Blockstream Jade Plus Setup: Air-Gapped QR Mode

The Jade Plus has three connection modes: USB, Bluetooth, and QR scanning. QR is the only fully air-gapped option. No cable, no Bluetooth, nothing touching the internet during signing. This guide walks through the full setup using QR mode.

Step 1: Start the setup

On the main menu, swipe right and tap "Setup Jade." Click continue and you will see two routes:

• Begin Setup is the standard route and what most people want
• Advanced Setup gives you extra options: dice-roll entropy for seed generation (maximum randomness), SeedQR (a scannable QR version of your recovery phrase), and BIP39 passphrase support (an optional 25th word for an extra security layer)

For this guide, click "Begin Setup," then "Create new wallet."

Step 2: Write down your seed phrase

The device shows your seed phrase. Write every word down in order on paper, store it somewhere safe, and do not show it to anyone. This is the only way to recover your funds if the device is lost or damaged. Confirm the words when prompted to continue.

Step 3: Select QR mode and pair the device

After confirming the seed phrase, you are asked to pick a connection mode: USB, Bluetooth, or QR. Select QR.

The Jade Plus will show a QR code and direct you to a website. Open that site on your phone and scan the QR code on the device. Set your PIN on the Jade Plus, then tap "Done" on your phone. Allow the camera when prompted. Now scan the QR code on the Jade Plus using your phone, then scan the QR code on your phone using the Jade Plus. Once that exchange completes, the device is set up.

Step 4: Connect to the Blockstream app

The setup above makes the device work, but to actually use it to send and receive you need the Blockstream app connected. Go to Blockstream's website, tap the menu at the top, find the Blockstream app under Products, and download it from there.

Open the app and select "Connect Jade." Choose "Connect via QR" to keep the air-gapped setup going. Since you already unlocked the device during setup, select "Jade already unlocked."

The app will tell you to go into the Jade Plus and navigate to Options > Wallet > Export Xpub. This exports your public key to the app so it can track balances and build transactions, without your private keys ever leaving the device. It is the safe way to connect to an internet-connected app without exposing anything sensitive. Go into Export Xpub on the device, scan the QR with your phone, and the app is linked. That is the full setup done.

What you get with this setup

You now have a hardware wallet that signs transactions completely offline. The phone and the Jade Plus exchange information only through QR codes, so the private keys never touch anything connected to the internet. The Blockstream app handles the online side and the Jade Plus handles the signing.

For a full breakdown of the Jade Plus, what it does well, and where it has limitations, read the Jade Plus review. If you want to see all of the features beyond the setup, the full video below covers everything including the on-device options and the app in detail.

Watch: Blockstream Jade Plus - Unboxing, Setup Tutorial and Review