diff --git a/docs/developer/api.md b/docs/developer/api.md
index 50f3250..d031230 100644
--- a/docs/developer/api.md
+++ b/docs/developer/api.md
@@ -640,10 +640,12 @@ fingerprint consistency, and network xpub/tpub versions, constructs only the
 fixed descriptor templates, and asks `getdescriptorinfo` to validate and expand
 their external/internal branches. The adapter then compares the exact eight
 active public descriptors against `listdescriptors`. It relocks wallets Core
-reports as encrypted. Master-fingerprint display is likewise delegated to Core:
-a stateless root P2PKH descriptor is normalized, `deriveaddresses` derives its
-address, and `validateaddress` returns the script hash whose first four bytes are
-the BIP32 fingerprint.
+reports as encrypted. Master-fingerprint and graphical recovery-commitment
+derivation are likewise delegated to Core. A stateless root P2PKH descriptor is
+normalized to its public root xpub. SHA-256 over the domain-separated canonical
+xpub supplies the 256-bit recovery commitment; `deriveaddresses` and
+`validateaddress` return the script hash whose first four bytes are the BIP32
+fingerprint. Neither operation opens or mutates a wallet.
 
 The Core calls are fixed: `getnetworkinfo`, `getblockchaininfo`, `listwallets`,
 `getwalletinfo`, `listdescriptors`, `getdescriptorinfo`, `deriveaddresses`,
diff --git a/docs/security/invariants.md b/docs/security/invariants.md
index d82e39e..c2f448b 100644
--- a/docs/security/invariants.md
+++ b/docs/security/invariants.md
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ and evidence.
    gated by confirmation. Input cannot replace entropy or the original secret.
 4. Wallet setup uses the original ceremony result or a validated recovered seed.
    Graphical recovery derives public wallet identity first and requires the
-   operator to confirm it against the separately stored wallet record before
-   any recovered key material may mutate a Bitcoin Core wallet.
+   operator to enter a separately stored SHA-256 commitment to the canonical
+   root xpub before any recovered key material may mutate a Bitcoin Core wallet.
+   The 32-bit BIP32 fingerprint is diagnostic metadata, never the authorization
+   value for this transition.
 5. Correction shares one mass bound and deadline across target lengths. The
    public API fails closed on incomplete required work; CLI searches may return
    one primary-best-so-far eligible candidate at the deadline. Incomplete
diff --git a/docs/security/model.md b/docs/security/model.md
index 03a474c..14ef9f7 100644
--- a/docs/security/model.md
+++ b/docs/security/model.md
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ The operator must:
   guarantee new physical entropy between calls.
 - A checksum, generation-padding hint, fingerprint, or correction candidate
   does not authenticate a backup or prove the operator's intent.
+- The graphical recovery commitment is a domain-separated SHA-256 digest of
+  the canonical root xpub returned by Bitcoin Core. It is public metadata and
+  authenticates only against the separately stored record; it is not a secret,
+  a MAC, or proof that the record itself is trustworthy.
 - Creation feedback identifies correct groups but does not prove the recovery card was corrected.
 - A fresh unshared master seed exposes a public 20-bit BIP32 fingerprint in its
   default identifier; fingerprints are metadata, not secrets.
@@ -269,13 +273,16 @@ only while more than one answers. On screen a wallet is chosen by the position o
 its row, never by the text of its label, and Core's text is rendered without
 Pango markup, so a wallet name cannot hide or impersonate another.
 
-Restore derives the recovered seed's master fingerprint through Bitcoin Core
-before destination selection and displays it with the backup identifier. The
-operator must explicitly confirm that fingerprint against the separately stored
-wallet record before the program lists, creates, unlocks, or imports into a
-destination wallet. A mismatch can therefore stop recovery without mutating a
-Bitcoin Core wallet. The fingerprint remains only a short diagnostic identifier;
-its authentication-strength limitation above still applies.
+Restore derives the recovered seed's canonical root xpub and master fingerprint
+through Bitcoin Core before destination selection. It computes the recovery
+commitment as `SHA256(domain_tag || root_xpub)`, where `domain_tag` is the
+ASCII text `codex32 recovery commitment` followed by one NUL byte. It asks the
+operator to enter the 256-bit value from the separately stored wallet
+record. The expected commitment is not displayed before comparison. Only a
+match permits the program to list, create, unlock, or import into a destination
+wallet, so a mismatch can stop recovery without mutating one. The fingerprint
+is still displayed as a short diagnostic identifier but is not used to authorize
+the transition.
 
