diff --git a/kez-chat/README.md b/kez-chat/README.md
index eeae984..927948b 100644
--- a/kez-chat/README.md
+++ b/kez-chat/README.md
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ can verify those links themselves, without trusting anyone.
 - **Push notifications** that tell the push provider nothing — the
   payload is empty.
 - **Unlock with Face ID / Touch ID / Windows Hello / a security key**
-  (WebAuthn passkeys), or a passphrase.
+  (WebAuthn passkeys), or a passphrase. Passkey unlock is per-browser;
+  on a new or wiped browser you restore with your recovery phrase.
 - **Your relays, your choice.** Reorder, add, or remove nostr relays in
   Settings.
 
@@ -89,6 +90,21 @@ WebCrypto key, keeps you signed in while the PWA is backgrounded, so push
 notifications stay useful. **Lock** ends it; **Forget this account**
 wipes the device.
 
+Passkey unlock is a local convenience, not a login: the passkey-encrypted
+seed lives only in this browser's IndexedDB, and nothing is stored on the
+server. If the browser forgets you (storage cleared, new device), sign
+back in with **Restore** and your recovery phrase (or the 64-hex seed).
+
+**Showing your recovery phrase** (Getting Started, or Settings → reveal)
+displays it as a numbered word list:
+
+- 12 words for accounts created with a phrase. After a passkey unlock
+  the phrase isn't in memory (the passkey only unlocks the seed), so the
+  app asks for your passphrase once to decrypt it.
+- 24 words for older accounts created before 12-word phrases (or restored
+  from a hex seed). Their seed has no 12-word form, but its exact 24-word
+  encoding restores the same account.
+
 Your **handle** (`you@kez.lat`) is registered with the chat-server by a
 request signed with your identity key. It's a public directory: handle
 → public key.
diff --git a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte
index 14d41e3..bae1a9e 100644
--- a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte
+++ b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { onMount } from "svelte";
   import { push } from "svelte-spa-router";
-  import { bytesToHex } from "@noble/hashes/utils";
   import {
     session,
     setMyProfile,
@@ -29,6 +28,7 @@
     DEFAULT_RELAYS,
   } from "../lib/relay-store.js";
   import { hasStoredPhrase, unlockIdentity } from "../lib/identity-store.js";
+  import { mnemonicFromSeed24 } from "../lib/mnemonic.js";
   import {
     hasStoredBiometric,
     getStoredBiometricMeta,
@@ -381,9 +381,13 @@
       // session was originally biometric-unlocked — the passphrase
       // PRF key wasn't available before but is now).
       const phrase = fresh.phrase ?? session.unlocked.phrase;
+      // Numbered one-per-line: alert() doesn't wrap long single lines
+      // well on phones, and numbering prevents order mistakes.
+      const numbered = (p: string) =>
+        p.split(" ").map((w, i) => `${i + 1}. ${w}`).join("\n");
       if (phrase) {
         alert(
-          `Your 12-word recovery phrase (KEEP SECRET):\n\n${phrase}\n\n` +
+          `Your 12-word recovery phrase (KEEP SECRET):\n\n${numbered(phrase)}\n\n` +
             `Write these 12 words down in order — they're the ONLY way to ` +
             `recover this account on another device.`,
         );
@@ -393,11 +397,12 @@
             `Lock and unlock again with your passphrase to reveal it.`,
         );
       } else {
-        const hex = bytesToHex(fresh.seed);
+        // Pre-12-word account (or restored from hex): no 12-word form
+        // exists for this seed, but its exact 24-word encoding does.
         alert(
-          `Your recovery seed — hex form (KEEP SECRET):\n\n${hex}\n\n` +
-            `This account was created before 12-word phrases were supported. ` +
-            `The 64-character hex above is still your full recovery.`,
+          `Your 24-word recovery phrase (KEEP SECRET):\n\n${numbered(mnemonicFromSeed24(fresh.seed))}\n\n` +
+            `This account was created before 12-word phrases, so its backup ` +
+            `is these 24 words. Write them down in order — Restore accepts them.`,
         );
       }
     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Welcome.svelte b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Welcome.svelte
index 488ae11..7625bf9 100644
--- a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Welcome.svelte
+++ b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Welcome.svelte
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { onMount } from "svelte";
   import { push } from "svelte-spa-router";
-  import { bytesToHex } from "@noble/hashes/utils";
   import { session } from "../lib/store.svelte.js";
   import { onboarding } from "../lib/onboarding.svelte.js";
   import { listClaims } from "../lib/claims-store.js";
+  import { hasStoredPhrase, unlockIdentity } from "../lib/identity-store.js";
+  import { mnemonicFromSeed24 } from "../lib/mnemonic.js";
   import {
     hasStoredBiometric,
     setupBiometricUnlock,
@@ -24,8 +25,13 @@
   let notifPerm = $state<NotificationPermission | "unsupported">("default");
 
   let backupRevealed = $state(false);
-  let backupText = $state(""); // 12-word phrase if available, else hex seed
-  let backupKind = $state<"phrase" | "seed">("phrase");
+  let backupText = $state(""); // 12-word phrase, or 24-word for legacy accounts
+  let backupKind = $state<"phrase" | "phrase24">("phrase");
+  /** Phrase is stored but not in this session (Face ID / passkey unlock
+   *  only recovers the seed) — ask for the passphrase to decrypt it. */
+  let needPassphrase = $state(false);
+  let revealPass = $state("");
+  let revealError = $state<string | null>(null);
   let backupCopied = $state(false);
   let busy = $state(false);
 
