SafeKeepVault
Keep your bitcoin keys offline, using a computer you already own.
SafeKeepVault turns a laptop and a USB flash drive into a safe place to create, back up and use your bitcoin keys. It never connects to the internet, so hackers and malware can’t reach your keys, and there’s no hardware wallet to buy.
The online demo is a preview: you can look through the tools, but it only works with public demo seeds, so it can’t protect real bitcoin. It doesn’t print and doesn’t open COLDCARD backups. To use the tools for real, start SafeKeepVault from a USB flash drive on a laptop or desktop computer. On a phone? SafeKeepVault doesn’t run on phones or tablets. The demo opens here so you can look around, but it’s easier to explore on a computer.
How it works
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Put it on a flash drive
Download SafeKeepVault and copy it onto any USB flash drive of 8 GB or more. The guide checks that your download is genuine first.
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Start your computer from it
SafeKeepVault runs from the flash drive with no internet connection at all. It never opens your computer’s own drive, so Windows and your files stay as they were.
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Approve payments offline
Your wallet app stays connected to the network. SafeKeepVault stays off it — permanently. Verify addresses, sign transactions, review multisig setups, and manage your seed. Your keys never touch the internet.
Why use it
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Costs nothing
SafeKeepVault is free and open source. If you have a laptop or desktop and a flash drive, you already have everything you need.
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No order with your name on it
Buying a hardware wallet ties your name and home address to bitcoin. Here there’s nothing to order, nothing shipped and no account.
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See exactly where your money goes
Before you approve a payment, a full-size screen shows who gets paid, how much, the fee and the change coming back to you, with no scrolling on a tiny display.
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Works with the wallets you know
Watch your balance in Sparrow, BlueWallet, Nunchuk, Electrum, Specter or Bitcoin Core. A Coldcard or Trezor can join in as a second signer.
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Back up your keys properly
Create your seed with dice you can double-check, add a passphrase, split your backup into pieces kept in different places, and print a one-page record for your family.
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Nothing hidden
Every line of code is public and every release is signed, so you can check what you’re running instead of taking anyone’s word for it.
Is it right for you?
A good fit if you…
- have a Windows or Linux PC, or an Intel Mac, to run it on when you need your keys
- would rather not buy a hardware wallet, or want a second signer alongside one
- want to see every detail of a payment before you approve it
- don’t mind a one-time setup: putting it on a flash drive and telling your computer to start from it
A hardware wallet may suit you better if you…
- want something plug-and-play, with nothing to set up
- prefer a small, dedicated device you can carry with you
- only have a phone or tablet
Common questions
Do I need to buy anything?
No. You need a laptop or desktop and a USB flash drive of 8 GB or more. A webcam is useful for scanning QR codes, and most laptops have one.
Which computers does it run on?
Most Windows and Linux laptops and desktops with an Intel or AMD processor, and Intel Macs. It doesn’t run on Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later), phones or tablets.
Will it change anything on my computer?
No. SafeKeepVault runs from the flash drive and never opens your computer’s own drive. You may need to change a startup setting so the computer starts from the flash drive; the guide shows how. Take the flash drive out and your computer starts as normal.
What if I lose the flash drive?
Your keys are stored on it encrypted, so whoever finds it also needs your vault password. Use a long, random one. Your seed words are your real backup: keep them safe on paper and you can set up a new flash drive and carry on.
Is it as safe as a hardware wallet?
It makes different trade-offs. Nothing is shipped to you, there’s no order with your name on it, the screen is bigger and all the code is open. A hardware wallet keeps your keys in a special chip, while SafeKeepVault keeps them on a computer that never goes online. Many people use both, each holding one key of a multisig wallet. The comparison covers this in detail.
Can I try it first?
Yes. The online demo lets you look through the tools using public demo seeds. It doesn’t print or open COLDCARD backups, and it isn’t a working vault, so never type your real seed words into it.
Ready to try it?
Download SafeKeepVault, check that it’s genuine (about two minutes), and put it on a flash drive. The quick start walks you through each step.