MetaMask Wallet Setup Tutorial: Complete Guide

MetaMask is the most widely used cryptocurrency wallet for interacting with Ethereum and EVM-compatible blockchains. With over 100 million monthly active users as of 2026, it serves as the primary gateway to decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and the broader Web3 ecosystem. Whether you are swapping tokens on Uniswap, minting NFTs, or participating in governance, MetaMask is likely the wallet you will use to do it.

This tutorial covers everything from initial installation to advanced security configuration, with practical guidance for staying safe in the increasingly complex multi-chain landscape.

What Is MetaMask?

MetaMask is a non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet available as a browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge) and mobile app (iOS, Android). It allows you to:

• Store and manage Ethereum and EVM-compatible tokens
• Send and receive cryptocurrency
• Connect to dApps for DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and more
• Interact with multiple blockchains including Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, BNB Chain, and Avalanche
• Swap tokens directly within the wallet using aggregated DEX liquidity
• Sign messages for authentication and off-chain operations

As a non-custodial wallet, MetaMask gives you complete control of your private keys. This means no company can freeze your funds or prevent your transactions — but it also means you are solely responsible for your security and backups.

Installing MetaMask

Browser Extension Installation

MetaMask is available for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and Edge browsers.

Step 1: Download from the official source

Navigate directly to metamask.io by typing the URL in your address bar. Do not click MetaMask links from social media, emails, or search ads — phishing sites frequently impersonate MetaMask.

Step 2: Click "Download" and select your browser

You will be directed to the appropriate browser extension store (Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, etc.).

Step 3: Verify the extension details

• Publisher should be "metamask.io"
• Check the number of users (should be in the millions)
• Check reviews and ratings
• The extension ID should match the official one listed on MetaMask's website

Step 4: Install the extension

Click "Add to [Browser]" and confirm the installation. The MetaMask fox icon will appear in your browser toolbar.

Mobile App Installation

For iOS:

1. Open the App Store
2. Search for "MetaMask"
3. Verify the developer is "MetaMask" (ConsenSys)
4. Download and install

For Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Search for "MetaMask"
3. Verify the developer is "ConsenSys"
4. Download and install

Creating a New MetaMask Wallet

Step 1: Launch MetaMask

Click the MetaMask fox icon in your browser toolbar (or open the mobile app). You will see the welcome screen.

Step 2: Choose "Create a New Wallet"

You will be presented with two options:

• Create a new wallet — for first-time users
• Import an existing wallet — if you already have a seed phrase

Select "Create a new wallet."

Step 3: Agree to Terms and Set a Password

• Review and accept the terms of use and privacy policy
• Create a strong, unique password for MetaMask
• This password encrypts your wallet data locally — it is NOT your seed phrase
• Use a password manager to generate and store a strong password (16+ characters)

Step 4: Secure Your Secret Recovery Phrase

MetaMask will generate a 12-word secret recovery phrase (seed phrase). This is the master backup for your entire wallet.

Critical security steps:

1. Click "Reveal Secret Recovery Phrase"
2. Write down all 12 words in order on physical paper
3. Never screenshot, photograph, or digitally store the phrase
4. Never share the phrase with anyone
5. MetaMask support will NEVER ask for your recovery phrase

Step 5: Confirm Your Recovery Phrase

MetaMask will ask you to confirm your recovery phrase by selecting the words in the correct order. This verification ensures you recorded the phrase accurately.

Step 6: Wallet Ready

After confirmation, your MetaMask wallet is active. You will see your main account with:

• Your Ethereum address (starting with 0x)
• A balance of 0 ETH
• Options to buy, send, swap, and bridge

SafeSeed Tool

For enhanced security, you can generate a BIP-39 seed phrase using SafeSeed's Seed Phrase Generator on an air-gapped computer, then import it into MetaMask. This ensures your seed phrase was generated with verifiable, high-quality entropy rather than relying solely on the browser's random number generator.

Essential MetaMask Configuration

Adding Networks

MetaMask comes pre-configured with Ethereum Mainnet. To use other EVM chains, you need to add them.

