MetaMask is a self-custodial crypto wallet and Web3 access tool. You can install it as a browser extension or mobile app, create or import a wallet, store and transfer supported digital assets, and connect to decentralized applications (dApps). The critical difference from a bank or exchange account is responsibility: for a wallet created with a Secret Recovery Phrase, anyone with that phrase can generally control the assets, and MetaMask cannot recover a lost phrase or reverse a confirmed transaction.
This guide explains how to install MetaMask safely, create and back up a wallet, receive and send crypto, connect to dApps, add networks and tokens, and troubleshoot common problems.
What MetaMask is—and what it is not
MetaMask is software that lets you manage blockchain accounts and interact with supported networks. It is available as a browser extension, mobile app, and web-based interface. Exact network, token, browser, and feature availability can change; check MetaMask’s current getting-started documentation for the latest details.
MetaMask is not a bank account and is not the same as a centralized exchange. An exchange typically holds assets for you and may offer account-based password recovery. MetaMask is generally self-custodial: you control the wallet credentials, but you also bear the risk of losing them or approving a harmful transaction.
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Key terms to understand
- Public address: The blockchain address you can share to receive assets.
- Private key: A secret credential controlling one blockchain account.
- Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP): The master recovery method for a standard MetaMask wallet. A newly created wallet traditionally generates a unique 12-word phrase.
- Password: Usually a local unlock password for a MetaMask installation. For an SRP-based wallet, it does not replace the SRP.
- Wallet and account: One MetaMask wallet can contain multiple accounts. Creating another account inside MetaMask is not necessarily the same as creating a completely separate wallet with a new recovery setup.
- Network and token: A token exists on a particular blockchain network. “ETH” or “USDT” alone does not identify the network or contract. Ethereum Mainnet assets are not automatically interchangeable with assets on another network.
Before you install MetaMask
- Use a device with current operating-system and browser updates.
- Install from the official MetaMask download page, not from a search advertisement, unsolicited message, or random app listing.
- Prepare a secure offline backup plan for the recovery phrase.
- Begin with only a small amount you can afford to risk while learning.
- Never allow anyone to watch you reveal or record your recovery phrase.
How to install MetaMask
Desktop browser extension
- Go to metamask.io/download.
- Select your browser and follow the official installation link. MetaMask currently lists extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, and Opera, but availability can change.
- Open the extension after installation and choose the option to create a new wallet or import an existing one.
- Check the publisher and domain carefully. A similarly named extension can be designed to steal recovery phrases.
iPhone or Android
- Start at the official MetaMask website and follow its link to the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Confirm that the listing is the official MetaMask app and publisher.
- Open the app, select the wallet-creation or import option, and follow the current prompts.
- Enable device security, automatic updates, and biometric unlocking if supported and appropriate.
Onboarding labels and available recovery options can vary by platform and software version. Do not assume that an option shown in a desktop guide will appear identically on iOS or Android.
How to create a new MetaMask wallet
Option 1: Secret Recovery Phrase setup
- Choose Create a new wallet in the official extension or app.
- Create a strong, unique MetaMask password. Do not reuse an email, banking, or exchange password.
- Reveal the Secret Recovery Phrase only inside the official MetaMask software.
- Write each word down in the exact order. Check spelling and sequence.
- Complete MetaMask’s phrase-confirmation exercise.
- Store the backup offline in a secure place. A purpose-built metal backup can protect against physical damage, but the most important rule is that the phrase must remain secret.
- Lock and unlock MetaMask once to confirm that the local password works.
Option 2: Google, Apple, or Telegram login
MetaMask’s current extension onboarding may offer a social-login method such as Google, Apple, or Telegram. Availability and requirements differ by platform. This can make access more convenient, but it does not remove security responsibility. Protect the linked account with a strong password and multifactor authentication where available, and preserve the MetaMask password and any recovery information required by that setup.
For the distinction between the SRP, password, private keys, and newer access methods, see MetaMask’s security and recovery guidance.
How to protect your Secret Recovery Phrase
Treat the SRP as the master key to an SRP-based wallet. Anyone who obtains it may be able to move the wallet’s assets. MetaMask support does not need it.
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- Send the phrase to a person claiming to be support.
- Enter it into a website, form, chat, or screen-sharing session.