 The program draws no entropy, opens no socket, starts no process of its own, and
 writes no file: no settings, no recent list, no log, and no clipboard write of
diff --git a/docs/user/gui.md b/docs/user/gui.md
index 3566a39..540065e 100644
--- a/docs/user/gui.md
+++ b/docs/user/gui.md
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ the seed. It protects the wallet on this computer.
 
 Finally, copy the wallet details onto your
 [wallet record](wallet-verification-record.html) and keep it apart from every
-card. The window shows exactly the fields that record asks for.
+card. The window shows exactly the fields that record asks for, including a
+long recovery commitment. That commitment is public, but it must stay separate
+from the cards because the restore screen uses it to reject the wrong recovered
+seed before Bitcoin Core is changed.
 
 A card never contains **B**, **I**, **O** or **1**: those four are left out of
 the alphabet precisely because handwriting confuses them with 8, J, L and 0. If
@@ -142,11 +145,17 @@ wallet**, which would make a different backup. If the wallet was part-filled
 before it failed, it is no longer empty, so it will not be offered again: create
 another one, or ask Bitcoin Core for a fresh blank wallet.
 
-When you restore, the window asks you to **check** the wallet details against
-your record rather than copy them onto it. That comparison — the master
-fingerprint above all — is the only thing that proves the cards you just typed
-belong to that wallet. It shows no creation date on that screen, because the
-real one is already on your record and today's would replace it.
+When you restore, the window first asks you to type the recovery commitment from
+the separate wallet record. It deliberately does not show the value it expects.
+If the value does not match, it does not list, create, unlock, or fill a Bitcoin
+Core wallet. Do not substitute the shorter master fingerprint. Older wallet
+records without a recovery commitment need to be updated before relying on this
+pre-import check.
+
+After a successful restore, the window asks you to check the remaining wallet
+details against the record rather than copy them onto it. It shows no creation
+date on that screen, because the real one is already on your record and today's
+would replace it.
 
 The window always uses account 0, which is what it writes onto your wallet
 record. If you are restoring a wallet whose record shows a different account
diff --git a/docs/user/guide.md b/docs/user/guide.md
index 1150c66..a6059a9 100644
--- a/docs/user/guide.md
+++ b/docs/user/guide.md
@@ -168,11 +168,13 @@ wallet should be trusted until initialization completes.
 
 ### 4. Complete the record and store the cards
 
-Copy the displayed backup identifier, wallet name, Bitcoin Core version,
-master fingerprint, derivation standards, and account number to the wallet
-record. Add the approximate
-creation / earliest-use date. Do not put a descriptor timestamp on a recovery
-card; Core's public descriptor export preserves its stored timestamps.
+For graphical setup, copy the displayed backup identifier, wallet name, Bitcoin
+Core version, master fingerprint, recovery commitment, derivation standards,
+and account number to the wallet record. The command-line workflow does not yet
+display the recovery commitment, so do not rely on a CLI-created record for
+graphical recovery. Add the approximate creation / earliest-use date. Do not put
+a descriptor timestamp on a recovery card; Core's public descriptor export
+preserves its stored timestamps.
 
 Store each card securely. For a shared backup, use different trusted places.
 Keep the wallet record separately from all cards.
diff --git a/docs/user/wallet-verification-record.html b/docs/user/wallet-verification-record.html
index a70ccc2..a60f7db 100644
--- a/docs/user/wallet-verification-record.html
+++ b/docs/user/wallet-verification-record.html
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ <h2>Wallet identity</h2>
     <div class="field">Bitcoin Core version:</div>
     <div class="field">Approximate creation / earliest-use date:</div>
     <div class="field">Master fingerprint:</div>
+    <div class="field wide">Recovery commitment:</div>
     <div class="field">Derivation standards:</div>
     <div class="field">Account number:</div>
     <div class="field wide">Descriptor or policy archive location:</div>
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ <h2>Initial wallet setup</h2>
 