Using ChainList (Recommended):

1. Visit chainlist.org
2. Connect your MetaMask wallet
3. Search for the network you want to add
4. Click "Add to MetaMask" and confirm

Popular networks to add:

Network	Chain ID	Native Token	Use Case
Polygon	137	MATIC	Low-fee DeFi and NFTs
Arbitrum One	42161	ETH	Ethereum L2 scaling
Optimism	10	ETH	Ethereum L2 scaling
Base	8453	ETH	Coinbase L2, growing dApp ecosystem
BNB Smart Chain	56	BNB	Binance ecosystem
Avalanche C-Chain	43114	AVAX	Fast finality DeFi
zkSync Era	324	ETH	ZK rollup L2

Manual network addition: Settings > Networks > Add Network > Enter RPC URL, Chain ID, Currency Symbol, and Block Explorer URL

Adding Custom Tokens

If a token does not appear in your balance but you know you hold it:

1. Click "Import Tokens" at the bottom of the assets list
2. Enter the token contract address (find on Etherscan, CoinGecko, or the project's website)
3. MetaMask will auto-populate the token symbol and decimals
4. Click "Import"

Security warning: Only import tokens from verified contract addresses. Scam tokens can appear in your wallet if attackers send them to your address — do not interact with unknown tokens.

Connecting a Hardware Wallet

For maximum security, connect a hardware wallet (Ledger or Trezor) as the signing device:

1. Connect your hardware wallet to your computer
2. Open MetaMask > Click account icon > "Add account or hardware wallet" > "Add Hardware Wallet"
3. Select your hardware wallet brand
4. Choose which accounts to import
5. Transactions will now require physical confirmation on the hardware device

This approach gives you MetaMask's dApp connectivity with hardware-level key security. For detailed hardware wallet setup, see our Ledger Setup Guide or Trezor Setup Guide.

MetaMask Security Configuration

Auto-Lock Timer

Configure MetaMask to lock automatically after a period of inactivity:

1. Settings > Advanced > Auto-Lock Timer
2. Set to 5-15 minutes (shorter is more secure)
3. When locked, your wallet password is required to access

Phishing Detection

MetaMask includes built-in phishing detection that warns you when visiting known malicious sites. Ensure this is enabled:

Settings > Security & Privacy > Phishing Detection: ON

Privacy Settings

Configure privacy-enhancing settings:

• Incoming transactions: Disable if you do not need notifications about received tokens (reduces data requests to third-party services)
• Default block explorer: Set to your preferred block explorer (Etherscan for Ethereum)
• MetaMetrics: Consider disabling analytics data sharing if privacy is a priority

Advanced Gas Controls

Enable advanced gas controls for more precise transaction fee management:

Settings > Advanced > Advanced Gas Controls: ON

This allows you to set custom gas prices, which is useful during network congestion when default gas estimates may be too high or too low.

Using MetaMask: Core Operations

Receiving Cryptocurrency

1. Click your account name/address at the top to copy your address
2. Share this address with the sender
3. Ensure the sender is sending on the correct network (Ethereum tokens on Ethereum, Polygon tokens on Polygon, etc.)

Common mistake: Sending tokens on the wrong network. If someone sends you USDC on Polygon but you shared your Ethereum address, the tokens arrive on Polygon at the same address (since EVM addresses are the same across chains), but you need to switch to the Polygon network in MetaMask to see them.

Sending Cryptocurrency

1. Click "Send"
2. Enter the recipient's address (or scan QR code on mobile)
3. Select the token and enter the amount
4. Review the gas fee estimate
5. Click "Confirm"

Security tip: For large transactions, always send a small test amount first. Verify the test transaction arrives correctly before sending the full amount.

Swapping Tokens

MetaMask includes a built-in swap feature that aggregates prices from multiple decentralized exchanges:

1. Click "Swap"
2. Select the token to swap from and the token to swap to
3. Enter the amount
4. Review the exchange rate, slippage, and gas fee
5. Click "Swap" and confirm the transaction

Slippage tolerance: This setting determines how much price movement you accept during the swap. Default is 2-3%. For volatile tokens, you may need to increase it, but higher slippage means you accept worse prices. Keep it as low as possible.

