diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs
index 9abecbd2c..45ae33d99 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/identity.rs
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ pub async fn save_ncryptsec_copy(
     let dest = match crate::commands::export_util::pick_save_path(
         &app_handle,
         crate::key_backup::BACKUP_FILE_NAME,
-        "Keycase",
+        "Password-protected key backup",
         &["ncryptsec"],
     )
     .await?
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup.rs
index 0a19fb143..418be3bb0 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup.rs
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ pub fn decrypt_ncryptsec(input: &str, password: &str) -> Result<Keys, String> {
     let encrypted = parse_ncryptsec(input)?;
     let secret_key = encrypted
         .decrypt(password)
-        .map_err(|_| "wrong Keycase password or damaged Keycase".to_string())?;
+        .map_err(|_| "wrong backup password or damaged key backup".to_string())?;
     Ok(Keys::new(secret_key))
 }
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ pub fn recover_keys_from_input(input: &str, password: Option<&str>) -> Result<Ke
         .get(..NCRYPTSEC_HRP.len())
         .is_some_and(|head| head.eq_ignore_ascii_case(NCRYPTSEC_HRP));
     if hrp_match {
-        let password = password.ok_or_else(|| "Keycase requires a password".to_string())?;
+        let password = password.ok_or_else(|| "key backup requires a password".to_string())?;
         decrypt_ncryptsec(trimmed, password)
     } else {
         Keys::parse(trimmed).map_err(|e| format!("Invalid private key: {e}"))
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup_tests.rs
index a4e20cd56..2367de80e 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/key_backup_tests.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ fn wrong_password_is_a_friendly_error() {
     let keys = Keys::generate();
     let blob = create_backup_blob(&keys, "right password", FAST_LOG_N).unwrap();
     let err = decrypt_ncryptsec(&blob, "wrong password").unwrap_err();
-    assert_eq!(err, "wrong Keycase password or damaged Keycase");
+    assert_eq!(err, "wrong backup password or damaged key backup");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@ fn recover_keys_ncryptsec_happy_path() {
 #[test]
 fn recover_keys_ncryptsec_requires_password() {
     let err = recover_keys_from_input(SPEC_NCRYPTSEC, None).unwrap_err();
-    assert_eq!(err, "Keycase requires a password");
+    assert_eq!(err, "key backup requires a password");
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn recover_keys_ncryptsec_wrong_password() {
     let err = recover_keys_from_input(SPEC_NCRYPTSEC, Some("wrong")).unwrap_err();
-    assert_eq!(err, "wrong Keycase password or damaged Keycase");
+    assert_eq!(err, "wrong backup password or damaged key backup");
 }
 
 /// Bech32 permits an all-uppercase encoding: `NCRYPTSEC1…` must classify as
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ fn recover_keys_uppercase_ncryptsec_classifies_as_encrypted() {
     let upper = SPEC_NCRYPTSEC.to_ascii_uppercase();
     // Routing proof: encrypted path demands a passphrase.
     let err = recover_keys_from_input(&upper, None).unwrap_err();
-    assert_eq!(err, "Keycase requires a password");
+    assert_eq!(err, "key backup requires a password");
     // With the passphrase, the bech32 decoder accepts the uppercase form.
     let keys = recover_keys_from_input(&upper, Some("nostr")).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(keys.secret_key().to_secret_hex(), SPEC_SECRET_HEX);
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/BackupTestFlow.tsx b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/BackupTestFlow.tsx
index 5145da091..37f19d97f 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/BackupTestFlow.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/BackupTestFlow.tsx
@@ -221,11 +221,11 @@ export function BackupTestFlow({
         }));
       } else if (trimmed.toLowerCase().startsWith("ncryptsec1")) {
         setFileError(
-          "That's a Keycase file, but not the one you just downloaded.",
+          "That's a key backup, but not the one you just downloaded.",
         );
       } else {
         setFileError(
-          "That doesn't look like your Keycase file. Drop the file you just downloaded.",
+          "That doesn't look like your key backup. Choose the file you just downloaded.",
         );
       }
     },
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/DownloadKeyStep.tsx b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/DownloadKeyStep.tsx
index ce9c06ac6..43c0061ca 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/DownloadKeyStep.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/DownloadKeyStep.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ type DownloadKeyStepProps = {
   direction: OnboardingTransitionDirection;
   /**
    * Backup state owned by the parent flow so Back navigation (which unmounts
-   * this step) doesn't discard the created Keycase, the entered password, or
+   * this step) doesn't discard the created backup, the entered password, or
    * the backup-test progress.
    */
   session: EncryptedBackupSession;
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ type DownloadKeyStepProps = {
 
