> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://0xshiven.gitbook.io/guardian-smart-wallet-contracts/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://0xshiven.gitbook.io/guardian-smart-wallet-contracts/overview/our-features/social-account-recovery.md).

# Social Account Recovery

A safety net to regain lost access

Losing access to your wallet can be a frustrating and stressful experience. Fortunately, innovative solutions like Social Account Recovery offer a safety net to regain control of your accounts and the underlying assets.

### **What is a Social Account Recovery System and why is it important?**

A Social Account Recovery System is a designated security measure that allows authorized individuals (guardians) to assist users in regaining access to their accounts in case a user loses access to their smart account. This can happen:

* If the user uninstalls the dapp from her phone, which indirectly deletes any passkey stored locally on the device.
* Delete the stored passkeys from the browser storage.

The social aspect of the account recovery system also enhances security by **eliminating a single point of failure** i.e. access to email or cloud backup. It also reduces dependencies on centralized services. Moreover, dapp builders can also **customize** the recovery system by requiring specific numbers of guardian approvals or offering different verification methods.

### **How it works?**

1. **Guardian Setup:** Users designate trusted individuals as guardians during account creation or through specific account settings.
2. **Lost Access:** If a user loses access to their account, they can initiate an account recovery process by asking an assigned guardian to create an account recovery request.
3. **Guardian Signatures:** Upon successful creation of the account recovery request, all account guardians will be able to access the recovery request from their respective Guardian portal.
4. **Guardian Approval:** Guardians receive the request and have the option to approve or deny the account recovery.
5. **Account Recovery:** Once approved by the majority of the account guardians, a new embedded wallet should be created on the client side and its public address should be sent to the `AccountRecovery` contract. This new wallet address is made the new owner of the smart contract holding all the user's assets, resulting in the user regaining control!

{% hint style="info" %}
Access to the user's assets can be regained because the assets are held in a smart contract instead of a software wallet.
{% endhint %}

\
Social Account Recovery Systems: 

* **eliminates the single point of failure,** 
* **provides customization of recovery logic**

therefore providing a more reliable, secure, and customizable wallet experience. 

#### [Get started with integrating Social Account Recovery.](/guardian-smart-wallet-contracts/guides/account-recovery.md)

{% content-ref url="/pages/QbDUhA96jBNXzo9rMxoS" %}
[Architecture](/guardian-smart-wallet-contracts/overview/architecture.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}