# Reset Backup

This page describes how to reset your organization's backup on the Fordefi
platform.

Resetting a backup invalidates your current backup configuration (public keys
and backup artifacts) and lets you create a new one. It does **not** change
the key material they contain. Following reset, if you so choose, you can select a backup scheme that is different
from the one you used previously.

The flow requires both **Fordefi Support involvement** and **Admin Quorum
approval** — no single individual can reset a backup unilaterally.

Warning
Resetting a backup is a **high-risk operation** designed for emergency
recovery and organizational control changes. It is intentionally high-friction
to protect your assets.

## Who can do what

| **Role** | **Can** | **Cannot** |
|  --- | --- | --- |
| Org Admin | Initiate reset (after CS enablement), approve reset via quorum, create and approve new backup | Enable reset eligibility, delete backup without quorum |
| Fordefi CS | Enable reset eligibility, view reset status and audit logs | Initiate, approve, delete, or create backups |
| Non‑admins | View the backup page | Initiate reset or backup creation |


## Important notes and warnings

- **Reset is irreversible.** Once the Admin Quorum approves, the backup is permanently
destroyed.
- Reset will affect your backup for **all** your organizations.
- **The 24-hour eligibility window is strict.** If it expires, restart from
Step 1.
- **This flow is not for routine administration.** Use it only for organizational control changes.


## Reset your backup

There are six phases to this process:

1. Contact Fordefi support
2. Customer Support enables reset eligibility
3. Initiate the reset
4. Have Admin Quorum approve the reset
5. "No Backup Configured" state is entered
6. Create a new backup


Details in the following sections.

### Step 1: Contact Fordefi Support

To initiate the process, click **Settings** in the sidebar, then click the **Reset Backup** button at the top right of the screen that appears.

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Alternatively, reach out to Fordefi Customer Support on your shared **Slack** or **Telegram** channel and
request a backup reset.

Customer Support will verify your identity off-platform (this may include a live video call)
before enabling the reset.

### Step 2: Customer Support enables reset eligibility

Once verified, CS turns on reset eligibility for your organization.

A banner appears in the **Settings** screen with the text: *"Reset enabled by Fordefi Support"*.

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Eligibility expires after 24 hours. If unused within that time, you'll need to contact CS
again.

### Step 3: Initiate the reset

1. In the  **Settings** screen, click **Reset Backup**.
A confirmation appears warning you that:
  - The backup will be permanently deleted.
  - Your organization will be unrecoverable until a new backup is created.
2. Check the explicit confirmation checkbox and proceed.


### Step 4: Admin Quorum approves the reset

The reset triggers an **Admin Quorum approval flow**:

- Each required admin signs **"Approve Backup Reset"** using the standard quorum
signing flow.
- Once the quorum threshold is met, the existing backup is **automatically and
permanently deleted** by the platform.


Note that deletion is irreversible. CS cannot delete the backup manually — only quorum
can trigger it.

### Step 5: "No Backup Configured" state

After deletion, your organization enters the **No Backup Configured** state:

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- A "no backup" warning is displayed.
- A seven-day countdown begins.


### Step 6: Create a new backup

In the  **Settings** screen, click **Create new backup (admin quorum required)**.

- Backup parameters (type, providers, thresholds) are chosen during this step.
- A new admin quorum is required to approve creation. Choose one of the following methods:
  - Passphrase recovery: quorum includes the superset of admins who hold
parts of the passphrase, plus additional quorum participants who sign the
operation.
  - Public key recovery: standard admin quorum.
- The same admins who approved the reset may be asked to approve again — this is
expected.


Learn more about backup options and flows [here](/user-guide/backup-and-recover-private-keys).