- Photograph it or store it in email, phone notes, messaging apps, screenshots, or an unencrypted cloud drive.
- Type it into software that you did not reach through the official MetaMask site.
Keep at least one secure backup away from your primary device. Consider how trusted people could access it in an emergency without exposing it to ordinary visitors or online attackers.
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Important: If your SRP is lost, ordinary customer service cannot recreate it. If you suspect that it has been exposed, create a new wallet on a clean device and move remaining assets as soon as practical, while preserving enough of the network’s native token to pay transaction fees.
How to find your address and receive crypto
- Open MetaMask and select the intended account.
- Select the intended network.
- Copy the public address or display its QR code.
- Confirm that the sender is using the same network and a compatible asset.
- For an unfamiliar sender or destination, send a small test amount first.
- Wait for confirmation, then check the balance on the correct network.
You may share a public address to receive funds. Never confuse it with the SRP or a private key. A transfer sent to the wrong address or incompatible network may be difficult or impossible to recover, and MetaMask cannot reverse a confirmed blockchain transaction.
How to send crypto from MetaMask
- Select the correct account and network.
- Paste the recipient’s address instead of typing it.
- Compare the first and last several characters with the intended address. Malware can sometimes replace copied addresses.
- Confirm the asset, amount, and destination network.
- Review the estimated network fee. You need enough of the network’s native token to pay gas.
- Use a small test transaction for a new recipient.
- Review the final confirmation screen and approve only when the details are correct.
- Save the transaction hash and inspect it on the relevant blockchain explorer.
The network fee normally goes to the blockchain’s validators or fee mechanism, not necessarily to MetaMask. A failed swap or other on-chain attempt can still consume gas.
How to add networks and tokens
Add a network
Use MetaMask’s network selector and follow the current prompts. For a custom network, use details from the network’s official documentation or another trusted chain registry. Verify the:
- Network name
- Chain ID
- RPC URL
- Native currency
- Block-explorer URL
Do not add a network because an unknown website or message tells you to. Incorrect network settings can expose you to phishing or send funds somewhere you did not intend.
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Add a token
Use the token’s verified contract address on the intended network. A ticker symbol alone is not proof that the token is genuine. Check the contract against the project’s official documentation and make sure the network is correct. Adding a token display does not create value or make an unfamiliar token safe.
How to connect MetaMask to a dApp
- Reach the dApp through a trusted official source and verify the exact website domain.
- Confirm the network and account you intend to use.
- Click Connect wallet or the site’s equivalent and select MetaMask.
- Read the connection request before approving it. Connect only the account needed.
- Review every signature, token approval, and transaction request.
- Reject requests for unexplained transfers, approvals, or unlimited spending permissions.
- When finished, disconnect the site through MetaMask’s connected-sites controls where available.
- Review and revoke unnecessary token approvals with a reputable network-specific tool.
Connecting a wallet is not the same as approving a token spend, but a connection can lead to later signature or transaction requests. Disconnecting a dApp does not necessarily revoke token approvals already granted. A hardware wallet also cannot make a malicious transaction safe if you approve it.
Buying, selling, and swapping crypto
Buying crypto
MetaMask’s Buy flow is an interface to third-party providers rather than a traditional exchange account. In MetaMask Mobile or MetaMask Portfolio, choose Buy or Buy/Sell, select the token and network, enter an amount, choose a payment method and provider, then review and complete the provider’s checkout or identity-verification process.
Before confirming, compare the delivered amount and all costs:
- MetaMask’s current help documentation lists a 1% in-app buying service fee.
- The payment provider may charge its own fee.
- The network may charge a transaction fee.
- The exchange rate or spread affects the amount received.
- Limits, KYC requirements, payment methods, and availability vary by provider, region, and network.
MetaMask says buy quotes refresh automatically, currently every 10 seconds. Its documentation lists providers such as Transak, MoonPay, Sardine, PayPal, Banxa, Mercuryo, Ramp, Robinhood, and Coinbase for some U.S. users, but availability is dynamic and the list is not an endorsement.
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Selling crypto for fiat
Use the Sell flow in MetaMask Portfolio or Mobile where it is available. Select a provider, review its KYC and bank-account requirements, confirm processing times and fees, and distinguish the MetaMask interface from the third party executing the sale. MetaMask currently gives one to three business days as a possible U.S. settlement example, depending on provider and payment method—not a guarantee.
