Keycard Shell Setup in 1 Minute
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Setup takes about a minute. Here is the written version of what the video above shows.
What Is in the Box
Inside the Keycard Shell starter kit you get the Shell device, a replaceable Nokia BL-4C style battery, a USB-C cable for charging, 2 Keycards, and a get-started QR code card. The Shell is the screen and camera. The Keycards are where your private keys live.
Step 1: Insert the Battery
Remove the back cover of the Shell and drop in the battery. Close the cover. The Shell turns on automatically when a Keycard is inserted, so there is no power button to hold down during setup.
Step 2: Slide a Keycard In
Slide one of the Keycards into the slot on the Shell until it clicks. The screen turns on and you will see the Keycard menu.
Step 3: Set Your PIN
Navigate with the physical buttons (up, down, left, right, confirm) and set a PIN code on the Keycard. The PIN lives on the Keycard itself, not on the Shell. This means even if someone gets your Shell, they cannot access your funds without the correct Keycard and PIN.
Step 4: Generate Your Seed Phrase
Select Create New Wallet and choose a 12-word BIP-39 seed phrase. The Shell shows you the words one at a time on screen. Write every word down carefully on paper in the correct order. Do not take a photo of the screen. The device will ask you to confirm a few words to make sure you wrote them down correctly.
Step 5: Connect to Your Software Wallet
The Keycard Shell uses the Keystone-style QR hardware wallet flow, so any wallet that supports Keystone QR works with it. For Ethereum and L2s, open MetaMask, go to Hardware Wallet, select QR-based, and scan the QR code the Shell displays. For Bitcoin, open Sparrow and follow the hardware wallet setup wizard using QR. Once connected, every transaction requires scanning the transaction QR from the app to the Shell, reviewing the details on screen, entering your PIN, and scanning the signed QR back.
That Is It
The first few transactions take a minute to get used to the QR flow, but it becomes second nature quickly. The Shell starts with a fully charged battery, so you can start using it right away.
For the full review with scores and a comparison to other hardware wallets, see the Keycard Shell review. You can get the starter kit at keycard.tech and use code nordic for 5% off.