   <h2>Later wallet verification for recovery</h2>
   <p><span class="check"></span> Followed the documented Bitcoin Core recovery workflow.</p>
+  <p><span class="check"></span> Entered the recovery commitment before any recovered keys were imported.</p>
   <p><span class="check"></span> Matched the expected master fingerprint.</p>
   <p><span class="check"></span> Matched account, complete policy, history, and balance.</p>
   <p><span class="check"></span> If available, a trusted person reviewed the wallet setup and recovery plan.</p>
@@ -67,8 +69,9 @@ <h2>Private restoration record</h2>
     <div class="field wide">Offline device and destination wallet notes:</div>
   </div>
   <p class="small">
-    This record cannot authenticate a replaced backup by itself. Treat it as privacy-sensitive:
-    it can reveal wallet structure, balances, and transaction history even though it cannot spend.
+    The recovery commitment binds a recovered single-key seed to this separately stored record.
+    It does not authenticate a multisig policy, descriptor archive, history, or balance. Treat this
+    record as privacy-sensitive even though it cannot spend.
   </p>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py b/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py
index ffa1c12..94c00a2 100644
--- a/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py
+++ b/src/codex32/_bitcoin_core.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import hashlib
 import json
 import re
 import shutil
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ class BitcoinCoreError(Exception):
 _ORIGIN = re.compile(r"\[(?P<fingerprint>[0-9a-f]{8})(?P<path>(?:/[0-9]+[h']?)*)\]")
 _PRIVATE_MARKERS = ("xprv", "tprv")
 _PURPOSES = (44, 49, 84, 86)
+_RECOVERY_COMMITMENT_DOMAIN = b"codex32 recovery commitment\0"
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
@@ -126,10 +128,20 @@ def _normalized_descriptor(self, descriptor: str) -> str:
             raise BitcoinCoreError("Bitcoin Core did not return the expected public descriptor.")
         return normalized
 
-    def fingerprint_seed(self, seed: bytes) -> bytes:
-        """Return the BIP32 master fingerprint using Bitcoin Core out of process."""
+    def recovery_identity_seed(self, seed: bytes) -> tuple[bytes, bytes]:
+        """Return the BIP32 fingerprint and a SHA-256 commitment to the root xpub."""
         xprv = _master_xprv_from_seed(seed, testnet=self.chain != "main")
         descriptor = self._normalized_descriptor(f"pkh({xprv})")
+        if not descriptor.startswith("pkh(") or ")#" not in descriptor:
+            raise BitcoinCoreError("Bitcoin Core did not return the expected root public descriptor.")
+        root_xpub, separator, checksum = descriptor[4:].partition(")#")
+        prefix = "xpub" if self.chain == "main" else "tpub"
+        if separator != ")#" or not checksum or not root_xpub.startswith(prefix):
+            raise BitcoinCoreError("Bitcoin Core did not return the expected root public key.")
+        try:
+            commitment = hashlib.sha256(_RECOVERY_COMMITMENT_DOMAIN + root_xpub.encode("ascii")).digest()
+        except UnicodeEncodeError as error:
+            raise BitcoinCoreError("Bitcoin Core returned an invalid root public key.") from error
         addresses = self._rpc("deriveaddresses", stdin=descriptor + "\n")
         if not isinstance(addresses, list) or len(addresses) != 1 or not isinstance(addresses[0], str):
             raise BitcoinCoreError("Bitcoin Core did not derive the expected master-key address.")
@@ -143,16 +155,26 @@ def fingerprint_seed(self, seed: bytes) -> bytes:
         ):
             raise BitcoinCoreError("Bitcoin Core did not return the expected master-key script.")
         try:
-            return bytes.fromhex(script[6:14])
+            return bytes.fromhex(script[6:14]), commitment
         except ValueError as error:
             raise BitcoinCoreError("Bitcoin Core returned an invalid master-key script.") from error
 
+    def fingerprint_seed(self, seed: bytes) -> bytes:
+        """Return the BIP32 master fingerprint using Bitcoin Core out of process."""
+        return self.recovery_identity_seed(seed)[0]
+
     def fingerprint(self, secret: MasterSeed) -> bytes:
         """Return the BIP32 master fingerprint for a validated master seed."""
         if not isinstance(secret, MasterSeed):
             raise TypeError("wallet operations accept only MasterSeed")
         return self.fingerprint_seed(secret.seed_bytes)
 
+    def recovery_identity(self, secret: MasterSeed) -> tuple[bytes, bytes]:
+        """Return public recovery identity for a validated master seed."""
+        if not isinstance(secret, MasterSeed):
+            raise TypeError("wallet operations accept only MasterSeed")
+        return self.recovery_identity_seed(secret.seed_bytes)
+
     def _root_xpub(self, wallet: str) -> str:
         result = self._rpc("gethdkeys", wallet=wallet)
         if not isinstance(result, list) or len(result) != 1 or not isinstance(result[0], dict):
diff --git a/src/codex32_gui/pages.py b/src/codex32_gui/pages.py
index de603ca..3ea22c4 100644
--- a/src/codex32_gui/pages.py
+++ b/src/codex32_gui/pages.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ class Record:
     wallet: str
     version: str
     fingerprint: str
+    commitment: str
     account: int
 
