The Emergency Access Kit is a narrowly scoped, last-resort tool that gives you a way to move your funds to another wallet if Block and the Bitkey app are no longer available or functional.
Unlike recovery methods that help you regain access to your wallet when a key is lost, the Emergency Access Kit does not support key recovery. It is not a backup, and it’s not a replacement for the full-featured Bitkey app. It simply allows you to use your two existing keys — your Mobile Key and your Hardware Key — to access and move your funds in the event that Bitkey is no longer operational.
When would I use the Emergency Access Kit?
The Emergency Access Kit is only intended to be used to move your funds to another wallet in extreme situations — specifically, when:
- You still have both of your keys (Mobile and Hardware)
- The Bitkey app is no longer available (e.g., removed from app stores)
- Block is no longer operational or able to support Bitkey
- You need to act independently of Block and the Bitkey team
What does the Emergency Access Kit involve?
When you set up your Bitkey wallet, a copy of your Mobile Key is encrypted using your Bitkey hardware and stored in the cloud as part of your Emergency Access Kit. The kit itself is saved as a PDF file in your personal cloud account.
This PDF includes instructions and a reference to a standalone version of the Bitkey app that allows you to complete the process without connecting to Block servers. The app must be sideloaded onto an Android device (with NFC) and used offline, ensuring that no part of the recovery relies on Bitkey infrastructure.
🔐 Why this is secure:
The PDF version of your Emergency Access Kit contains an encrypted copy of your Mobile Key that can only be decrypted using your Bitkey hardware device.
Even if someone were to gain access to the PDF — including a hacker or your cloud provider — it would be useless without the hardware.
A high-level overview of how it works:
- Retrieve your Emergency Access Kit PDF from your cloud storage
- Sideload the standalone Emergency Access app onto an Android device
Sideloading means manually installing the app outside of the Play Store
- Verify the app using instructions in the kit to ensure it hasn’t been tampered with
- Use your Bitkey hardware to decrypt the Mobile Key from the PDF
- Move your funds from your Bitkey wallet to another wallet of your choice
⚠️ This version of the app never connects to Block’s servers — you are fully self-sovereign in this flow.
iOS is not supported
Due to Apple’s restrictions, the Emergency Access Kit cannot be used on iOS devices.
However, if you originally used Bitkey on iOS, you can still retrieve your Emergency Access Kit from iCloud and complete the process using an Android device.
However, if you originally used Bitkey on iOS, you can still retrieve your Emergency Access Kit from iCloud and complete the process using an Android device.
The Emergency Access Kit is not meant for everyday use. It’s a purpose-built utility to help you retain control of your bitcoin if the Bitkey app and Block are no longer available — and you still have the two keys required to move funds.