 /**
  * Onboarding download step — the password-first encrypted key download
- * (Keycase) flow, promoted to its own page in the machine onboarding flow.
+ * flow, promoted to its own page in the machine onboarding flow.
  * The raw key never enters this component: Rust builds the NIP-49 payload
  * locally and the native save dialog produces the user-owned file.
  */
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx
index 9b4e33ef7..2576f71e1 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export function MachineOnboardingFlow({
   );
   const [readyRuntimeIds, setReadyRuntimeIds] = React.useState<string[]>([]);
   // Owned here (not by DownloadKeyStep) so Back navigation — which unmounts
-  // the step — keeps the created Keycase, entered password, and test progress.
+  // the step — keeps the created backup, entered password, and test progress.
   const backupSession = useEncryptedBackupSession();
   const handleReadyRuntimeIdsChange = React.useCallback(
     (runtimeIds: readonly string[]) => {
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx
index 90eb1f368..900b7b932 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
 
     if (file.size > NOSTR_KEY_FILE_MAX_BYTES) {
       setImportError(
-        "That file is too large to be a Keycase or private key. Choose another file.",
+        "That file is too large to be a key backup or private key. Choose another file.",
       );
       return;
     }
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
     if (!isValid) {
       setImportError(
         isEncryptedInput
-          ? "Enter the password for this Keycase."
+          ? "Enter the password for this key backup."
           : "That doesn't look like a valid nsec. Paste an nsec1 key.",
       );
       return;
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
       </div>
 
       {/* Hidden file input shared by both variants: the default drop zone and
-          the spotlight "Use a Keycase" button both open it. Accepts the
-          .ncryptsec archives our own save flow emits alongside raw .key files. */}
+          the spotlight "Choose a backup file" button both open it. Accepts the
+          .ncryptsec backups our own save flow emits alongside raw .key files. */}
       <input
         accept=".key,.ncryptsec,text/plain"
         className="sr-only"
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
             type="button"
             variant="ghost"
           >
-            Use a Keycase
+            Choose a backup file
           </Button>
         </div>
       ) : (
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
             className="text-sm font-medium text-foreground"
             htmlFor="nostr-import-passphrase"
           >
-            Keycase password
+            Backup password
           </label>
           <Input
             autoComplete="off"
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
             value={passphrase}
           />
           <p className="text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">
-            Your Keycase and password stay on this device.
+            Your backup file and password stay on this device.
           </p>
         </div>
       ) : null}
@@ -396,7 +396,8 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
             data-testid="nostr-import-encrypted-badge"
           >
             <KeyRound aria-hidden="true" className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
-            Keycase · Private — enter its password to restore
+            Password-protected key backup · Private — enter its password to
+            restore
           </p>
         ) : previewNpub ? (
           variant === "spotlight" ? (
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/onboardingFlowSteps.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/onboardingFlowSteps.test.mjs
index c28be1386..622db610a 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/onboardingFlowSteps.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/onboardingFlowSteps.test.mjs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test("currentStep_falls_back_to_1_for_pages_outside_the_step_list", () => {
 });
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// BackupStep gating: saving a Keycase is recommended, not required
+// BackupStep gating: saving a password-protected backup is recommended, not required
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 test("backup_next_is_always_enabled", () => {
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/ProfileSettingsCard.tsx b/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/ProfileSettingsCard.tsx
index bec4d2e4a..8066ba6db 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/ProfileSettingsCard.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/ProfileSettingsCard.tsx
@@ -178,9 +178,9 @@ function NsecRevealRow() {
 }
 
