MetaMask is a self-custody crypto wallet that runs as a browser extension and a mobile app. On Chrome, the only safe way to install it is from the official Chrome Web Store listing, reached through MetaMask’s own website. Fake MetaMask extensions and look-alike sites exist to steal one thing: your Secret Recovery Phrase. Whoever has that phrase controls your funds.
This guide walks through installing the MetaMask Chrome extension the official way, setting up a wallet, and the safety rules that matter most. Every step and rule comes from MetaMask’s support site, checked on 27 October 2026. It’s a setup and safety guide, not financial advice.
Official MetaMask addresses to know
| What | Official address |
|---|---|
| Website and downloads | metamask.io (its download page now redirects to metamask.com) |
| Support | support.metamask.io |
| Chrome extension ID | nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn |
How to install the MetaMask Chrome extension
- Go to MetaMask’s website yourselfType metamask.io into the address bar. Don’t use ads, search results that look odd, or links from messages.
- Choose the download for ChromeClick Get MetaMask or Download and choose Chrome. You’ll be taken to the Chrome Web Store.
- Check the listing, then add itConfirm the store URL contains the official extension ID above, then click Add to Chrome and confirm Add extension.
- Pin itClick the puzzle-piece (Extensions) icon in Chrome, then the pin icon next to MetaMask so it’s always visible. MetaMask opens automatically after installing.
Don’t install MetaMask any other way
MetaMask says never to download it from anywhere other than metamask.io’s download page or an official browser store. Manually installed builds don’t get the store’s protections and are more exposed to phishing and malware. If you use Brave, MetaMask notes that Brave’s built-in wallet may need to be turned off as the default.
Setting up your wallet
- Create a new wallet or import oneChoose Create a new wallet if you’re new. Import an existing wallet only with your own recovery phrase.
- Choose how to secure itMetaMask may offer a Secret Recovery Phrase or, on the extension, a social login such as Google or Apple. Either way, you set a password that unlocks MetaMask on this device.
- Write down your Secret Recovery PhraseMetaMask generates a 12-word phrase. Write it down on paper, in English as shown, without translating it, and store it somewhere safe and offline.
- Confirm the phraseMetaMask asks you to enter words from the phrase to prove you’ve recorded it. Don’t skip this.
Your password and your recovery phrase do different jobs. The password unlocks MetaMask on one device. The recovery phrase restores your wallet on any device, and it’s the key to your funds. MetaMask can’t see or recover either: if you lose the phrase, no one can get your wallet back.
The safety rules that matter most
- Never share your Secret Recovery Phrase with anyone, including people claiming to be MetaMask support. MetaMask says its team will never ask for it.
- Never type the phrase into any website. MetaMask’s support pages list only a few legitimate uses: confirming your backup at setup, restoring your wallet or resetting your password inside MetaMask.
- Don’t store the phrase digitally, whether in screenshots, notes apps, email or cloud drives.
- MetaMask won’t pop up on its own. MetaMask says it never pops up unless you start a transaction, so treat surprise pop-ups or full-screen “MetaMask” pages as fake.
- Support never contacts you first. Get help only through support.metamask.io or the Support link inside MetaMask, never through direct messages.
- Read every transaction before you approve it. Crypto transactions can’t be reversed, and missing funds can’t be restored.
Signs of a fake MetaMask
Genuine MetaMask
- Installed from the official store listing
- Opens only when you click it or start a transaction
- Asks for your password to unlock, not your phrase
- Support only via support.metamask.io
Red flags
- Asks for your recovery phrase out of the blue
- Shoddy or outdated branding and formatting
- Pop-ups you didn’t trigger
- “Support agents” who message you first
- Downloads from links, ads or file-sharing sites
Connecting to crypto sites and apps
Searches for MetaMask often appear alongside other crypto names, such as exchanges, faucets, new blockchains and wallet services. We haven’t reviewed those projects. Before connecting your wallet to any site, check that it’s the genuine site, understand what each approval allows, and consider a separate wallet with small amounts for experimenting. Connecting a wallet never requires your recovery phrase.
If something has gone wrong
If you think your recovery phrase was exposed, MetaMask’s support site has guidance for hacked or compromised wallets. Usually that means creating a new wallet and moving any remaining funds to it quickly. Contact support only through support.metamask.io.
Our verdict
Bottom line
Install MetaMask on Chrome only through metamask.io and the official Chrome Web Store listing (ID nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn), pin it, and write your 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase on paper, never digitally. Above all, never share or type your phrase into any website: MetaMask will never ask for it, and anyone who does is a scammer.
Steps were checked against MetaMask’s support site on 27 October 2026. This guide is not financial advice.
Common questions
How do I install MetaMask on Chrome?
Go to metamask.io yourself, choose the Chrome download, and you'll be sent to the Chrome Web Store. Check the listing is the official one, click Add to Chrome, confirm, then pin the extension.
How do I know the MetaMask extension is real?
Install it only from metamask.io's download page or the official Chrome Web Store listing, whose URL contains the ID nkbihfbeogaeaoehlefnkodbefgpgknn. Fakes often have poor branding, pop up unprompted or ask for your recovery phrase.
What is the MetaMask Secret Recovery Phrase?
It's a 12-word phrase generated when you create a wallet. Anyone who has it can control your funds, so write it on paper, store it offline and never share it.
Will MetaMask support ever ask for my recovery phrase?
No. MetaMask says its team will never ask for your Secret Recovery Phrase, and its support never contacts you first. Anyone asking is a scammer.
Can MetaMask recover my wallet if I lose my phrase?
No. MetaMask can't see or recover your phrase or password. Without the phrase, a lost wallet can't be restored.
Is MetaMask available on other browsers?
Yes. MetaMask is available as an extension for Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge and Opera, and as a mobile app for iOS and Android.
What is the official MetaMask website?
MetaMask's support pages name metamask.io and support.metamask.io as official sites. MetaMask's download page now redirects to metamask.com.
