# How can I can recover the passphrase, I have the secret key

**URL:** <https://community.passbolt.com/t/how-can-i-can-recover-the-passphrase-i-have-the-secret-key/697>\
**Category:** Installation Issues\
**Created:** [May 22, 2018, 8:30am UTC](https://community.passbolt.com/t/how-can-i-can-recover-the-passphrase-i-have-the-secret-key/697 "2018-05-22T08:30:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![charge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@charge](https://community.passbolt.com/u/charge)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 8:30am UTC](https://community.passbolt.com/t/how-can-i-can-recover-the-passphrase-i-have-the-secret-key/697/1 "2018-05-22T08:30:56Z")

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Hi i just want to check out, that what i read here

> **[How can I recover my passphrase?](https://help.passbolt.com/faq/start/passphrase-recovery)**
>
> Unfortunately it is not possible to reset your private key passphrase if you do not remember the original. Similarly if you have lost your private key and yo...

Is true also from point of admin, where i cant recover pass phrase for employee, he has his private key, but probably forgot the pass phrase. Any way how can i help him, so he does not loses all his saved passwords?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![remy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.passbolt.com/remy/32/17_2.png) [@remy](https://community.passbolt.com/u/remy)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 9:44am UTC](https://community.passbolt.com/t/how-can-i-can-recover-the-passphrase-i-have-the-secret-key/697/2 "2018-05-22T09:44:00Z")

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Hi @charge,

The only way to recover the passphrase if you have the secret key would be to bruteforce it with something like [http://www.openwall.com/john/](http://www.openwall.com/john/)

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/passbolt/original/2X/b/bee7d3f9329f668000d46e9fcb2e5db1e9d31348.svg) [@system](https://community.passbolt.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2018, 9:44am UTC](https://community.passbolt.com/t/how-can-i-can-recover-the-passphrase-i-have-the-secret-key/697/3 "2018-05-27T09:44:04Z")

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