 
@@ -924,11 +925,13 @@ def _record(
     core: BitcoinCore, secret: MasterSeed, name: str, timestamp: Timestamp, passphrase: str = ""
 ) -> Record:
     final = wallet_setup.fill(core, secret, name, passphrase, timestamp=timestamp)
+    fingerprint, commitment = wallet_setup.identity(core, secret)
     return Record(
         secret.header.identifier.upper(),
         final,
         wallet_setup.version_text(core),
-        wallet_setup.fingerprint(core, secret),
+        fingerprint,
+        commitment,
         0,
     )
 
@@ -938,38 +941,52 @@ def _restore_identity_page(
     core: BitcoinCore,
     secret: MasterSeed,
     fingerprint: str,
+    commitment: str,
 ) -> Adw.NavigationPage:
-    """Require the wallet record to match before any recovered key is imported."""
+    """Require a separately stored strong commitment before importing recovered keys."""
+    entered = Adw.EntryRow(title="Recovery commitment from wallet record")
+    group = Adw.PreferencesGroup()
+    group.add(entered)
+    status = _note("")
 
     def continue_restore() -> None:
+        if not wallet_setup.commitment_matches(commitment, entered.get_text()):
+            _say(status, "That commitment does not match this recovered wallet. Stop here.", "error")
+            return
+        _empty(entered)
         _wallets(view, core, secret, 0, restoring=True)
 
     content = _column(
         _title(
             "Check the wallet before restoring it",
-            "Compare this master fingerprint with the wallet record you stored separately from the cards.",
+            "Type the recovery commitment from the wallet record stored separately from the cards.",
         ),
         _rows(
-            "Recovered wallet identity",
+            "Diagnostic identity",
             (
                 ("Backup identifier", secret.header.identifier.upper()),
                 ("Master fingerprint", fingerprint),
             ),
         ),
+        group,
+        status,
         _note(
-            "If the fingerprint does not match your wallet record, stop. Bitcoin Core has not been changed.",
+            "The expected commitment is deliberately not shown here. If your record has no recovery "
+            "commitment, stop; do not substitute the master fingerprint. Bitcoin Core has not been changed.",
             "warning",
         ),
     )
-    return _page(
+    page = _page(
         "Verify wallet",
         content,
         actions=_actions(
             _button("Stop", lambda: view.replace([home(view)])),
-            _button("Matches my record", continue_restore, style="suggested-action"),
+            _button("Verify and continue", continue_restore, style="suggested-action"),
         ),
         can_pop=False,
     )
+    _forget_when_gone(view, page, lambda: _empty(entered))
+    return page
 
 
 def _verify_restore(view: Adw.NavigationView, core: BitcoinCore, secret: MasterSeed) -> None:
@@ -978,11 +995,11 @@ def _verify_restore(view: Adw.NavigationView, core: BitcoinCore, secret: MasterS
     work.run(
         view,
         page,
-        lambda: wallet_setup.fingerprint(core, secret),
+        lambda: wallet_setup.identity(core, secret),
         _then(
             view,
             page,
-            lambda fingerprint: _restore_identity_page(view, core, secret, fingerprint),
+            lambda identity: _restore_identity_page(view, core, secret, *identity),
             CARDS_SAFE,
         ),
     )
@@ -1026,6 +1043,7 @@ def _finished_page(view: Adw.NavigationView, record: Record, restoring: bool = F
                 ("Bitcoin Core version", record.version),
                 *dated,
                 ("Master fingerprint", record.fingerprint),
+                ("Recovery commitment", record.commitment),
                 ("Derivation standards", "BIP 44, 49, 84 and 86"),
                 ("Account number", str(record.account)),
             ),
diff --git a/src/codex32_gui/wallet_setup.py b/src/codex32_gui/wallet_setup.py
index ccdef0c..85f4677 100644
--- a/src/codex32_gui/wallet_setup.py
+++ b/src/codex32_gui/wallet_setup.py
@@ -32,12 +32,14 @@
     "BitcoinCoreError",
     "Offer",
     "Wallet",
+    "commitment_matches",
     "connect",
     "create",
     "eligible",
     "fill",
     "fingerprint",
     "fingerprint_provider",
+    "identity",
     "initialize",
     "network",
     "relock",
@@ -140,6 +142,20 @@ def fingerprint(core: BitcoinCore, secret: MasterSeed) -> str:
     return core.fingerprint(secret).hex()
 
