Adding Solana to Metamask takes about five minutes and requires you to enter Solana's network details by hand

Metamask is built for Ethereum by default, so Solana does not appear in your wallet until you add it as a custom network. You will need Metamask installed on your browser or phone, and you will enter Solana's RPC endpoint (the address that connects you to the network) along with a few other technical details. Once you add the network, you can receive and send Solana tokens, though you will still need a separate Solana wallet address to hold them.

The steps differ slightly between desktop and mobile, but the information you enter is the same. This guide covers both.

Key Takeaways

  • Metamask requires you to manually add Solana as a custom network because it does not come pre-installed.
  • You will need the Solana RPC endpoint address and network ID, which you can copy directly from this guide.
  • Desktop and mobile Metamask use different menus to add a network, but the process takes the same amount of time on both.
  • After adding Solana, you can receive tokens at your Metamask address, but you cannot use Metamask to stake or interact with Solana-specific programs.

Adding Solana on desktop Metamask

Open Metamask in your browser and look for the network selector at the top of the window — it usually shows "Ethereum Mainnet" or another network name. Click it to open the network list, then scroll to the bottom and click "Add a custom network" or "Add network".

A form will appear asking for network details. Enter the following information exactly as shown:

  • Network name: Solana
  • New RPC URL: https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com
  • Chain ID: 501
  • Currency symbol: SOL
  • Block explorer URL: https://solscan.io

Click "Save" when you have entered all fields. Metamask will add Solana to your network list, and you can now switch to it by clicking the network selector again and choosing "Solana" from the list.

Adding Solana on mobile Metamask

Open Metamask on your phone and tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) at the bottom right. Tap "Settings", then "Networks", then "Add a network". You will see a form with the same fields as desktop.

Enter the network details listed above — Network name, RPC URL, Chain ID, Currency symbol, and Block explorer URL — exactly as they appear. Tap "Add" when finished. Solana will now appear in your network list when you tap the network selector at the top of the wallet screen.

What to do if the RPC endpoint is slow or not responding

The RPC endpoint you entered (api.mainnet-beta.solana.com) is Solana's official public endpoint, but it can become overloaded during high traffic periods. If transactions are slow or fail to send, you can replace it with an alternative endpoint. Common alternatives include https://solana-api.projectserum.com and https://api.orca.so, though availability changes over time.

To change the RPC endpoint, go back to your network settings, find Solana in your network list, and edit the "New RPC URL" field. Paste the new endpoint address and save. You do not need to re-enter the other fields — only the RPC URL changes.

Receiving Solana tokens in Metamask

Once Solana is added to your network list, switch to it and click "Receive" or the receive button (usually an arrow pointing down). Metamask will display your wallet address — a long string of letters and numbers that starts with a number or letter. This is your Solana address on Metamask.

You can share this address with anyone who wants to send you Solana tokens. Copy it by clicking the copy icon next to the address. Anyone sending you SOL will paste this address into their wallet and send the tokens to it. The transfer usually arrives within a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on network traffic.

Sending Solana from Metamask

Click "Send" in Metamask while you are on the Solana network. Paste the recipient's Solana address into the "To" field — this must be a valid Solana address, not an Ethereum address. Enter the amount of SOL you want to send and click "Next".

Metamask will show you the transaction fee (called a "gas fee" on Solana, though it is much smaller than Ethereum fees). Review the details and click "Confirm" to send. The transaction will be processed by the Solana network, and you will see a confirmation message with a transaction ID. You can paste this ID into Solscan.io to track the transaction.

What Metamask cannot do with Solana

Metamask is a basic wallet — it holds tokens and sends them, but it does not support Solana-specific features. You cannot stake SOL through Metamask, interact with Solana programs like Jupiter or Magic Eden, or use Metamask to swap tokens on Solana's decentralized exchanges. For those features, you will need a Solana-native wallet like Phantom or Solflare.

Metamask also does not display Solana NFTs or custom tokens automatically. If you receive a Solana token that is not SOL, you may need to add it manually to see it in your wallet, similar to how you added the Solana network itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same Metamask address for Ethereum and Solana?

Yes, Metamask generates one address that works across all networks you add to it. However, Solana and Ethereum are separate blockchains, so sending Ethereum tokens to your Metamask address on the Solana network will not work. Always make sure you are on the correct network before sending or receiving tokens.

What if I send SOL to my Metamask address by mistake from another wallet?

If you sent SOL to your Metamask address from another Solana wallet, the tokens are still yours — they arrived at your address on the Solana network. Switch to the Solana network in Metamask and you will see them in your balance. The tokens do not disappear just because you sent them from a different wallet.

Do I need to pay to add Solana to Metamask?

No. Adding a network to Metamask is free and does not cost any tokens. You only pay a fee when you actually send tokens on the network, and Solana fees are typically less than one cent per transaction.

Why does Metamask show my Solana address as an Ethereum-style address?

Metamask uses the same address format across all networks for simplicity, but Solana addresses are actually different under the hood. Your Metamask address works on the Solana network because Metamask handles the conversion automatically. You can use it to send and receive SOL without any issues.