MetaMask is a free, self-custodial crypto wallet that runs as a browser extension and mobile app. It stores your keys on your own device and connects you to decentralized applications, letting you approve transactions without handing your private keys to a website. As of September 2026, it supports Ethereum and compatible networks, Solana and Bitcoin.
MetaMask is a crypto wallet that runs in your web browser and on your phone. MetaMask says it has been downloaded more than 100 million times (as of July 2026). If wallets are new to you, start with our guide to what a crypto wallet is and how it works.
This guide covers what MetaMask is, how to set it up, how to receive ETH and tokens safely and which scams to avoid. If you plan to buy ETH and keep it in MetaMask, see the Ethereum price and payment options. The steps were checked against MetaMask’s help center in September 2026, so your screens may look slightly different later.
What is MetaMask?
MetaMask is a self-custodial crypto wallet. It runs as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge and Opera, and as a mobile app for iOS and Android (as of September 2026).
Self-custodial, or non-custodial, means that you control the keys, not a company. MetaMask stores your Secret Recovery Phrase, password and private keys in encrypted form on your own device. Your crypto stays on the blockchain; the wallet holds the keys that let you move it.
MetaMask was created in 2016 by developers Aaron Davis and Dan Finlay. It was developed by Consensys, an Ethereum software company that now goes by the MetaMask name. It began as a wallet for Ethereum and has since added other networks.
You can use MetaMask to hold ETH, tokens and NFTs, send and receive crypto, swap tokens and connect to decentralized apps (dApps), such as decentralized exchanges and other DeFi services.
Is MetaMask safe?
MetaMask gives you full control of your crypto, but how safe your funds are depends mostly on how you use it. Because the wallet is self-custodial, no one can undo your mistakes.
MetaMask says that transactions cannot be reversed and missing funds cannot be restored, and that it cannot recover your wallet if you lose your Secret Recovery Phrase. ethereum.org gives the same warning: a transaction sent on Ethereum is irreversible. Read more about why blockchain transactions cannot be reversed.
Security alerts are switched on by default in the extension and the mobile app. They warn you when a website, transaction or signature request shows signs of phishing, impersonation or wallet draining. MetaMask notes that these checks cannot catch every threat, and you can still confirm a transaction after a warning.
How do I protect my Secret Recovery Phrase?
Write it down by hand, keep it offline and never share it. The Secret Recovery Phrase is the 12-word seed phrase that MetaMask creates with your wallet. Whoever has it controls every account in that wallet.
- Enter it only in MetaMask itself, when you create the wallet or restore it on a new device. Never type it into a website, form or chat.
- Never store it online. MetaMask warns against cloud services and password managers. Avoid photos and emails too.
- Keep the paper safe. Store it somewhere private and protected from fire and water.
Your password is different: it only unlocks MetaMask on one device. If you forget it, you can restore the wallet with the phrase. If you lose the paper while MetaMask is still unlocked, you can reveal the phrase again in the security settings. If you lose both, the funds are likely gone. See what happens if you lose your private keys.
Which MetaMask scams should I watch for?
Most scams try to get your recovery phrase or trick you into approving something harmful. Watch for these five:
- Fake downloads. Cloned extensions and apps are built to record your recovery phrase. Install MetaMask only through metamask.io or your official app store.
- Fake support. MetaMask Support has no phone number and never contacts people through direct messages or social media. Anyone who asks for your recovery phrase is a scammer. The same applies to people posing as Coinmama employees.
- Phishing sites. Look-alike websites and fake airdrop offers ask you to connect your wallet or type in your phrase. Learn more about phishing and how to spot phishing attacks.
- Approval drainers. A harmful site asks you to approve a token spending permission or sign a message. Once approved, it can move your tokens without asking again.
- Address poisoning. A scammer sends you a tiny transaction from an address that looks like one you have used, hoping you will copy it from your history later. Check the middle characters of every address and save trusted addresses as contacts.
For more everyday habits, see how to protect yourself from fraud.
How do I check and revoke token approvals?
Look up your address in a token approval checker and revoke the approvals you no longer need. A token approval lets a dApp move a specific token from your wallet on your behalf. MetaMask warns that approvals often grant unlimited access, so a hacked or malicious contract could drain every approved token.
- Read the request before you approve it. Check the website, the token and the spending cap. MetaMask lets you set a custom spending cap, so approve only the amount you need.
- Review your approvals regularly. Block explorers such as Etherscan have a token approval checker. Enter your address to see which contracts can spend your tokens.
- Revoke what you do not use. Revoking is a blockchain transaction, so each one costs a small network fee, called gas.
How do I set up MetaMask?
Install MetaMask from an official source, create a new wallet, set a strong password and back up your Secret Recovery Phrase offline. These steps follow MetaMask’s help center as of September 2026.
- Download MetaMask from an official source. On a computer, go to metamask.io and choose Get MetaMask. On a phone, use the Apple App Store or Google Play and check the listing carefully, because fake copies exist.
- Choose Create a new wallet. If you already have a MetaMask wallet, choose to use an existing wallet and restore it with your Secret Recovery Phrase instead.
- Pick how to secure it. The traditional option is a 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase. MetaMask also offers a social login with a Google or Apple account (and Telegram on the extension) plus a password. Either way, the wallet has a Secret Recovery Phrase that you should back up.
- Create a strong password. Use a long password that you do not use anywhere else.