 
+def identity(core: BitcoinCore, secret: MasterSeed) -> tuple[str, str]:
+    """Return the short fingerprint and strong public recovery commitment."""
+    fingerprint_bytes, commitment = core.recovery_identity(secret)
+    text = commitment.hex().upper()
+    return fingerprint_bytes.hex(), " ".join(text[start : start + 4] for start in range(0, len(text), 4))
+
+
+def commitment_matches(expected: str, entered: str) -> bool:
+    """Compare a copied recovery commitment, ignoring only whitespace and case."""
+    expected_text = "".join(expected.split()).upper()
+    entered_text = "".join(entered.split()).upper()
+    return len(entered_text) == 64 and entered_text == expected_text
+
+
 def fingerprint_provider(core: BitcoinCore) -> Callable[[bytes], bytes]:
     """Hand the library the same out-of-process derivation for a raw seed."""
     return core.fingerprint_seed
diff --git a/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py b/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py
index 7ea5c05..5831fdd 100644
--- a/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_bitcoin_core.py
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ def fail(
     assert any(arguments == ("walletlock",) for arguments, _wallet, _stdin in rpc.calls)
 
 
-def test_fingerprint_uses_stateless_core_address_derivation(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+def test_recovery_identity_uses_stateless_public_derivation(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     calls: list[tuple[tuple[str, ...], str | None]] = []
 
     def rpc(
@@ -446,7 +446,11 @@ def rpc(
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(BitcoinCore, "_rpc", rpc)
 
-    assert BitcoinCore("bitcoin-cli", "main", 320000).fingerprint(_SEED) == bytes.fromhex("3f3521a6")
+    identity = BitcoinCore("bitcoin-cli", "main", 320000).recovery_identity(_SEED)
+    assert identity == (
+        bytes.fromhex("3f3521a6"),
+        bytes.fromhex("db007d748326b0be6c27e2dada55a4116cc6c286cd76d11671b2f6af8fb8ae9f"),
+    )
     assert calls == [
         (("getdescriptorinfo",), None),
         (("deriveaddresses",), None),
@@ -454,6 +458,32 @@ def rpc(
     ]
 
 
+def test_fingerprint_keeps_the_short_legacy_view(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        BitcoinCore,
+        "recovery_identity_seed",
+        lambda _self, _seed: (bytes.fromhex("3f3521a6"), bytes(32)),
+    )
+    assert BitcoinCore("bitcoin-cli", "main", 320000).fingerprint(_SEED) == bytes.fromhex("3f3521a6")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "descriptor",
+    (
+        "wpkh(xpub-root)#checksum",
+        "pkh(tpub-root)#checksum",
+        "pkh(not-a-public-key)#checksum",
+        "pkh(xpub-root)",
+    ),
+)
+def test_recovery_identity_rejects_unexpected_root_public_descriptor(
+    descriptor: str, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(BitcoinCore, "_normalized_descriptor", lambda _self, _descriptor: descriptor)
+    with pytest.raises(BitcoinCoreError, match="root public"):
+        BitcoinCore("bitcoin-cli", "main", 320000).recovery_identity(_SEED)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("change", ("missing", "extra"))
 def test_exact_public_descriptor_verification_rejects_missing_or_extra_records(
     change: str,
diff --git a/tests/test_gui_wallet_setup.py b/tests/test_gui_wallet_setup.py
index 713d145..e26ca7e 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui_wallet_setup.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui_wallet_setup.py
@@ -285,3 +285,22 @@ def test_the_chain_the_operator_chose_is_the_one_that_is_used(
 
 def test_the_version_is_reported_the_way_bitcoin_core_reports_it() -> None:
     assert wallet_setup.version_text(BitcoinCore("bitcoin-cli", "main", 320100)) == "32.1.0"
+
+
+def test_recovery_identity_formats_a_full_sha256_commitment(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        BitcoinCore,
+        "recovery_identity",
+        lambda _self, _secret: (bytes.fromhex("3f3521a6"), bytes(range(32))),
+    )
+    fingerprint, commitment = wallet_setup.identity(BitcoinCore("bitcoin-cli", "main", 320000), _SEED)
+    assert fingerprint == "3f3521a6"
+    assert commitment == ("0001 0203 0405 0607 0809 0A0B 0C0D 0E0F 1011 1213 1415 1617 1819 1A1B 1C1D 1E1F")
+
+
+def test_recovery_commitment_match_ignores_only_case_and_whitespace() -> None:
+    expected = "0123 4567 89AB CDEF" * 4
+    assert wallet_setup.commitment_matches(expected, "0123456789abcdef" * 4)
+    assert wallet_setup.commitment_matches(expected, "  0123 4567 89ab cdef  " * 4)
+    assert not wallet_setup.commitment_matches(expected, "0123456789abcdef" * 3)
+    assert not wallet_setup.commitment_matches(expected, "f123456789abcdef" + "0123456789abcdef" * 3)