@@ -41,17 +47,37 @@
     notifPerm = notificationsSupported() ? notificationsPermission() : "unsupported";
   });
 
-  function revealSeed() {
+  function showPhrase(phrase: string, kind: "phrase" | "phrase24") {
+    backupText = phrase;
+    backupKind = kind;
+    needPassphrase = false;
+    backupRevealed = true;
+  }
+
+  async function revealSeed() {
     if (!session.unlocked) return;
     if (session.unlocked.phrase) {
-      backupText = session.unlocked.phrase;
-      backupKind = "phrase";
+      showPhrase(session.unlocked.phrase, "phrase");
+    } else if (await hasStoredPhrase()) {
+      needPassphrase = true;
     } else {
-      // Legacy account (pre-mnemonic) — fall back to the hex seed.
-      backupText = bytesToHex(session.unlocked.seed);
-      backupKind = "seed";
+      // Account predates 12-word phrases (or was restored from hex):
+      // its seed has no 12-word form, but every seed has an exact
+      // 24-word encoding, which Restore accepts.
+      showPhrase(mnemonicFromSeed24(session.unlocked.seed), "phrase24");
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function revealWithPassphrase() {
+    revealError = null;
+    try {
+      const fresh = await unlockIdentity(revealPass);
+      revealPass = "";
+      if (fresh.phrase) showPhrase(fresh.phrase, "phrase");
+      else showPhrase(mnemonicFromSeed24(fresh.seed), "phrase24");
+    } catch (e) {
+      revealError = (e as Error).message;
     }
-    backupRevealed = true;
   }
   async function copySeed() {
     await navigator.clipboard.writeText(backupText);
@@ -134,29 +160,58 @@
           <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
             <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-text">Back up your recovery phrase</p>
             <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary">
-              These 12 words are the <strong>only</strong> way to recover
+              These words are the <strong>only</strong> way to recover
               your account. Lose them and it's gone forever — there's no
               reset. Write them on paper.
             </p>
-            {#if !backupRevealed && !onboarding.seedAcked}
+            {#if !backupRevealed && !needPassphrase && !onboarding.seedAcked}
               <button class="mt-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-sm border border-border rounded-md text-text-secondary hover:bg-elevated hover:text-text" onclick={revealSeed}>Reveal phrase</button>
             {/if}
+            {#if needPassphrase}
+              <form
+                class="mt-2 space-y-2"
+                onsubmit={(e) => {
+                  e.preventDefault();
+                  void revealWithPassphrase();
+                }}
+              >
+                <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary">
+                  You signed in with Face ID / passkey, which doesn't unlock
+                  your phrase. Enter your passphrase to show it.
+                </p>
+                <div class="flex gap-2">
+                  <input
+                    type="password"
+                    bind:value={revealPass}
+                    placeholder="passphrase"
+                    autocomplete="current-password"
+                    class="flex-1 px-3 py-1.5 text-sm bg-elevated border border-border rounded-md text-text focus:border-accent focus:outline-none"
+                  />
+                  <button
+                    type="submit"
+                    class="px-3 py-1.5 text-sm bg-accent text-accent-contrast font-semibold rounded-md disabled:opacity-50"
+                    disabled={!revealPass}
+                  >
+                    Show
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+                {#if revealError}<p class="text-xs text-danger">{revealError}</p>{/if}
+              </form>
+            {/if}
             {#if backupRevealed}
               <div class="mt-2 p-3 bg-elevated border border-border rounded-md">
-                {#if backupKind === "phrase"}
-                  <ol class="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 gap-x-3 gap-y-1.5 font-mono text-xs">
-                    {#each backupText.split(" ") as word, i}
-                      <li class="flex items-baseline gap-1.5">
-                        <span class="text-text-muted w-4 text-right">{i + 1}.</span>
-                        <span class="text-text select-all">{word}</span>
-                      </li>
-                    {/each}
-                  </ol>
-                {:else}
-                  <p class="font-mono text-xs text-text break-all select-all">{backupText}</p>
-                  <p class="mt-1 text-[10px] text-text-muted">
-                    Legacy 64-char hex — accounts created from now on get a
-                    12-word phrase instead.
+                <ol class="grid grid-cols-2 sm:grid-cols-3 gap-x-3 gap-y-1.5 font-mono text-xs">
+                  {#each backupText.split(" ") as word, i}
+                    <li class="flex items-baseline gap-1.5">
+                      <span class="text-text-muted w-5 text-right">{i + 1}.</span>
+                      <span class="text-text select-all">{word}</span>
+                    </li>
+                  {/each}
+                </ol>
+                {#if backupKind === "phrase24"}
+                  <p class="mt-2 text-[10px] text-text-muted">
+                    Your account was created before 12-word phrases, so its
+                    backup is these 24 words. Restore accepts them.
                   </p>
                 {/if}
                 <div class="mt-2 flex gap-2">