Are you a newcomer in the crypto sphere and looking to explore the possibilities of decentralized finance? Well, you've stepped in a perfect write-up! In this beginner's guide, we'll be presenting a complete exploration of the MetaMask extension and showing you how to get started with this powerful tool. 

If you are wondering what MetaMask is, let me enlighten it in essence. It is a software-based wallet to store your cryptocurrencies in it. It provides high-end encryption to your data for preventing it from all malicious activities including hacks so that you can sleep soundly with no worries about your digital fund security. 

Whether you're using a desktop or mobile device, this wallet facilitates all by providing the MetaMask extension and application. The offerings of this wallet are not limited here as it offers many more trading facilities such as sending, receiving, purchasing, swapping, and staking crypto assets. If you are also interested in opting for this wallet, let's embark on the journey together to unlock the potential of MetaMask!

For Desktop:

• MetaMask extension for Chrome

• MetaMask extension Firefox

• MetaMask Brave extension

• MetaMask extension for Opera

• MetaMask Edge extension

For Mobile:

• MetaMask app for iOS

• MetaMask app for Android

Note: You cannot use MetaMask Wallet browser extensions on your mobiles. If you are thinking of beginning the usage of the MetaMask Chrome extension Android mobile, it is impossible as you can only use the supported MetaMask extensions on the desktop and  MetaMask mobile applications on your Android or iOS devices.

So, now you know what extensions you can download on your device, we will look at the guidance to download them further.

1. Visit https://metamask.io/ and hit the “Download” key.

2. Scroll down the prompted page.

3. Hit the icon of your preferred browser to proceed.

4. Press the “Add to [browser name]” button.

5. Now, hit “Add Extension” popped out on the window.

It will initiate the process of MetaMask extension installation further. You’ll be notified when the extension will get downloaded on your device and will get auto-connected to your browser.

To do this, first, you need to open the downloaded extension; for instance, you can tap on the puzzle-shaped icon on the right side of the search bar on the Chrome browser to open the list of added extensions. The process may vary with the browsers you are using to run MetaMask. 

1. Open the MetaMask extension at first and press “Get Started”.

2. You’ll be needed to press the “Create a wallet” button to proceed as a first-time user.

3. Hit the “I agree” button after reading the prompted terms carefully.

4. Next, set up a password by making sure that it is hard to decrypt.

5. Write the password twice and press the “Create” button further.

6. On the next prompted page, you’ll see a lock icon in grey space, tap on it.

7. Afterward, copy the revealed secret recovery phrase and keep it somewhere safe.

8. Hit “Next” and continue by providing the seed phrase in sequence.

9. Make sure you have aligned each word in sequence and press “Confirm”.

Here, you’ll see a “Congratulations” message for the successful creation of your wallet. Go through the tips to store your seed phrase as it plays a significant role in the security of your wallet and press the “All Done” button to finalize.

Let me clarify again that the secret recovery phrase is important to keep safe with you as it is impossible to retrieve it further. But, still, if you have skipped the process of saving the seed phrase at any secure document, you can do it now as well. To begin this, make sure that you have access to your account, you are neither signed out nor have forgotten your login key. After this, you can navigate through the required steps outlined right away.

1. Open your MetaMask Wallet and navigate to the “Account” menu.

2. Choose the“Settings” choice from the dropdown list.

3. Now, move further by picking up “Security and Privacy” further.

4. Here, you’ll see the “Reveal Secret Recovery Phrase” text.

5. Tap on it and continue by providing the login password.

Now, the Secret Recovery Phrase of your wallet will get unveiled, do not forget to record it somewhere securely and keep it unshared as well.

Well! After the successful wallet setup, you don't need to perform the MetaMask login to access your account as you can attain it directly. But, if you have locked your wallet or if you have left your wallet untouched for a few days and now you are signed out, you need to perform the MetaMask extension login in this case. Yes! To do this, you need to follow a couple of easy steps as mentioned below.

1. Open the extensions on your browser, and select MetaMask.

2. Next, open it and it will open a login form asking for a password.

3. Feed your MetaMask login password accurately here.

4. Now, tap on the “Unlock” key to access your wallet account.

Now, you have regained your wallet access with the help of your MetaMask login password. You are now eligible to avail all the amenities offered by the MetaMask Wallet.

Well! There is a possibility that you lose access to your account and you don’t even remember your login password. What do you do in this case?

Don't worry! MetaMask allows you to restore the wallet with a magic key you’ve got while creating your wallet named Secret Recovery Phrase. As I have told you that it is an essential piece of information, now probably you have got an idea why is it so. 

You can simply regain access to all of your MetaMask account data and funds in one go using the seed phrase. Here’s the way to follow.

1. First, uninstall the MetaMask extension from your device.

2. Now, re-download it by visiting https://metamask.io/download/.

3. After the download, open it and press “Get Started”.

4. Hit “Import using Secret Recovery Phrase”.

5. Make sure you have your seed phrase with you and now, provide it here.

6. Once, it will get verified, you’ll see a page asking for a new password.

7. Set up a strong password and make sure to keep it in your mind.

8. You can also enable the verification using Face ID by turning on the toggle for extra security.

9. Tap on the “Import” key to attain access to your MetaMask account.

This is all you need to do to import your MetaMask wallet with the help of the MetaMask recovery key without losing any data. Now, you are all set to use all the MetaMask Wallet facilities again.

Kudos! You've touched the end of our beginner's guide to the MetaMask extension. We hope this write-up has provided you with valuable insights about the MetaMask and helped you navigate through the process of downloading, setting up, and utilizing it seamlessly. As you continue your crypto journey, remember to prioritize security by safeguarding your secret recovery phrase and keeping your login password safe.

With MetaMask, you now have the power to interact with decentralized applications, explore the cryptocurrency realm, and take control of your financial future. And, in case your MetaMask extension not working, reach out to its 24*7 active support team.