Update Chain Specs in Polkadot Vault

In most cases, chain specs need to be scanned only when adding a new chain. However, you need to update them if the chain updates its address format, native token, or even genesis hash.

Your Polkadot Vault Device is always offline and is air-gapped, so specs are updated via scanning a QR code. You can use the Nova Wallet Metadata Portal to find QR codes which will provide your Polkadot Vault Device with the information required to update the chain specs.

The following steps need to be carried out on your Polkadot Vault Device.

1. Navigate to the Novasama Technologies Metadata Portal. Note: this should be done on a device which is not your Polkadot Vault device.

2. On the metadata portal, select the blockchain that you wish to update the metadata for.

3. Select the Chain Specs tab at the top of the metadata portal screen.

4. Using your Polkadot Vault device, select the QR code scanner.

5. Scan the Chain specs QR code with your Polkadot Vault device.

6. Review the verifier certificate and then select Approve at the bottom of the screen on your Polkadot Vault device.

7. If there was a metadata update as well, follow these steps next: Update Chain Metadata in Polkadot Vault.