Download Core Wallet Extension | Official Website

The Core Wallet Extension is a free browser wallet from Ava Labs, the company behind Avalanche. It sits in Chrome and lets you hold, send, swap and bridge crypto. It also shows your C Chain, Bitcoin and Ethereum balances in one place, so you don’t have to switch networks by hand.

Core Extension, Core Mobile and Core Web: Which One Do You Need?

Core isn’t only a browser add on. Ava Labs offers it in three forms, and they’re designed to work together.

Core Wallet extension: the Chrome wallet this guide focuses on, for managing assets across several networks from your desktop.
Core Mobile Wallet: an app for iPhone and Android.
Core Web Wallet: the website at core.app, which Ava Labs recommends using together with the extension or mobile app for full functionality.

What You Can Do With the Core Crypto Wallet

Core’s main selling point is that it pulls everything into a few dashboards. Your portfolio, collectibles and DeFi positions show up in one view, without pasting token addresses or flipping between networks. For Avalanche users, it also covers most C Chain gas fees. The official site says you can swap, send and earn without holding AVAX just to pay for transactions.

Inside the extension you can swap hundreds of Avalanche tokens (powered by Velora), bridge ERC20 tokens, and convert BTC to BTC.b. There’s also native AVAX staking, an address book and support for multiple accounts. Through Core Web you can buy AVAX. The site also mentions deposits and loans through Aave and Benqi, plus alerts that warn you about suspicious or scam transactions before you sign them.

How to Install the Core Wallet Extension

Setting up from scratch takes a few minutes. Here’s the order Core walks you through.

Open the Core Wallet listing on the Chrome Web Store and check that the publisher is Ava Labs, Inc. Click Add to Chrome, then pin Core from the puzzle icon in your toolbar.
Click the Core icon to open the login screen. You can sign up with a Google or Apple email, or create a wallet manually.
If you go manual, Core shows you a recovery phrase. Write it on paper, in order, and keep it somewhere safe and offline. Then acknowledge the warning and click Next.
Core asks you to pick certain words from your phrase to prove you saved it. Select them and click Verify.
Give the wallet a name. You’ll also see an optional Unlock airdrops toggle, which you can leave off if you don’t want it.
Set a password, accept the Terms and Conditions and click Next.
Pick a style and an avatar, and you’ll land on the All set! screen.

Remember that your password only unlocks Core on this computer. Your recovery phrase is what restores the wallet anywhere else, so don’t mix the two up.

Already Using MetaMask? Bring It Over

Core is EVM compatible, so you can open it with your existing MetaMask recovery phrase. On the login screen, choose to access an existing wallet, pick manual recovery phrase entry and paste your MetaMask phrase. After you’ve set things up, log in and check that your balances and accounts look the way you expect.

Core Wallet Login: Getting Back Into an Existing Wallet

New computer, reinstalled Chrome, or switching from another wallet? Click the Core icon and choose Access Existing Wallet. You’ll see four ways in.

Recovery phrase: enter your 12, 18 or 24 word phrase. Use lowercase, single spaces and no extra characters, because typos are the most common reason a restore fails.
Google or Apple: sign in with the same email you signed up with, and complete MFA if you turned it on before.
Ledger: unlock the device and open the Avalanche app on it. Choosing the BIP44 derivation path shows the same funds and history across the X, P and C Chains.
Keystone: a Keystone 3 Pro connects to the computer, while the Keystone Essential or Pro pairs by scanning a QR code with your webcam.

After that, you name the wallet, create a password, accept the Terms of Use and click Save. Want to add more wallets later? Click your account at the top, then the + button in My Wallets. You can import another recovery phrase, an EVM private key, a Ledger or a keystore file. If you import with a private key, any Bitcoin balance on a derivation path Core doesn’t support won’t show up.

Is the Core Wallet Extension Non Custodial?

Yes. Ava Labs describes the Core Wallet Extension as non custodial, which in practice means a few things.

You hold the keys. Your funds aren’t stored in an Ava Labs account that someone can freeze or reset.
Hardware wallet support. You can keep your keys on a Ledger or Keystone and use Core as the interface.
Scam transaction alerts warn you before you approve something suspicious.
Free to install from the Chrome Web Store.

The trade off is responsibility. If you created your wallet with a recovery phrase and you lose it, nobody can recover it for you.

Ava Labs and the Avalanche Foundation will never ask for your recovery phrase, private key or password, so anyone who does is a scammer, however official they look. Only install Core from the Chrome Web Store listing published by Ava Labs, Inc., and double check a site’s address before you connect your wallet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Core Wallet Extension free?

Yes, it’s free to install from the Chrome Web Store. Network fees still apply to some transactions, though Core covers most C Chain gas fees. Services like swaps or bridges may have their own costs, which are shown before you confirm.

Does the Core Wallet Extension work on Brave, Edge or Firefox?

Ava Labs says the extension is officially released only for Google Chrome. It may run in other browsers, but support warns you could hit issues, so Chrome is the recommended choice.

Which networks does the Core extension support?

Ava Labs names the Avalanche C Chain, Bitcoin and Ethereum for the extension. The bridge handles ERC20 tokens and BTC to BTC.b conversions.

Can I use my MetaMask recovery phrase in Core?

Yes. Core is EVM compatible, so you can choose to access an existing wallet and enter your MetaMask recovery phrase. After setup, log in and confirm your balances look right.

Does Core work with a Ledger or Keystone?

Yes. The Core extension supports Ledger devices through the Avalanche app, and Keystone 3 Pro, Essential and Pro devices. Your keys stay on the hardware wallet while Core acts as the interface.

How do I recover my Core wallet?

Click the Core icon, choose Access Existing Wallet and enter your 12, 18 or 24 word recovery phrase, or sign in with the Google or Apple email you used. Then set a new password and accept the Terms of Use.

Conclusion

The Core Wallet Extension makes the most sense if you spend time in the Avalanche ecosystem. It puts your C Chain, Bitcoin and Ethereum balances in one view, covers most C Chain gas, and has swaps, bridging and staking built in. It also supports Ledger and Keystone if you want your keys offline.

Just stick to the basics. Install it from the official Chrome Web Store listing, use Chrome since that’s the officially supported browser, and keep your recovery phrase on paper where only you can find it. Do that, and Core is a simple, practical way to manage Avalanche assets from your desktop.

Page updated

Report abuse