Common Questions & Quick Fixes

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Table of contents


Quick answers (fast fixes)

(Short answers above. Keep reading for step-by-step fixes and reproductions.)


Step-by-step fixes

How to safely delete/uninstall MetaMask (metamask delete wallet)

  1. Backup your seed phrase now. Write it down on paper (offline). Not in email or cloud. And yes, do that before anything else.
  2. Export any imported accounts' private keys if you plan to move them to another app (Settings → Account → Export Private Key). Do this on a secure machine.
  3. On desktop: Remove the extension (browser → extensions → remove). Optionally clear site data for the extension to purge cached info.
  4. On mobile: Go to your phone settings or long-press the app icon to uninstall.

Removing MetaMask from a device does not move funds. Funds remain on-chain tied to the private keys. See remove-uninstall for a deeper guide.

Restore a deleted wallet (metamask deleted my wallet)

  1. Confirm the on-chain balance: copy your wallet address (if you have it) and check a block explorer (search by address).
  2. If you have your seed phrase: Install MetaMask and choose "Import using seed phrase" (enter exactly). Create a strong password and verify addresses.
  3. If you only have private keys for imported accounts: use Import Account → Private Key.
  4. If you have neither: review browser profiles, check other devices, and consult recover-lost-wallets.

Common pitfall: the tokens are present but hidden because you’re on the wrong network. Check network selection and use add-custom-tokens-to-metamask.

Close a dApp connection (metamask close connection)

  1. Open MetaMask (extension or mobile).
  2. Go to the account menu → Connected Sites (or Manage Connected Sites).
  3. Select the site and click Disconnect.

But disconnecting doesn't remove existing token allowances. To revoke approvals, follow the steps at token-approvals-and-revoke.

Create a demo/test account (metamask demo account)

Want to experiment without real ETH? Two options:

If you run a local node or Ganache, connect with a custom RPC. See local-development-ganache-geth.


Troubleshooting checklist — quick fixes

A short checklist like this solves most common problems fast.


Security & backup essentials

For step-by-step recovery and backup best practices, see backup-and-recovery-seed-phrase and security-and-safety.


My hands-on tests: how I verified these fixes (replicable)

What I did (so you can repeat):

Results: seed phrase restores all derived accounts. Imported accounts require their private keys. Revoke tests: disconnecting a dApp removed site access but did not remove previously granted allowances (so I used the approvals tool to revoke). If you want to replicate: follow the steps in each section above.


Mobile vs Extension vs Hardware — feature comparison

Feature Extension (desktop) Mobile app Hardware (via MetaMask)
dApp browser / in-app browsing Partial (injected provider) Yes (in-app browser + WalletConnect) No (transactions must be signed on device)
WalletConnect support Yes Yes Yes
Built-in swap aggregator Yes Yes Limited (signing via device)
Manage Connected Sites Yes Yes Limited
Hardware wallet integration Can connect Can connect Native (recommended for cold storage)


FAQ (short answers to common searches)

Q: Is it safe to keep crypto in a hot wallet? A: Hot wallets are convenient for daily DeFi and small balances. For large holdings use a hardware wallet. Follow daily-security-practices and never expose your seed phrase.

Q: How do I revoke token approvals? A: Disconnect the dApp (Connected Sites) and use an approvals manager (see token-approvals-and-revoke). Revoking costs gas.

Q: What happens if I lose my phone? A: If you have your seed phrase you can restore on another device. If not, funds are likely lost. See lost-phone-reset-recovery.


Conclusion & next steps

If your immediate problem is a missing wallet, start by confirming on-chain balances and locating your seed phrase. But don't panic if things look wrong — most issues are recoverable with the right backup. For step-by-step walkthroughs, try the setup and recovery pages: create-metamask-wallet, recover-lost-wallets, and remove-uninstall.

Want hands-on guidance? Follow the step-by-step repair paths above and run the same quick tests I used (backup → uninstall → restore). If you'd like a specific checklist for your device or scenario, ask and I’ll walk you through it.

(And one last practical tip: keep a tiny amount of ETH in a secondary burner account for gas testing before moving larger balances.)

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