Get and use a Blockstack ID

Through the Blockstack browser you can create an identity. Your identity is a point of contact as you interact with others through Dapps. Others may be individual users or companies or software. Unless you allow it, none of these others have access to anything other than your identity label, for example moxiegirl.id.blockstack. To learn more about you, others must ask and you can choose to share – or not.

This document explains one type of identity, the Blockstack ID. You learn how to create them, as well as when and how to restore them. It contains the following sections:

Understand Blockstack IDs

Interacting within the decentralized internet requires that you have at least one identity, though you can create several. Your identity is created through a registrar. Blockstack maintains a registrar for creating identities that you can use to interact with distributed applications (Dapps).

To use the Blockstack Browser or to develop a decentralized application you require a Blockstack ID, for example moxiegirl.id.blockstack. A Blockstack ID is a digital identity that is registered With Blockstack. Your personal data and storage are built around this ID. Decentralized applications that want to access your data need your identity and your permission.

When you first sign up through the Blockstack browser, you create an initial human-readable identity in the id.blockstack domain. This initial identity has the format:

USERNAME.id.blockstack

The USERNAME portion must be unique. You enter an email and password to create the initial identity. Blockstack uses the password to:

  • seed a recovery code an encrypted string, for example 36mWivFdy0YPH2z31EflpQz/Y0UMrOrJ++lH=0EI7c3mop2JuRBm5W1P0BwXxSTazJsUjOAmC55rFUWINqDqGccLio0iwzGclAhaHGZQ5M52
  • seed a recovery key which is a squence of words applied binge crisp pictorial fiery dancing agreeable frogs light finish ping apple

The email is provided to allow either Blockstack or a decentralized application to communicate information to you. In Blockstacks’ case, the email is used to send you reovery information.

While Blockstack registers your human readable ID and the recovery key. You must record the:

  • recovery key
  • recovery code (in the order the words apepar)
  • initial password

Blockstack does not store them, so it can’t give them to you later if they are lost.

Your initial ID is created in the id.blockstack domain. The initial identity remains primary, and you need this primary ID and its associated information (recovery code, recovery key, and password) to use the browser again.

Finally, the id.blockstack domain is sponsored by the Blockstack registrar and identities on it are free. Once you are using the Blockstack Browser, you can create additional identities outside of this domain and controlled by other registrars. Coin is required to purchase identities on other domains.

Create an initial Blockstack ID

To create an inititial Blockstack ID, do the following:

  1. Open the Blockstack web application in your browser.

    The application prompts you for an email address.

    Blockstack uses this email address to send you recovery information.

  2. Enter an email address and press Next.

    The application prompts you to enter a password. Blockstack users this password to encrypt your recovery code. You must record and save this initial password.

    NOTE:The Blockstack team cannot restore your password for you.

  3. Enter a password, confirm it, and press Next.

    The browser prompts you to register a unique username in the id.blockstack domain. This is your identity in the decentralized internet. The format of the id is:

    username.id.blockstack

    You’ll use this initial ID to access the Blockstack Browser.

  4. Enter a unique username and press Check Availability.

    When you choose an ID that is available, the system responds with the following:

  5. Press Continue.

    The system prompts you to save your recovery code. A recovery code is a sequence of words. These words allow you to recover an id.blockstack that you’ve created. You should store the words along with their order, for example, #1 applied and so forth.

  6. Click I have written down all the words when you are done.

    The system places you in the Blockstack browser. You can begin exploring and using Dapps.

Restore a Blockstack ID

When you return to the Blockstack Browser, the browser prompts you to create a new Blockstack ID or restore an existing Blockstack ID. If you have a Blockstack identity, you can open the browser by restoring the identity. To restore an identity, there are two available methods.

Method 1: Supply the identity recovery code (36mWivFdy0YPH2z31E...) and the password you provided when you initially created your identity. Method 2: Supply the recovery key which is a sequence of words (applied binge ...)

If you loose either the recovery code or the password you provided when you initially created your identity, you can no longer use method 1 to restore your identity. If you lose the recovery key, you can no longer use method 2. Once you no longer have access to either method, your identity is estranged and not accessible by anyone.

Restore with a recovery key

  1. Open the Blockstack web application in your browser.

  2. Choose Restore a Blockstack ID.

    The system displays a dialog where you can enter your recovery code or a recovery key.

  3. Enter the recovery key.

    The recovery key is a squence of words.

  4. Press Next.

    The system prompts you for an email address. This email can be one you entered previously or an entirely new one. Blockstack doesn’t store this address; it is used during your current Blockstack browser interaction to communicate important information with you.

  5. Enter an email and press Next.

    The system prompts you for an password and its confirmation. This password can be one you entered previously or an entirely new one. Write this password down. You can use the password during your current Blockstack browser interaction to reveal your keychain or change your password. Blockstack does not store this information past the session.

  6. Enter a password and press Next.

    The system welcomes you back.

    At this point, you can go onto work with Dapps or you can review your recovery key.

Restore with a recovery code and original password

  1. Open the Blockstack web application in your browser.

  2. Choose Restore a Blockstack ID.

    The system displays a dialog where you can enter your recovery code or a recovery key.

  3. Enter your recovery code.

The recovery code is an encrypted string.

  1. Press Next.

    The system prompts you for an email address. This email can be one you entered previously or an entirely new one. Blockstack doesn’t store this address; it is used during your current Blockstack browser interaction to communicate important information with you.

  2. Enter an email and press Next.

    The system prompts you for an password. This must be the password entered when you first created your identity. If you have forgetten this passowrd, Blockstack cannot provide it to you. Instead, you must switch to using your recovery key rather than your code to restore your identity.

  3. Enter your origin password and press Next.

The system welcomes you back.

At this point, you can go work with Dapps or you can review your recovery key.