> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hinkal-team.gitbook.io/hinkal/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hinkal-team.gitbook.io/hinkal/hinkal-wallet/getting-started/account-management.md).

# Account Management

Public and Private Accounts

Hinkal gives every wallet two types of accounts - both live inside the same wallet, and you can switch between them anytime.

<table><thead><tr><th width="147">Balance</th><th width="129.05078125">Identified by</th><th width="200">Where it lives</th><th width="316">Used for</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Private account</strong></td><td>Shield icon</td><td>Inside the Hinkal smart contract</td><td>Storing funds privately and making private transactions</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Public account</strong></td><td>Circle icon</td><td>Smart contract wallets that acts like EOAs</td><td>Interacting with dApps and on-chain actions</td></tr></tbody></table>

You can have:

* **1 Private account**
* **Multiple Public accounts**

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-708291ee95b0ad873c50ed7b39bc4fc2b33a4f20%2FScreenshot%202026-03-20%20at%201.14.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Switching between accounts

You can switch accounts anytime from the top bar.

* Tap the account switcher
* Your wallet switches between **Private (shield icon)** and **Public accounts (circle icon)**

If you have multiple Public accounts:

* Tap the switcher to open the list
* Select the one you want

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="245">Main account</th><th width="245">Switch with a single click</th><th width="245.33333333333331">Public account (Proxy)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-48d4fcd6b393356eea65bd4befe863868c6aa451%2FScreenshot%202026-03-20%20at%201.56.46%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="original"></td><td><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f16a8462a812b1c1de53648257b03389fbc22263%2FScreenshot%202026-03-20%20at%201.57.29%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="original"></td><td><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bc2754cafee52a6ed194bb8928e3883390850655%2FScreenshot%202026-03-20%20at%202.01.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="original"></td></tr></tbody></table>

### When to use Public vs Private

#### Use **Public accounts** when:

Some actions need a visible wallet to work.

Use a Public account when you:

* connect to dApps
* stake tokens
* lend or borrow
* provide liquidity
* list NFTs

These actions need a wallet that can **hold positions and interact openly on-chain**

### Moving funds between the two balances

#### 1. Shield (Public → Private)

Move assets from a Public account into your Private account.

**Steps:**

1. Open a **Public account**
2. Tap **Shield tokens**
3. Select tokens
4. Add more tokens if needed
5. Enter amounts (or use max)
6. Confirm → **Shield**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Step 1 - Click Shield" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b1c830b8cc88c2abed5322ff0ac325ee44a7763f%2FToken%20-%20Shield%20Flow%20(4).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Step 2 - Select Tokens" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c01472f338e1e7647b18d51883a89a21859dda06%2FToken%20-%20Add%20More%20Token%20(3).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Step 3 - Add multiple tokens (optional)" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2468826b592819668a9d412987f8b9f98c1d8cdf%2FToken%20-%2010%20Token%20(2).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Step 4 - Enter amounts (or use max)" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0bd916979f34ba1b8413205bb6edd68ac2ab486a%2FToken%20-%20Shield%20Flow%20-%201%2B%20Tokens%20(2).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Result" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f77c41dd95184f9aeb4d2f669da9cd657da1af15%2FAll%20assets%20has%20been%20shielded%20(1).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### 2. Unshield (Private → Public)

Move assets from your Private account to a Public account.

**Steps:**

1. Open your **Private account and tap unshield**
2. Choose destination Public account
   * or create a new one
3. Select tokens
4. Enter amounts
5. Confirm → **Unshield**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Step 1 - Click unshield" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b30ef6beb825815e54867f2e6c45320a013057a9%2FToken%20-%20Shield%20Flow%20(5).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Step 2 - Choose destination" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-adac019a98e545aa2e49779300fe7fe57b0ef448%2FToken%20-%20Shield%20Flow%20(6).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Step 3 - Select tokens (you can choose multiple tokens)" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8e47a5eee142ca36e6571ac66927561528f2d180%2FToken%20-%20Add%20More%20Token%20(4).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Step 4 - Enter amounts" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6a619de03d3644a599b76eab07f4cad7e5283939%2FToken%20-%20Shield%20Flow%20-%201%2B%20Tokens%20(3).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### 3. Auto-Shield

Auto-Shield automatically moves incoming funds into your Private account.

When enabled:

* Funds received are **shielded automatically**
* No manual action needed

You can:

* enable it anytime
* set a **max gas fee limit**

If [gas](/hinkal/hinkal-wallet/getting-started/gas-tokens.md) exceeds your limit:

* Auto-Shield is skipped

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Auto Shield - Anytime" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2ff83c2f9c5801c208cd4cf42da1b151ade4aab3%2FAuto%20Privacy%20(2).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Auto Shield - Max Gas" %}

<figure><img src="https://400260740-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FUoGzqKrjqkoPsx76Zeb7%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-782118db27e3608c84d82b814ce24c87a7b2d39e%2FAuto%20Privacy%20(3).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### Common patterns

<table><thead><tr><th width="342">Goal</th><th width="354">Action sequence</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Use a dApp (Aave, etc.)</td><td>Unshield → Use Public account</td></tr><tr><td>Swap privately</td><td><strong>Private account → Swap</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Receive funds privately</td><td>Private account → Receive</td></tr><tr><td>Send funds privately</td><td>Private account → Send</td></tr><tr><td>Buy and keep private</td><td>Buy (Public) → Shield</td></tr></tbody></table>

<br>