How do I create a Monero paper wallet?

Use monero-wallet-cli on an air-gapped (offline) computer. Run 'monero-wallet-cli --generate-new-wallet paper_wallet --offline', write down the 25-word seed phrase and public address, then securely delete the wallet files. Never generate paper wallets on an online computer or via websites.

Is a Monero paper wallet safe?

Yes, if created offline and stored properly. A paper wallet is immune to hacking, malware, and remote attacks because it has no digital footprint. Risks are physical: fire, water, theft, or loss. Use fireproof storage and make 2-3 copies stored in different locations.

How do I spend from a Monero paper wallet?

Import your 25-word seed into a wallet (Feather, Cake, CLI). The wallet will sync and show your balance. Then send to your desired address. Important: after sweeping, consider the paper wallet compromised — the seed was on an online device. Generate a new paper wallet for remaining funds.

Should I use a paper wallet or hardware wallet for Monero?

Hardware wallets (Trezor, Ledger) are more convenient for regular use. Paper wallets are better for long-term cold storage of funds you rarely access. Paper wallets are free and have no hardware failure risk, but require careful physical security and are less convenient for spending.

Can I check my Monero paper wallet balance without importing the seed?

Yes — create a view-only wallet using your public address and private view key. This lets you see incoming transactions without exposing your spend key. In Feather: File → Open wallet → View only. You can also use a block explorer if you have the transaction ID, but this is less private.

Monero Paper Wallet — Create, Store, and Use XMR Offline

TL;DR: A Monero paper wallet stores your 25-word seed phrase and public address on physical paper. Generate it on an air-gapped computer using monero-wallet-cli, write it down, securely delete the digital files. Immune to hacking, malware, and remote theft. Best for long-term cold storage.

What Is a Paper Wallet?

A paper wallet is the simplest form of cold storage. Your 25-word mnemonic seed and public address are written or printed on paper. The seed never exists in digital form on any internet-connected device — no USB drive, no cloud, no phone, no computer. Just paper.

What your paper wallet contains:

1. Public address (starts with 4) — share this to receive XMR. Safe to show anyone.

2. 25-word seed phrase — this IS the wallet. Anyone who reads it can spend your entire balance.

3. Private view key (optional) — for creating a view-only wallet to check balance without exposing the spend key.

Step-by-Step: Create a Paper Wallet

Prepare an Air-Gapped Computer

Use a computer that has never been and will never be connected to the internet. Best option: boot Tails OS from a USB drive (it runs in RAM, leaves no trace). Alternative: a dedicated old laptop with WiFi hardware physically removed.

Download Monero CLI (On a Different Computer)

Download monero-wallet-cli from getmonero.org on your regular computer. Verify the GPG signature. Transfer to the air-gapped computer via USB drive.

# On your regular computer:
wget https://downloads.getmonero.org/cli/linux64
# Verify the hash against getmonero.org

# Transfer to USB, then to air-gapped machine

Generate the Wallet Offline

# On the air-gapped computer:
./monero-wallet-cli --generate-new-wallet paper_wallet --offline

# It will display:
# - Your 25-word mnemonic seed
# - Your public address (starts with 4)
# - Your private view key
# - Your private spend key

Write down the seed phrase by hand. Do not photograph, screenshot, or save it digitally. Write clearly and double-check every word.

Record the Public Address

Write or print the public address separately. You'll use this to send XMR to your paper wallet. The public address is safe to store digitally or share with anyone — it can only receive, not spend.

Securely Delete Everything

# Delete the wallet files:
shred -vfz -n 5 paper_wallet paper_wallet.keys

# If using Tails, just shut down — RAM is wiped automatically

The only record of your wallet should now be the physical paper. If using Tails, simply shutting down erases everything from RAM.

Store Securely

Place the paper in a fireproof safe, safety deposit box, or sealed envelope in a secure location. Make 2-3 copies stored in different physical locations (e.g., home safe + family member's home).

Storage Do's and Don'ts

Do

Store in a fireproof, waterproof safe
Make 2-3 copies in separate locations
Use acid-free archival paper
Consider stamping on metal (titanium/steel seed plates)
Store view key separately if desired
Test with a small amount first

Don't

Don't photograph or scan the seed
Don't store digitally (not even encrypted)
Don't use a website to generate the seed
Don't laminate (can trap moisture)
Don't store in an unlocked drawer
Don't tell anyone where it is

How to Spend from a Paper Wallet

To spend, you must import the seed into a wallet:

Open Feather Wallet (or any Monero wallet)
Select "Restore from seed" or "Import wallet"
Enter your 25-word seed phrase
Set a restore height (the block height when you first funded the wallet — speeds up sync)
Wait for sync to complete
Send your XMR to the destination address

After importing: the paper wallet is compromised. Your seed was on an internet-connected device. Even if you close the wallet, the seed may exist in memory, swap files, or disk caches. Best practice: sweep ALL funds to a new wallet, then destroy the old paper wallet and create a fresh one for remaining funds.

Paper Wallet vs Other Cold Storage

Method	Cost	Convenience	Durability	Best For
Paper wallet	Free	Low	Low (fire/water)	Long-term savings, simplicity
Metal seed plate	$20-60	Low	Very high	Disaster-proof backup
Trezor/Ledger	$60-150	High	Medium	Regular cold storage + spending
Feather offline signing	Free	Medium	N/A (digital)	Air-gapped TX signing
Multisig (2-of-3)	Free	Low	High (distributed)	Shared custody, inheritance

Best combination: Write seed on paper + stamp on metal plate. Paper for daily access (safe), metal for disaster recovery (offsite). This gives you both convenience and indestructibility at ~$30 total cost.

Monitoring Without Spending

You can check your paper wallet balance without importing the seed by creating a view-only wallet:

# Create view-only wallet with your public address + view key:
monero-wallet-cli --generate-from-view-key view_only \
  --address 4AdUndXHH... \
  --viewkey abc123... \
  --restore-height 2900000

A view-only wallet can see incoming transactions but cannot spend. Your spend key stays safely on paper. This is ideal for tracking P2P trade payments without exposing cold storage.

Website-based paper wallet generators are dangerous. Many are scams that generate predictable seeds or phone home with your keys. Always use the official monero-wallet-cli from getmonero.org on an air-gapped machine. Never trust a website with your private keys.