Curious about NFT but not sure where to start? Interested in cryptocurrency, but wallets are too complicated or scary? MetaMask is a cryptocurrency and NFT wallet that works as a mobile app or browser extension, serving as a simple and affordable entry into the world of blockchain applications and assets.
What is MetaMask?
MetaMask calls itself “your new network connection” and is intended to be used as a wallet and identifier for blockchain-based online applications built on Ethereum. Besides giving users access to cryptocurrencies and NFTs, it promises a safer and more private browser experience. The only catch is that when users store all of their data, they cannot afford to lose it or give it away.
Download: MetaMask for iOS | Android | Chromium
MetaMask works as a free mobile app for iOS and Android, but can also work as an extension for the desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Brave and Edge. If you’re using Firefox, Brave, or Edge, visit the MetaMask download page , scroll down to Supported Browsers and select your preferred browser icon. From there, install it like any other app or extension.
The screenshots taken for this article are from MetaMask as Edge extensions, so if you follow an app or an alternative browser extension, things might look a little different on your screen.
How to get started with a MetaMask account
At its core, MetaMask is a crypto wallet. If you want the benefits of interacting with blockchain applications through a MetaMask account, you might be wondering if you can link your existing wallets. The answer is “maybe.”
When you first sign up, there is a page where you can link your existing wallet to your new MetaMask account by entering your recovery phrase. When writing this article, a recovery phrase was entered for an existing blockchain.com wallet, but MetaMask did not recognize it. General app reviews say MetaMask doesn’t work with all hard wallets, so this might just be a MetaMask bug.
Related: Best Cryptocurrency Wallets: Desktop, Mobile, and Hardware Comparison
It’s quick and easy to create a new MetaMask account as a browser extension. The hardest part has to do with your original phrase, which becomes your recovery phrase. If you are familiar with cryptocurrency wallets, you are familiar with this concept. If MetaMask is your first cryptocurrency wallet, everything you need to know is explained in a short video.
How to secure your MetaMask wallet
Basically, the twelve-word recovery phrase serves as a backup in case you can’t sign in to your account. Since MetaMask sees itself as the backbone of your identity on the new Internet, someone else entering your account is like someone else getting your social security number, not just your money and cards.
On the setup pages, we recommend that you write down your recovery phrase and save it in a safe place, or use a strong password manager.
On the subject: How do password managers work?
Once you have a recovery phrase, you must select words from the word bank in order to make sure you copied it correctly. After completing this little test, a confirmation page will inform you that you are ready to start using MetaMask.
How to access your MetaMask account
After configuring the MetaMask browser extension, you can access it by returning to the MetaMask website and logged in. Of course, since this is a browser extension, you can also select the MetaMask logo from the extensions toolbar next to the URL search bar at the top of the browser window.
Accessing MetaMask from the extensions dashboard shows you which network MetaMask is working on and gives you a quick look at your assets. It also shows if your MetaMask account is associated with the site you are visiting. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, not many sites use MetaMask. If you find it, a button on the site will allow you to connect your account.
Using the website interface or extension interface, you can also buy, sell or exchange assets in your wallet. You can make a purchase using a bank transfer, credit or debit account. You can also transfer ETH from another wallet, or exchange ETH in your account for other supported tokens. At any time, you can copy your public wallet address to your clipboard by clicking on your account name.
Since MetaMask is very secure, you will need to log in to your account again when you restart your browser. We’ve checked to see if the password reset phrase works, and it does, but we promise you’ll make it easier to remember your password.
How to personalize your MetaMask account
You can access your account from extensions or the website interface by clicking the grouped dots icon in the upper right corner and choosing Account Information from the menu that appears. A QR code and a text version of your public address will open. You can also click the pencil icon to the right of your account name to change it at any time.
From any interface, you can also change the network that MetaMask uses to support additional blockchains. Click the box labeled Ethereum Mainnet (default MetaMask network) to open a drop-down menu for other supported networks. The bottom Custom RPC item allows you to add networks that are not included in the standard support list.
On the subject: what is Ethereum and how does it work?
Time to put on your MetaMask?
MetaMask is not the passport to the Internet that it aspires to be. At least for now. MetaMask is one of the earliest contributors to the nascent field of internet design. Someday he will really be able to solve our problems with identity, security and finances on the Internet.
Just because MetaMask doesn’t do all of this doesn’t mean it’s not worth having yet. Even as we wait for the next generation of the Internet, MetaMask is already an affordable and user-friendly wallet that gives you everything you need to dive into the future of blockchain and decentralized applications.
