MetaMask Extension For Chrome & Firefox

Do you think MetaMask is the right wallet choice for you? If yes, you might wish to get started with it. And, as it is pretty evident, the wallet can be put to use only by installing its browser extension or by installing the MetaMask mobile application. So, in today's post, I am going to make you familiar with everything that you need to know to understand the usage of this wallet. In case you have been introduced to this wallet for the first time, then you might want to check out some crucial data pieced about this wallet service.

The following sections will let you have a glance at the quick facts about the MetaMask wallet and some other information about its best usage. 

But, first, let's understand the basic steps to install the MetaMask Chrome extension:

Step 1 Open your Chrome browser and get straightaway to the https://metamask.io/ website

Step 2 On the main page, select the "Download for Chrome" option  

Step 3 When the Chrome web store opens, select the "Add to Chrome" option

Step 4 Now, allow MetaMask to read and change your data on different websites/ Display notifications/ modify data you copy and paste by selecting the "Add extension" option in the pop-up window

Step 5 Wait for the process to complete and start using MetaMask by setting up your wallet on it

That's how you can install the MetaMask extension for Chrome. Now, coming back to our topic of concern, let us shed some light on the quick facts about the MetaMask wallet.

Once you install the MetaMask Chrome extension, you can avail of the following benefits from MetaMask:

• Enjoy seamless interaction with user interfaces that exist on different Web3 applications including the distribution applications (DApps)

• It injects the JavaScript library (Web3.js) into each page of your web browser

• MetaMask can be counted as a plugin in the web browser which can be easily installed on the Chrome web browser

• The only downside about the usage of this wallet is that you cannot store cryptos other than the Ethereum-based ones on it. Not even Bitcoin.

At times, there are some users who could not install the MetaMask Chrome extension the traditional way or in the manner explained in the section above. So, to help such users, we are here with another method that could help them get the MetaMask extension installed. To get MetaMask for Chrome, here is what you need to do:

1. Open the Chrome Web Store- https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions

2. On your left, do you see a search bar? Here, type "MetaMask"

3. Pick the first option from the given results and then select "Add to Chrome"

4. Further, when you see the pop-up window, select the "Add Extension" option to proceed

5. Let the process come to an end and use the extension as and when needed

The best practices you can follow to get started with using the MetaMask extension and reveal all of its features and functionalities are as follows:

1. Begin the process by launching the wallet extension you just downloaded

2. When on the main screen, spot and select the "Get Started" option

3. On the following screen, choose whether you wish to create a new wallet or sign in to an existing one

4. To set up a new wallet, please select the given option and agree to their terms

5. Next up, you can assign a new password for signing into your wallet

6. In the further steps, you create a backup of the secret recovery phrase which is shown to you

7. Follow some more prompts and you'll be up and running with your new wallet.

Well, this is yet another query that is raised by a lot of users regarding the use of MetaMask on their mobile devices. The short and simple answer to this question is "No" you cannot install MetaMask on your mobile phones. To use the MetaMask extension on your phone, you simply need to install the MetaMask mobile application either from the Google Play Store on Android or Apple App Store on iOS devices.

Are you not able to use MetaMask?

Well, the MetaMask Chrome extension works best when you use the most updated version of MetaMask and the Chrome web browser. If you are sure that you are already using the most updated version of the two, then you can apply the quick steps as explained below:

• If your browser has more than one browser-based wallet extension installed, please remove it for some time until you are done using the current session of MetaMask

• Refresh your wallet by closing your browser and turning off your computer system

• Apart from that, you should check the status of MetaMask website servers and wait if it shows temporarily unavailable.

Summing up the read:

For accessing Ethereum-enabled distribution applications and storing your crypto assets after purchasing them from an exchange, you surely can go ahead with a MetaMask wallet. Since a lot of users are using Chrome web browser, therefore I thought of guiding the users on how they can use the MetaMask Chrome extension starting from scratch. If you have some additional queries, you can surely take a sneak peek into our "User-based queries" section and get yourself more familiar with MetaMask.

Frequently Asked Questions– 

What is the official MetaMask extension?

The official MetaMask extension file can be extracted from the metamask.io website or the respective extension store of your web browser. Make sure that you do not install this extension from any website other than metamask.io since there are a lot of fake extensions of the wallet available on the web.

How do I open a MetaMask extension?

Upon successfully installing the extension, MetaMask will open up automatically without any human interaction. To open the extension later on, you can surely navigate to the toolbar available on your web browser and select that fox-face icon to open it. If the MetaMask Chrome extension does not appear in the toolbar, select the jigsaw icon on your browser, click on the three-dots menu, and then choose MetaMask extension followed by selecting "Show in Toolbar."

Is MetaMask a Chrome extension?

Yes, MetaMask is definitely a Chrome extension but its usage is not limited only to the Chrome web browser. You can use the features and functionalities of MetaMask on different web browsers including Brave, Edge, Opera, and Firefox browsers. Additionally, MetaMask works best on mobile devices as well.

Is MetaMask a safe extension?

MetaMask is a self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet that gives you complete access to the wallet and the funds stored in it. The wallet is a trustworthy crypto storage being used by millions of people across the globe. However, it does not itself offer any protection from the attackers which is surely a point of concern. The safety of the wallet remains in the hands of the users itself.