Connecting to dApps

Most dApps have a "Connect Wallet" button:

1. Click "Connect Wallet" on the dApp website
2. Select MetaMask from the wallet options
3. MetaMask will pop up asking you to approve the connection
4. Review what permissions the dApp is requesting
5. Click "Connect"

What connecting does: It shares your public address with the dApp. It does NOT give the dApp permission to spend your tokens or sign transactions. Each transaction still requires your explicit approval.

What to watch for: Some dApps request additional permissions, such as token spending approvals. Always review these carefully.

MetaMask Snaps

MetaMask Snaps is an extensibility system that allows third-party developers to add new features to MetaMask. As of 2026, Snaps can:

• Add support for non-EVM blockchains (Bitcoin, Cosmos, Solana)
• Provide transaction insights and security warnings
• Integrate with external services (notifications, portfolio tracking)
• Add custom signing protocols

Installing Snaps:

1. Visit the Snaps directory
2. Browse or search for Snaps
3. Click "Install" and grant the requested permissions
4. The Snap's functionality is now available in MetaMask

Security considerations: Only install Snaps from trusted developers. Each Snap requires specific permissions — review them carefully before installing. A malicious Snap could potentially interfere with your wallet experience.

MetaMask Security Best Practices

1. Seed Phrase Security

Your 12-word recovery phrase is the master key to all funds in your MetaMask wallet. Protect it with the same diligence you would protect the keys to a bank vault.

• Write it on paper or stamp on metal
• Store in a secure, offline location
• Never enter your seed phrase on any website
• MetaMask will NEVER ask for your seed phrase (anyone who does is a scammer)
• Consider creating a metal backup for fire and water resistance

2. Transaction Verification

Before confirming any transaction:

• Read the full contract interaction description
• Verify the recipient address character by character
• Check the gas fee is reasonable
• For token approvals, check the approved amount (avoid unlimited approvals)
• Use MetaMask's transaction simulation feature when available

3. Token Approval Management

Every time you interact with a DeFi protocol, you may grant it permission to spend your tokens. These approvals persist indefinitely unless revoked.

Regular approval audit:

1. Visit revoke.cash and connect your wallet
2. Review all active approvals
3. Revoke any approvals for protocols you no longer use
4. Consider revoking unlimited approvals and replacing with exact amounts

4. Scam Recognition

Common MetaMask scams to watch for:

• Fake MetaMask websites asking you to enter your seed phrase
• Fake support on Twitter/Discord asking for your seed phrase
• Airdrop scams that send worthless tokens and direct you to malicious websites to "claim" value
• Fake token approvals hidden in misleading transaction descriptions
• Impersonator dApps that mimic legitimate protocols but drain wallets

5. Multiple Accounts Strategy

Use MetaMask's account system to separate your activities:

• Account 1: Primary holding account (minimal dApp interaction)
• Account 2: DeFi interaction account (higher risk activities)
• Account 3: NFT minting and trading
• Hardware wallet account: Large holdings with hardware signing

This way, if Account 2 is compromised through a malicious dApp, your primary holdings in Account 1 remain unaffected (assuming no unlimited approvals were granted).

6. Browser Hygiene

Since MetaMask runs in your browser, browser security directly affects wallet security:

• Keep your browser updated
• Minimize installed extensions (each is a potential attack vector)
• Use a separate browser profile for crypto activities
• Do not click links in emails or DMs claiming to be from crypto projects
• Type dApp URLs directly rather than using search results

Troubleshooting Common MetaMask Issues

Transaction Stuck (Pending)

If a transaction is stuck in "pending" status:

1. The transaction may have too low a gas fee for current network conditions
2. In MetaMask, go to Activity > Click the pending transaction > "Speed Up" or "Cancel"
3. Speeding up resubmits with a higher gas fee
4. Canceling sends a zero-value transaction to yourself with the same nonce, replacing the stuck one

Incorrect Token Balances

If token balances appear incorrect:

1. Ensure you are on the correct network (switch networks in the top bar)
2. Try removing and re-adding the token
3. Clear MetaMask's activity cache: Settings > Advanced > Clear Activity Tab Data
4. Check the transaction on a block explorer to verify the actual balance

