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First deposit

First XMR Deposit Checklist

Before the first meaningful XMR deposit, slow down and check the basics: official wallet source, offline seed backup, restore height or creation date, address accuracy, tiny test flow when appropriate, and realistic privacy assumptions. The goal is to avoid preventable mistakes before value moves.

Last reviewed 2026-06-25 3 min read Reviewed by XMR Safety editorial desk
Trust boundary: Independent educational resource. We never ask for seed phrases, private keys, wallet files, QR recovery images, passwords, or screenshots. Always verify wallet downloads through official project sources.

Short answer

Before the first meaningful XMR deposit, slow down and check the basics: official wallet source, offline seed backup, restore height or creation date, address accuracy, tiny test flow when appropriate, and realistic privacy assumptions. The goal is to avoid preventable mistakes before value moves.

Key takeaways

  • Official wallet source verified.
  • Seed phrase written offline and not photographed.
  • Restore height or creation date recorded.
  • Address compared before sending.

Practical safety steps

Create a small test wallet

Practice setup and recovery with a tiny amount or no meaningful funds. Learning under pressure is risky.

Write seed offline

Do not store seed words in screenshots, cloud notes, email, chats, or website forms. Treat the seed as wallet access, not a password hint.

Record restore height or creation date

Save enough context to restore without guessing. This can make sync and balance checks easier later.

Verify app source

Check the official project site, app-store publisher, and download path before creating or restoring the wallet.

Send tiny test amount

If the recipient can confirm receipt and the situation justifies the extra step, use a tiny test before moving meaningful funds.

Check privacy assumptions

A wallet cannot make anonymity automatic. Consider exchange records, device security, network behavior, and what you reveal to counterparties.

Do

  • Verify wallet downloads through official sources.
  • Keep recovery words offline and private.
  • Record restore context before funds move.
  • Use official documentation as the source trail.

Don’t

  • Type seed phrases into websites.
  • Trust masked wallet-download redirects.
  • Assume a wallet guarantees anonymity.
  • Send meaningful XMR before checking the address.

Checklist

  • Official wallet source verified.
  • Seed phrase written offline and not photographed.
  • Restore height or creation date recorded.
  • Address compared before sending.
  • Tiny test considered where appropriate.
  • Privacy limits understood before deposit.

Source trail

Open these public sources directly and verify context before installing wallet software, restoring funds, or acting on recovery steps.

FAQ

What is the first thing to do before depositing XMR?

Verify the wallet source before creating or restoring the wallet. Do not enter recovery words into an unverified app or website.

Do I need a test transaction?

For meaningful funds, a tiny test can reduce error risk when the recipient can confirm receipt. It is a habit, not a guarantee.

Should I record restore height before depositing?

Yes, or record the wallet creation date. It helps future recovery and sync checks.

Can I keep my seed in a password manager?

Some people use advanced setups, but cautious beginners should avoid cloud-synced seed storage and understand the risk before doing so.

Before moving meaningful XMR, complete the wallet safety checklist.

Use the checklist, treat the Cake Wallet button as a disclosed referral link, verify official sources, and pause if any website or support account asks for recovery material.

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