Articles in this section

See more

Getting started with MetaMask

Oliver Renwick
  • Updated
Follow

mceclip0.png

 

What is MetaMask?

MetaMask is a web browser extension that allows you to manage your Ethereum private keys via your web browser. By doing so, it serves as a wallet for Ether and ERC-20 tokens, and allows you to visit the distributed web of tomorrow in your browser today. To be more specific, it allows you to run Ethereum Dapps (Decentralized Apps) right in your browser without running a full Ethereum node. (In other words, you don't have to download and sync the full blockchain on your device or computer). Our mission is to make Ethereum as easy to use for as many people as possible.

 

 

How to install MetaMask:

Chrome

  1. Visit https://metamask.io/
  2. Click on "Download"
  3. Click “Install MetaMask for Chrome”. You will be directed to Chrome Web Store.
  4. Click “Add to Chrome”
  5. On the pop up, click “Add extension”

After adding MetaMask Extension, you’ll return to your browser page. MetaMask will appear on your browser. You may click on it to open MetaMask.

Firefox

  1. Visit https://metamask.io/
  2. Click on "Download"
  3. Scroll down to the Firefox logo, and click on it.
  4. In the new window that opens, click on "Add to Firefox"
  5. On the pop up, click “Add”
    NOTE: Don't be alarmed by the fact that the Firefox plugin is listed as being published by "danfinlay, kumavis" -- they're a couple of the main minds behind MetaMask :-)

After adding MetaMask Extension, you’ll return to your browser page. MetaMask will appear on your browser. You may click on it to open MetaMask.

Edge

  1. Visit https://metamask.io/
  2. Click on "Download", and scroll down until you see the Edge icon.
  3. Click on the Edge icon, and follow the prompts in the window that opens to install the extension.

 

mceclip0.png

After adding MetaMask Extension, you’ll return to your browser page. MetaMask will appear on your browser. You may click on it to open MetaMask.

 

Brave

  1. Visit https://metamask.io/
  2. Click “Download", and scroll down until you see the Brave icon.
  3. Click on the Brave icon.
  4. In the Chrome store that opens, click 'Add to Brave'.
  5. In the popup that appears, click 'Add extension'.

After adding MetaMask Extension, you’ll return to your browser page. MetaMask will appear on your browser. You may click on it to open MetaMask.

 

 

Note:

When adding MetaMask to your browser, you may ask why you’d have to approve an extension to “read and change all your data on the websites your visit”. Get ready, the answer is technical:

In order to enable Dapps (Distributed Apps) to access the blockchain, MetaMask needs to inject a Web3 JavaScript object into each page. By doing so, it will not change the website, but merely allows it to access the network.

If you are still not convinced, a good way to experiment and manage your browser is to sandbox your MetaMask, i.e. creating, say, a Chrome profile where MetaMask is only installed in browser with that profile. This way, you could browse with or without MetaMask at will.

That said, MetaMask is safe for browsing. Welcome--you're joining over 8 million MetaMask users all over the world!

 

Next Steps

Learn the basics of blockchain and Ethereum

User guide: Secret Recovery Phrase

Related articles