 /**
- * Collapsible row for saving a portable Keycase on demand. The raw
- * private key never reaches this flow — the passphrase goes to Rust, which
- * returns the persisted `ncryptsec1…` blob.
+ * Collapsible row for creating and testing a password-protected key backup.
+ * The raw private key never reaches this flow — the password goes to Rust,
+ * which returns the persisted `ncryptsec1…` blob.
  */
 function EncryptedBackupRow() {
   const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = React.useState(false);
@@ -189,28 +189,34 @@ function EncryptedBackupRow() {
     <div className="px-4 py-3" data-testid="profile-encrypted-backup-row">
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
         <div className="min-w-0 space-y-1">
-          <p className="text-sm font-medium">Keycase</p>
+          <p className="text-sm font-medium">Password-protected key backup</p>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-            Save a portable, password-protected copy of your identity. Keep it
-            private.
+            Download an encrypted copy of your identity key, then test the file
+            and password before relying on it.
           </p>
         </div>
         <button
           aria-expanded={isOpen}
+          aria-label={
+            isOpen
+              ? "Close password-protected key backup"
+              : "Create password-protected key backup"
+          }
           className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full bg-muted px-3 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium text-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-muted/80 focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2"
           data-testid="profile-encrypted-backup-toggle"
           onClick={() => setIsOpen((open) => !open)}
           type="button"
         >
-          {isOpen ? "Close" : "Save a new Keycase"}
+          {isOpen ? "Close" : "Create backup"}
         </button>
       </div>
       {isOpen ? (
         <div className="mt-3">
           <EncryptedBackupCreator variant="boxed" />
           <p className="mt-3 text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">
-            Buzz cannot reset the password. Saving a new Keycase does not
-            invalidate copies you saved before.
+            Keep the downloaded file private and save its password somewhere
+            safe. Buzz cannot reset the password. Creating another backup does
+            not invalidate copies you saved before.
           </p>
         </div>
       ) : null}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/SignOutSection.tsx b/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/SignOutSection.tsx
index 8d4dc1c48..7379a4a4b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/SignOutSection.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/settings/ui/SignOutSection.tsx
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ export const SIGNOUT_CONFIRM_PHRASE = "wipe all my data";
  * Signing out wipes the identity key and all local data, so the confirm
  * dialog gates the delete button behind two explicit steps:
  *
- * 1. Back up the key — the nsec is shown inline (masked, with reveal/copy);
- *    the "I have saved my private key" checkbox unlocks only after the user
- *    actually reveals or copies the key.
+ * 1. Confirm recovery — Settings offers a tested password-protected backup;
+ *    the dialog also shows the raw nsec as a last-chance fallback. The
+ *    checkbox unlocks only after the user reveals or copies that key.
  * 2. Typed confirmation — the user must type the exact phrase
  *    "wipe all my data".
  *
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ export function SignOutSection() {
           <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold tracking-tight">Sign out</h2>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
             Removes your identity key and all local app data from this device.
-            Back up your private key (nsec) first — this cannot be undone.
+            Before signing out, create and test a password-protected key backup
+            above — this cannot be undone.
           </p>
         </div>
         <Button
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ export function SignOutSection() {
 
