrase in a safe place or download the account's JSON file if using the
Polkadot{.js} browser extension. Learn more about account backup and restoration
[here](#restore-account-on-the-polkadot-js-ui).

:::

Local in-browser account storage is disabled by default on the Polkadot-JS UI. To create an account
using the Polkadot-JS UI, navigate to settings > account options and click on allow local in-browser
account storage in the drop-down menu. Using the Polkadot-JS user interface without a browser
extension is **not recommended**. It is the least secure way of generating an account. It should
only be used if all other methods are not feasible.

### Account Backup using the Polkadot-JS UI

:::info

See [**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/DNU0p5G0Gqc) and visit
[**this support page**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000177677-how-to-export-your-json-backup-file)
to know how to back up your account.

:::

### Reset password using the Polkadot-JS UI

To reset the password of an account created with Polkadot-JS Apps UI, you need to go to the
"Accounts" tab, click the icon with three vertical dots on your account and select "Change this
account's password".

See [**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/DNU0p5G0Gqc?t=261) to learn how to change the
password for an account created on the Polkadot-JS UI (i.e. a non-injected account).

:::note

If you create an account first using Polkadot-JS Apps UI and then add it to the browser extension,
you need to follow the
[guidelines for the browser extension](#reset-password-using-the-browser-extension) to change the
password of such an account.

:::

### Restore Account on the Polkadot-JS UI

See [**this video tutorial**](https://youtu.be/cBsZqFpBANY) and
[**this support page**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000180110-how-to-restore-your-account-in-polkadot-js-ui)
to learn how to restore your account on the Polkadot-JS UI.

## Subkey

Subkey is recommended for technically advanced users comfortable with the command line and compiling
Expand All @@ -266,53 +115,3 @@ For guidelines about how to create an account using Subkey, see
[**this support article**](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000180519-how-to-create-an-account-in-subkey).

:::

## Vanity Generator

The vanity generator is a tool on [Polkadot-JS UI](https://polkadot.js.org/apps/#/accounts/vanity)
that lets you generate addresses that contain a specific substring. For the tutorial on how to
create an account using Vanity Generator, visit
[this support article](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000171416).

## Account Address Format

An account created for {{ polkadot: Polkadot :polkadot }}{{ kusama: Kusama :kusama }} can also be
used on multiple chains in the {{ polkadot: Polkadot :polkadot }}{{ kusama: Kusama :kusama }}
ecosystem. More specifically, the account of a chain that uses the `*25519` account address format
(the latest list can be accessed on the
[ss58 registry repository](https://github.com/paritytech/ss58-registry/blob/main/ss58-registry.json)
is cross-compatible with all the chains that use the similar format. To switch between the accounts
on different chains, you can follow the guidelines in
[this support article](https://support.polkadot.network/support/solutions/articles/65000103707-can-i-use-the-same-account-on-polkadot-kusama-and-parachains-).
[Subscan has a tool](https://polkadot.subscan.io/tools/format_transform) you can use to convert your
address between the different chain formats.

:::info Using the same account on multiple chains - Pros and Cons

The address format differs from chain to chain, but that difference is only visual. The same private
key can be used to sign transactions on behalf of the respective accounts on multiple chains. Using
a single account on multiple chains is convenient, as you do not have to deal with multiple mnemonic
phrases or private keys. But, if your account gets compromised on one chain, the attacker can gain
full access to the accounts on all other chains. This also has implications for the account holder's
privacy, as knowing the identity of an account on one chain can expose the account holder's identity
on all the chains. In the Accounts tab, the Polkadot-JS UI displays a warning message next to each
Account you are using on multiple chains and recommends using different Accounts on different chains
(see below).

![warning multiple chains](../assets/warning-multichain-account.png)

:::

On Polkadot-JS Extension, you can copy your address by clicking the account's icon while the desired
chain format is active. E.g. selecting "Substrate" as the format will change your address, and
clicking the colorful icon of your account will copy it in that format. While in
{{ polkadot: Polkadot :polkadot }}{{ kusama: Kusama :kusama }} mode, that address format will be
copied, and so on.

## Encryption Enhancement

Some newly generated `JSON` account files cannot be imported (restored) into older wallet software.
This is due to an enhanced encryption method, noticeable in a slight delay when
encrypting/decrypting your wallet. If you cannot load a `JSON` file, please use the latest version
of the wallet software. If you cannot load it, ensure that the wallet software uses the newest
version of the [Polkadot API](https://polkadot.js.org/api/).
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