Curiosity doesn’t kill the fox. It empowers it!
While MetaMask is published on multiple browser extension stores, and these stores benefit from auto-updates, there are reasons you might want to install a copy of MetaMask manually:
- Your browser of choice does not have MetaMask listed in its store. (Chrome has recently removed MetaMask from their store, before readding it hours later. So if you need to use Chrome, this is your only option if it happens again!)
- You want to opt out of auto-updates for increased security.
- You want to install an old version, for some feature that was broken in a newer release.
In cases like this, the easiest thing to do is to download a pre-build release of MetaMask. You can retrieve official builds of MetaMask here. If you're a brave developer, you can also build from source.
Note: MetaMask updates can include security improvements, so using MetaMask on a browser with an auto-updating store ensures the latest updates and fixes.
Note Also: Installing extensions manually can be dangerous! When you don't install from a store with lots of good reviews, it is harder to tell you are installing the software you intend to! Only install manually as a last resort. This kind of installation is much more prone to phishing, so make sure you are getting your MetaMask release from a trustworthy (official!) source!
Here’s how you could install it on Chrome:
- On the releases page, pick a version you’ll like to install.
- Download the zip file.
- Unzip the file in a folder.
4) Open Chrome, and type “chrome://extensions” in the browser URL bar.
5) Click “Load Unpacked”
6) On the window pop up, open the the folder unzipped earlier
7) You could now see MetaMask installed
On FireFox:
Install a previous version of MetaMask on Firefox without having to manually install!: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ether-metamask/versions/
- Visit: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/android/addon/ether-metamask/versions/
- Select a version you’d like to download. Click “Download Now” > Click “Ok” on pop up
3) Type “about:addons” on browser
4) Click the setting button > Click “Install Add-on from file”
5) Browse for the zip or directory with MetaMask you downloaded.
NOTE: this method requires Firefox Developer edition.
6) Click “Open”
7) Click “Add” on the pop up
8) Installation complete
On Opera:
- Repeat step 1 to 3 of Installing older MetaMask versions on Chrome
- Open Opera extension page > Click “Load unpacked extension”
- Browse the unzipped folder, then click “OK”
- Installation complete
