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# Local Accounts

## Overview

A [Local Account](/docs/accounts/local/private-key) signs inside the application. Viem can derive
one from a private key, mnemonic, HD key, or custom signing primitive.

The Account can sign transactions, messages, typed data, and EIP-7702 authorizations.

## Recipes

These recipes create [Local Accounts](/docs/accounts) independently of a Client.

### Create from a Private Key

Use [`Account.fromPrivateKey`](/docs/accounts/local/private-key) for an existing secp256k1 key.

```ts twoslash
import { Account } from 'viem'

const account = Account.fromPrivateKey('0x...') // [!code focus]
```

### Create from a Mnemonic

Use [`Account.fromMnemonic`](/docs/accounts/local/mnemonic) and select an HD address index when one
phrase controls several Accounts.

```ts twoslash
import { Account } from 'viem'

const account = Account.fromMnemonic( // [!code focus]
  'test test test test test test test test test test test junk', // [!code focus]
  { addressIndex: 1 }, // [!code focus]
) // [!code focus]
```

### Adapt a Custom Signer

Use [`Account.from`](/docs/accounts/local/custom) around a KMS, secure enclave, hardware device, or
another signing implementation. Viem derives the higher-level signing methods from `sign`.

```ts twoslash
import { Account } from 'viem'

declare const kms: {
  sign(hash: `0x${string}`): Promise<`0x${string}`>
}

const account = Account.from({ // [!code focus]
  address: '0xA0Cf798816D4b9b9866b5330EEa46a18382f251e', // [!code focus]
  sign: ({ hash }) => kms.sign(hash), // [!code focus]
}) // [!code focus]
```

## Best Practices

### Keep Keys Out of Source

Load production keys from a dedicated secret manager or signing service. Example keys and Anvil
defaults must never be reused for funded Accounts.

### Prefer a Signing Boundary

Expose the narrow signing interface required by `Account.from`. Avoid giving unrelated application
code access to raw private key bytes.

## See More

<Cards>
  <Card icon="lucide:list-ordered" title="Nonce Manager" description="Attach managed nonces to a Local Account." to="/docs/accounts/nonce-manager" />

  <Card icon="lucide:signature" title="Signatures & SIWE" description="Sign messages and typed data with the Account." to="/docs/guides/wallets/signatures" />
</Cards>