Cannot Connect to dApp

If a dApp cannot detect MetaMask:

1. Ensure MetaMask is unlocked
2. Refresh the dApp page
3. Check that you are on the correct network for that dApp
4. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the wallet
5. Check for browser extension conflicts

Account Shows Zero Balance After Recovery

If you restored MetaMask from a seed phrase and accounts are empty:

1. Your tokens may be on a different network — switch to each chain you used
2. Additional accounts beyond Account 1 need to be manually added (click "Add Account")
3. Custom tokens need to be re-imported using their contract addresses
4. If using a different derivation path, ensure MetaMask's default (m/44'/60'/0'/0) matches

MetaMask vs Alternatives

Feature	MetaMask	Rabby	Phantom
Primary chains	EVM	EVM	Solana + EVM
Transaction simulation	Partial	Comprehensive	Partial
Multi-chain default	Manual switch	Auto-detect	Unified
Hardware wallet support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Open source	Partial	Yes	No
Snap extensibility	Yes	No	No
Built-in swap	Yes	Yes	Yes
User base	Largest	Growing fast	Large (Solana)

MetaMask's greatest strength is its massive ecosystem — virtually every EVM dApp supports MetaMask. However, alternatives like Rabby offer superior security features (pre-transaction risk analysis) and user experience (automatic chain detection). Consider your priorities when choosing.

FAQ

Is MetaMask safe to use?

MetaMask is a well-established, widely audited wallet with a strong security track record. However, its safety depends largely on your practices. The wallet itself is secure, but phishing attacks, malicious approvals, and compromised devices are real threats. Using MetaMask with a hardware wallet signer provides the best security.

Can MetaMask be hacked?

MetaMask the software has not been "hacked" in the traditional sense. However, users frequently lose funds through phishing (entering seed phrases on fake sites), malicious token approvals, and malware. The attack surface is almost always the user or their environment, not MetaMask itself.

Does MetaMask support Bitcoin?

MetaMask natively supports only EVM-compatible chains. However, through MetaMask Snaps, third-party extensions can add Bitcoin support. As of 2026, several Bitcoin Snaps exist that allow you to view Bitcoin balances and initiate transactions, though the experience is not as seamless as a native Bitcoin wallet.

What is the difference between MetaMask's password and seed phrase?

Your password encrypts MetaMask's data on your local device. If you forget it, you can reinstall MetaMask and restore your wallet using the seed phrase. The seed phrase is the master key that derives all your accounts and private keys. If you lose the seed phrase, no one can help you recover your wallet — it is the ultimate backup.

How do I transfer MetaMask to a new computer?

Install MetaMask on the new computer and select "Import an existing wallet." Enter your 12-word recovery phrase. Your primary account will be restored automatically. You will need to re-add any additional accounts and custom tokens, and re-add any non-default networks.

Is MetaMask free?

MetaMask is free to install and use. MetaMask earns revenue through its built-in swap feature (a small fee on swap transactions) and its onramp service (fees for buying crypto with fiat). You can avoid these fees by using external DEXes directly.

Can I use MetaMask on my phone and computer at the same time?

Yes. You can import the same seed phrase into MetaMask on multiple devices. They will all share the same accounts and addresses. However, custom tokens, networks, and activity history may need to be added manually on each device, as these are stored locally.

How do I add a Ledger hardware wallet to MetaMask?

Connect your Ledger to your computer, open the Ethereum app on the Ledger, then in MetaMask go to the account selector > "Add account or hardware wallet" > "Add Hardware Wallet" > Select "Ledger" > Choose the accounts you want to use. Transactions will now require Ledger confirmation.

Related Guides

• Hot Wallet Guide — Understanding hot wallet security tradeoffs
• Ledger Nano Setup Guide — Adding hardware security to MetaMask
• Crypto Wallet Types Explained — Where MetaMask fits in the wallet landscape
• Wallet Backup Guide — Securing your MetaMask seed phrase
• Custodial vs Non-Custodial Wallets — Why MetaMask gives you full control