Swapping tokens
- Select Swap.
- Choose the network, source token, destination token, and amount.
- Review the quote, minimum received, slippage, network fee, and any approval transaction.
- Confirm only after checking the details.
- Save the transaction hash and display the destination token if it does not appear automatically.
MetaMask’s current Swap documentation lists a 0.875% MetaMask fee in addition to network fees and other quote components. Failed swaps may result from slippage, insufficient gas, unavailable liquidity, an unsupported network, an expired quote, or provider problems. The documentation describes a typical default slippage setting of 2% and additional confirmation for custom settings above 3%, but do not increase slippage simply to force a trade through: higher slippage can produce a materially worse price.
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Forgotten password
For an SRP-based wallet, restore the wallet in the official MetaMask app or extension using the SRP and create a new local password. A password by itself normally cannot restore the wallet. For a social-login setup, follow the current MetaMask recovery process for the linked account and password requirements.
New phone or computer
- Install MetaMask only from the official website and linked store or browser page.
- Choose the import or restore option.
- Enter the SRP only in the official MetaMask software.
- Confirm that the resulting public address exactly matches the old address before funding the new installation.
- Re-add custom networks, token displays, imported accounts, and hardware-wallet accounts as needed.
Wallet appears empty
Check the following before assuming funds are gone:
- You restored the correct SRP.
- You are viewing the correct account and network.
- The token is visible and was added using the correct contract address.
- An imported or hardware-wallet account was added again.
- The address was copied correctly.
- The blockchain explorer shows the funds at that address.
MetaMask’s wallet documentation covers address, account, network, and recovery management.
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Common security and transaction problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fake extension or app | Stop using it, uninstall it, and reinstall through MetaMask’s official download page. If you entered an SRP, treat the wallet as compromised and move assets from a clean device. |
| Lost SRP | There is no ordinary support recovery for an SRP-based wallet. If the wallet remains accessible on a trusted device, move assets to a new, securely backed-up wallet. |
| Wrong network | Switch to the network where the asset was sent and verify the address on a block explorer. |
| Pending transaction | Check the transaction hash on the relevant explorer. Do not repeatedly replace or speed up a transaction without understanding its state. |
| Failed swap | Check gas, slippage, liquidity, network support, quote expiration, and provider status. A failed on-chain attempt may still incur gas. |
| Suspicious approval or signature | Disconnect the dApp and investigate or revoke approvals. If the SRP or private key may be exposed, create a new wallet and transfer remaining assets. |
Should you use a hardware wallet?
A hardware wallet can be useful for larger balances, long-term storage, or frequent dApp users who want private keys kept away from an everyday computer. MetaMask’s current hardware-wallet documentation discusses devices including Ledger, Trezor, Keystone, NGRAVE ZERO, and GridPlus Lattice, with platform compatibility varying by device.
The trade-off is added cost and complexity: you must manage the device, backup, firmware, compatibility, and physical-loss risks. Never enter a hardware wallet’s recovery phrase into MetaMask or a website. Hardware wallets add key isolation and a physical approval step, but they do not judge whether a transaction is malicious.
Is MetaMask right for you?
MetaMask can be a good fit if you need browser or mobile access to supported Web3 applications, understand self-custody, and are willing to verify networks, addresses, signatures, and fees.
A centralized exchange may be more suitable if you prioritize customer-service recovery, fiat funding, recurring purchases, or a custodial experience. A hardware wallet may suit users protecting larger balances. Other self-custodial wallets may be preferable for a specific blockchain, mobile experience, privacy model, or hardware integration. No wallet is universally safest; compare custody, recovery, network support, dApp compatibility, fees, and usability.
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MetaMask setup checklist
- Install only from the official MetaMask site and linked store.
- Create a unique password.
- Back up the SRP offline, if your setup uses one.
- Never share an SRP or private key—even with “support.”
- Verify the account address before depositing funds.
- Match the network and token before every transfer.
- Start with a small test transaction.
- Keep enough native network currency for gas.
- Verify dApp domains and read approvals and signatures.
- Use hardware protection for balances that would cause serious financial harm if lost.
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