How to Switch from Phantom to Solflare Wallet Without Losing Access (2025 Method)

Moving from Phantom to Solflare and getting "invalid key" errors? Converting your Phantom wallet to a private key first solves compatibility issues. Here's the 2024 guide to do it safely.

💡 Why This Works: Private keys bypass Phantom/Solflare’s conflicting seed phrase formats. Convert once, use everywhere.

Why Phantom Keys Fail in Solflare

If you’ve searched for "import Phantom wallet to Solflare" or "Solflare invalid private key", here’s the root cause:

Seed phrase encryption: Phantom and Solflare use different derivation paths.
Format conflicts: Phantom’s JSON backups aren’t Solflare-compatible.
Human error: Typos when re-entering seed phrases.

Step 1: Convert Phantom Wallet to Private Key

Time needed: 2 minutes

Go to solana-keygen.com → Choose "JSON to Private Key" tool.
Upload your Phantom backup file (wallet.json) or paste its contents.
Click "Convert" → Copy the Base58 private key.

No JSON file? Use the seed phrase converter if you have your 12/24 words.

Step 2: Import Private Key to Solflare

1. Open Solflare → Click "Advanced"
2. Select "Import Secret Key"
3. Paste your Base58 key
4. Name your wallet → Done!

Troubleshooting Solflare Imports

Problem: "Invalid secret key"
→ Ensure you copied the entire key (starts with 5J... and 44 characters long).

Problem: "Balance not showing"
→ Check network (Mainnet vs. Devnet) in Solflare’s settings.

Why Not Just Use the Seed Phrase?

Phantom and Solflare’s 2024 updates made seed phrases less compatible due to:

Security changes: Phantom now uses SLIP-0010 derivation by default.
Encryption upgrades: Solflare’s seed storage isn’t backward-compatible.

FAQ: Phantom to Solflare Migration

Q: Can I use both wallets simultaneously?
A: Yes! The same private key works in Phantom and Solflare at the same time.

Q: Is converting safe for NFTs?
A: Absolutely – your assets are on-chain, not tied to the wallet app.

Q: What if I lose the private key?
A: Re-generate it anytime from your Phantom JSON backup or seed phrase.

2024 Security Tips

✅ Bookmark our converter tool to avoid phishing clones.
❌ Never share your private key via DM/email.
🔥 Delete JSON files after conversion.

Need to switch back? Use the same key in Phantom via Settings → Import Private Key.