Adding Solana to Metamask in four steps

Metamask does not show Solana by default because Metamask is built for Ethereum and Ethereum-compatible networks. To see and manage Solana tokens, you need to add Solana as a custom network inside Metamask. This takes about five minutes and requires the Solana RPC endpoint — a web address that connects Metamask to the Solana blockchain.

The process is the same whether you use Metamask on desktop or mobile: open the network menu, select "Add a network", enter the Solana network details, and save. Once added, you can switch between Ethereum, Solana, and other networks from the same dropdown menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Metamask connects to Solana by adding it as a custom network using the Solana RPC endpoint address.
  • You need the correct RPC URL (the most common is https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com), the chain ID (501), and the currency symbol (SOL).
  • After adding Solana, your existing Metamask wallet address will not work on Solana — you must use a Solana-specific wallet or import a Solana private key into a Solana wallet.
  • Solana transactions are much cheaper than Ethereum transactions but use a different wallet system, so tokens sent to your Ethereum address on the Solana network will be lost.

Open the network menu and select "Add a network"

In Metamask, look for the network dropdown at the top of the window (on desktop) or at the top of the app (on mobile). It usually shows the name of the network you are currently on — "Ethereum Mainnet" or "Sepolia" or another name. Click or tap it.

A menu will appear showing the networks already in your Metamask. At the bottom of this menu, you will see a button labeled "Add a network" or "Add network". Click or tap it. Metamask will open a form with blank fields for the network details.

Enter the Solana network information

Fill in the form with these exact details:

  • Network name: Solana (or any name you want to see in the dropdown)
  • New RPC URL: https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com
  • Chain ID: 501
  • Currency symbol: SOL
  • Block explorer URL: https://solscan.io (optional but useful)

The RPC URL is the address that tells Metamask how to talk to the Solana blockchain. The chain ID identifies Solana to Metamask. The currency symbol is what will appear next to your balance. Do not change these values — they are the same for everyone using Solana.

If you see a field for "Block explorer URL", enter https://solscan.io. This lets you click on transactions and see their details on the Solana blockchain. It is not required to use Solana, but it is helpful if you need to check whether a transaction went through.

Save the network and switch to it

Click or tap the "Save" or "Add network" button at the bottom of the form. Metamask will add Solana to your network list and usually switch to it automatically. If it does not, open the network dropdown again and select "Solana".

You will now see your Metamask account on the Solana network. However, your Ethereum address (the long string starting with 0x) does not work on Solana. If you send SOL tokens or Solana-based tokens to this address, they will be lost.

Understand why you need a separate Solana wallet

Metamask was designed for Ethereum. When you add Solana to Metamask, you are adding a network connection, but Metamask does not generate a Solana wallet address for you. Your Metamask account address stays the same, and it only works on Ethereum and Ethereum-compatible networks.

To actually receive and send Solana tokens, you need a Solana wallet — a separate wallet designed for the Solana blockchain. Popular Solana wallets include Phantom, Solflare, and Marinade. These wallets generate addresses that start with different characters than Ethereum addresses and only work on Solana.

If you want to use Metamask to manage Solana tokens, you can import a Solana private key into Metamask, but this is not recommended for most people because it mixes two different wallet systems and increases the risk of sending tokens to the wrong address.

What to do if you want to move tokens between Ethereum and Solana

Some tokens exist on both Ethereum and Solana — for example, USDC stablecoin. If you want to move tokens from Ethereum to Solana, you cannot send them directly. Instead, you need to use a bridge — a service that locks your tokens on one blockchain and releases an equivalent amount on another.

Popular bridges include Wormhole and Allbridge. You connect your Ethereum wallet (Metamask) and your Solana wallet (Phantom or another Solana wallet) to the bridge, select the token and amount, and the bridge handles the transfer. Bridges charge a small fee and usually take a few minutes.

Before using a bridge, check that the token you want to move actually exists on both blockchains. Not all tokens are available on both Ethereum and Solana, and sending a token to a blockchain where it does not exist will result in lost funds.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you see an error message when trying to add Solana, check that you copied the RPC URL exactly as shown above — even a single space or typo will cause it to fail. If the network was added but you cannot see your balance or send transactions, try disconnecting Metamask from the website you are using and reconnecting it.

If you added Solana but your Metamask still shows a zero balance, remember that your Ethereum address does not hold Solana tokens. You need to send SOL to a Solana wallet address, not to your Metamask address. If you have already sent tokens to your Metamask address on the Solana network, they may be recoverable, but this requires technical steps beyond Metamask itself.

If transactions are slow or failing, the RPC endpoint may be overloaded. Try switching to a different public RPC URL — Helius and QuickNode both provide free Solana endpoints that you can use instead of the mainnet-beta address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Ethereum address to receive Solana tokens?

No. Ethereum addresses (starting with 0x) do not work on Solana. If you send SOL or any Solana token to your Metamask address on the Solana network, the tokens will be lost and cannot be recovered. You must use a Solana wallet address, which looks different and is generated by a Solana wallet like Phantom or Solflare.

Do I need to pay gas fees to add Solana to Metamask?

No. Adding a network to Metamask is free and happens only on your device. You only pay fees when you actually send tokens on the Solana network, and Solana fees are usually less than one cent per transaction.

What if I want to remove Solana from Metamask later?

Open the network dropdown, find Solana in the list, and look for a delete or remove icon (usually three dots or a trash can). Click it and confirm. Removing the network does not delete any tokens — it just hides the network from your Metamask. You can add it back anytime using the same steps.

Can I use Metamask to stake SOL or interact with Solana programs?

Metamask can display your SOL balance on the Solana network, but it is not designed for Solana-specific features like staking or using Solana decentralized apps. For those features, use a native Solana wallet like Phantom. You can hold SOL in both Metamask and a Solana wallet at the same time — just make sure you are sending tokens to the correct address.

Is the RPC URL I entered safe to use?

The mainnet-beta RPC URL (https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com) is the official public endpoint run by the Solana Foundation and is safe. If you use a different RPC URL from a third party, check that it comes from a trusted source like Helius or QuickNode. Never use an RPC URL from an unknown source, as it could be used to intercept your transactions.