           <div className="space-y-3">
             <p className="text-sm font-medium">
-              1. Back up your private key (nsec)
+              1. Confirm you can restore your identity
             </p>
             {isNsecLoading ? (
               <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</p>
@@ -208,10 +209,11 @@ export function SignOutSection() {
                 }
               />
               <span>
-                I have saved my private key somewhere safe.
+                I have tested a key backup or saved this private key somewhere
+                safe.
                 {!canConfirmBackup ? (
                   <span className="block text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                    Reveal or copy the key above first.
+                    Reveal or copy this last-chance private key first.
                   </span>
                 ) : null}
               </span>
diff --git a/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts b/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts
index 678464526..aca9b2161 100644
--- a/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts
@@ -9879,7 +9879,7 @@ export function maybeInstallE2eTauriMocks() {
       case "save_ncryptsec_copy": {
         const blob = (payload as { ncryptsec?: string } | null)?.ncryptsec;
         if (!blob?.startsWith("ncryptsec1")) {
-          throw new Error("Not a valid Keycase.");
+          throw new Error("Not a valid key backup.");
         }
         // Production opens a native save dialog; the harness pretends the
         // user picked a path.
@@ -9915,7 +9915,7 @@ export function maybeInstallE2eTauriMocks() {
             input.trim() !== MOCK_NCRYPTSEC ||
             request?.password !== MOCK_BACKUP_PASSPHRASE
           ) {
-            throw new Error("Wrong Keycase password or damaged Keycase.");
+            throw new Error("Wrong backup password or damaged key backup.");
           }
           mockIdentityLostCleared = true;
           mockIdentityLockedCleared = true;
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding-backup.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding-backup.spec.ts
index 3994c555a..6e7c90c67 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding-backup.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding-backup.spec.ts
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ test("download happy path: generated password, encrypt, native save, Next", asyn
   await page.getByTestId("backup-test-file-input").setInputFiles({
     name: "notes.txt",
     mimeType: "text/plain",
-    buffer: Buffer.from("not a keycase"),
+    buffer: Buffer.from("not a key backup"),
   });
   await expect(page.getByTestId("backup-test-file-error")).toBeVisible();
 
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts
index 0cf08f9be..de6aa0dda 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ test("first-launch encrypted backup import asks for a passphrase and continues",
   await page.getByTestId("nostr-import-passphrase").fill("wrong passphrase");
   await page.getByTestId("nostr-import-submit").click();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("nostr-import-feedback")).toContainText(
-    /wrong Keycase password/i,
+    /wrong backup password/i,
   );
 
   await page
@@ -679,6 +679,15 @@ test("first-launch import accepts an .ncryptsec backup file", async ({
     ".key,.ncryptsec,text/plain",
   );
 
+  await fileInput.setInputFiles({
+    buffer: Buffer.alloc(1_025, "x"),
+    mimeType: "text/plain",
+    name: "not-a-backup.txt",
+  });
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("nostr-import-feedback")).toContainText(
+    /too large to be a key backup/i,
+  );
+
   // Spec-vector blob the mock bridge accepts with the mock passphrase.
   const mockNcryptsec =
     "ncryptsec1qgg9947rlpvqu76pj5ecreduf9jxhselq2nae2kghhvd5g7dgjtcxfqtd67p9m0w57lspw8gsq6yphnm8623nsl8xn9j4jdzz84zm3frztj3z7s35vpzmqf6ksu8r89qk5z2zxfmu5gv8th8wclt0h4p";
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/profile-nsec-reveal.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/profile-nsec-reveal.spec.ts
index 47e4c8a2d..057c815ce 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/profile-nsec-reveal.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/profile-nsec-reveal.spec.ts
@@ -63,3 +63,36 @@ test("reveal shows error when get_nsec fails", async ({ page }) => {
     "Keychain locked",
   );
 });
+
+test("settings creates and tests a password-protected key backup", async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  await installMockBridge(page);
+  await page.goto("/");
+  await openSettings(page, "profile");
+  await expandIdentity(page);
+
+  const row = page.getByTestId("profile-encrypted-backup-row");
+  await expect(row).toContainText("Password-protected key backup");
+  await page.getByTestId("profile-encrypted-backup-toggle").click();
+
+  await page
+    .getByTestId("backup-passphrase-input")
+    .fill("mock horse battery staple");
+  await page.getByTestId("encrypted-backup-create").click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("backup-test-dropzone")).toBeVisible();
+
+  await page.getByTestId("backup-test-file-input").setInputFiles({
+    name: "identity.ncryptsec",
+    mimeType: "text/plain",
+    buffer: Buffer.from(
+      "ncryptsec1qgg9947rlpvqu76pj5ecreduf9jxhselq2nae2kghhvd5g7dgjtcxfqtd67p9m0w57lspw8gsq6yphnm8623nsl8xn9j4jdzz84zm3frztj3z7s35vpzmqf6ksu8r89qk5z2zxfmu5gv8th8wclt0h4p",
+    ),
+  });
+  await page
+    .getByTestId("backup-test-password")
+    .fill("mock horse battery staple");
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("backup-test-success")).toContainText(
+    "Your backup works!",
+  );
+});