- Back up your Secret Recovery Phrase. Write the words down by hand, in order, and check the spelling. Confirm the phrase when MetaMask asks you to.
- Leave security alerts on. They are on by default. Your wallet is now ready to receive crypto.
For a wider look at Ethereum wallets, including mobile and hardware options, see how to open an Ethereum wallet.
How do I receive ETH or tokens in MetaMask?
Copy your address from MetaMask, make sure the sender uses the right network and send a small test amount first. For ETH and Ethereum-based tokens such as ERC-20 tokens, your address starts with 0x.
- Copy the right address. Each MetaMask account has separate addresses for Ethereum-compatible networks, Solana and Bitcoin. For ETH, copy the 0x address with the copy icon rather than typing it.
- Check the network. Your 0x address is the same on Ethereum and on compatible networks such as Arbitrum or Base, but tokens stay on the network they were sent on.
- Send a test amount first. MetaMask suggests a small test transaction. Once it arrives, send the rest.
- Check that it arrived. Look in MetaMask’s Activity tab, or search your address on a block explorer.
If ETH arrives on a compatible network you have not added yet, switch to that network in MetaMask and the balance appears there. Tokens sent to the wrong kind of address on a non-EVM network, such as Bitcoin, are likely gone for good.
You can also have ETH delivered straight to your MetaMask address when you buy it. Our guide on how to buy Ethereum step by step explains the checks to make before you confirm.
Which networks does MetaMask support?
As of September 2026, MetaMask supports Ethereum, many Ethereum-compatible networks, Solana and Bitcoin. Its network list includes Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, Linea, Base, Polygon, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, OP, Tron and Avalanche, among others.
- Ethereum and EVM networks. These run the same kind of smart contracts as Ethereum, so one 0x address works on all of them. BNB Chain was formerly called Binance Smart Chain.
- Solana. MetaMask added native Solana support in 2025, starting with the browser extension in May.
- Bitcoin. Native Bitcoin support followed in December 2025. MetaMask currently supports only Native SegWit Bitcoin addresses.
Since MetaMask moved to multichain accounts in 2025 (extension version 13.5 and mobile version 7.57), each account holds one EVM address, one Solana address and one Bitcoin address. They are different addresses, so never send BTC or SOL to your 0x address.
You can add other EVM networks yourself, but check the details first. MetaMask warns that a malicious network provider can lie about the state of the blockchain, hold back transactions and record your activity.
How do I send crypto and use apps with MetaMask?
To send crypto, choose Send, paste or pick the recipient’s address, choose the token and amount, then check the network fee and confirm. To use a dApp, open its website, choose its connect option and approve the connection in MetaMask.
- Network fees. Every transaction costs a fee, shown as “Network fee” on the confirmation screen. On Ethereum this is the gas fee, usually paid in ETH.
- Connecting is only the first step. A connected site can see your address and send you requests. Each transaction, approval or signature still needs your confirmation, so read it first.
- Swaps and purchases. Built-in swap quotes include a MetaMask service fee on top of the network fee. Purchases through the Buy button go through third-party providers, which charge their own fees.
MetaMask vs a hardware wallet: which do you need?
It depends on how much you hold. On its own, MetaMask is a hot wallet: your keys sit on an internet-connected computer or phone. A hardware wallet is a cold wallet that keeps the keys on a separate device, where you approve each transaction. You can use the two together.
| Feature | MetaMask on its own | MetaMask with a hardware wallet |
|---|---|---|
| Where the keys are kept | Encrypted on your computer or phone | On the hardware device, offline |
| How you approve a transaction | Click or tap in MetaMask | Confirm on the device itself |
| Main risks | Malware, phishing and fake apps | Losing the device or approving a scam |
| Cost | Free to download | You buy the device |
| Often used for | Everyday use and smaller amounts | Larger amounts you plan to hold |
As of September 2026, MetaMask works with hardware wallets such as Ledger, Trezor, Lattice and Keystone, with fewer models supported on mobile. A hardware wallet will not stop you from approving a scam, so the checks above still apply. For a side-by-side comparison, read hot wallet vs cold wallet.
Sources
- MetaMask: MetaMask marks 10 years (July 2026) (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask: How did MetaMask come to life? The origin story, revealed (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask: About MetaMask (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask: FAQs (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: How to install MetaMask (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: Create a new MetaMask wallet (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: Basic security tips for MetaMask users (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: MetaMask’s official support channels (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: How to manage security alerts (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: I’ve been hacked or scammed (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: How to reveal your Secret Recovery Phrase safely (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: How to reset your MetaMask password (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: What is a token approval? (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: How to revoke smart contract allowances and token approvals (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: Address poisoning scams (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: I sent crypto to the wrong place (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: What are multichain accounts? (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: How to add a network (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: User guide: EVM networks and sidechains (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Community: Solana is now live on MetaMask Extension (May 2025) (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask: Solana on MetaMask (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask: Introducing Bitcoin on MetaMask (December 2025) (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: Get started with Bitcoin (checked September 2026)
- BNB Chain: BSC is now BNB Chain (February 2022) (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: How gas fees, limits and network fees work (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: User guide: swaps (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask News: crypto wallet comparison, including MetaMask’s cost and provider fees (August 2026) (checked September 2026)
- MetaMask Help Center: User guide: hardware wallets (checked September 2026)
- ethereum.org: Ethereum security and scam prevention (checked September 2026)
