Using an existing wallet

If you already have a MetaMask wallet, or want to import an existing wallet, you’re in the right place.

Use an existing MetaMask via Google or Apple

If you have connected your Google or Apple account to MetaMask before, you can unlock MetaMask using these credentials, automatically importing all your linked wallets and accounts. If you have not connected a Google or Apple account before, go to the ‘Import an existing wallet’ section below.

Once you have MetaMask Extension or Mobile downloaded, accept the Terms of Service, and then click ‘I have an existing wallet’.

From there, choose the account you have previously used to connect to MetaMask: either Google or Apple. You will be prompted to connect to that account, and then you will enter your MetaMask password.

note

If you do not have access to your Google or Apple account, or have lost your MetaMask password, you will not be able to access MetaMask this way. If you have your SRP, you can access your wallet by entering the phrase, but it will not be connected to your Google or Apple account.

Import an existing wallet

You can import wallets in two ways:

• Secret Recovery Phrase: use this to import multiple accounts, or the entire wallet.
• Private key: use this to import one account.

Importing wallets on a Google/Apple-enabled MetaMask instance

If you used Google or Apple to create a MetaMask wallet, importing additional wallets WILL link them to your Google/Apple account. If you don't want to link them, restore your wallet in a new instance of MetaMask. Learn more here.

If you do want to link your wallets, import following the steps below. Importing wallets on one device will sync them to all other devices with the same Google/Apple account.

For this process, you'll need an individual account’s private key string or wallet’s Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP) that you're looking to import. Note that importing an SRP will also import all of its associated accounts with ETH balances.

This is a good option if you’re looking to consolidate multiple wallets into one instance for easier management. For more information on managing multiple wallets, refer to this guide.

If this is your first time using MetaMask, refer to our getting started guide here.

Import using a Secret Recovery Phrase

This is the easiest way to import multiple Ethereum and Solana wallets to MetaMask and manage them in one place. Make sure you have your 12 or 24-word SRP handy and you’re in a secure place to get started.

Note that importing an SRP will also import all of its associated accounts with ETH balances (Example SRP B with “Account 1”, “NFT account”, and “DeFi Account”)

• Extension
• Mobile

1. Click the account selector at the top of your wallet.

2. Select 'Add account or wallet' at the bottom of the list.

3. On the next page, select 'Secret Recovery Phrase’ under the ‘Import’ options.

4. Enter your 12 or 24-word SRP and click ‘Import wallet’ to complete the process.

1. From the wallet view, tap the currently selected account to bring up the account selector.
2. Tap 'Add account or hardware wallet' at the bottom of the menu.

3. Hit 'Import Secret Recovery Phrase'.

4. Enter your 12 or 24-word SRP, select accounts to import and tap ‘Import’ to complete the process.

Import using a private key

For MetaMask accounts, you can refer to this article on exporting an account’s private key. For any other wallet provider, please refer to their documentation on how to locate the private key. Note that importing using a private key will import a single account, not an entire SRP’s set of accounts. If you would like to import an SRP with multiple accounts, refer to the steps above.

warning

It’s risky to export your private key as you could be vulnerable to clipboard hacks. Type in your SRP if that is an option, or proceed with caution.

• Extension
• Mobile

1. Click the account selector at the top of your wallet.
2. Select 'Add account or wallet' at the bottom of the list.

3. On the next page, select 'Private key’ under the ‘Import’ options.

4. You will be directed to the Import page. Paste your private key and click 'Import'.

1. From the wallet view, tap the currently selected account to bring up the account selector.
2. Tap 'Add account or hardware wallet' at the bottom of the menu.

3. Hit 'Import account'.

4. On this screen, paste in the private key of the account you want to import, or scan a QR code if supported by the other wallet. Tap 'Import' to complete the process.

You should now be able to see the newly imported account in the account selector dropdown.

FAQs

What are imported accounts?

Imported accounts are those imported into your wallet using a separate Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP) or private key. They are not derived from your original SRP or Google/Apple account when you installed MetaMask.

These accounts will not appear automatically when you restore your MetaMask with your Secret Recovery Phrase (example: SRP 1). The data associated with SRP 1 cannot be added or extended to the imported account(s) from SRP 2 in this method. You would need to restore those accounts separately if accessing MetaMask from an SRP.

If you login to a new instance of MetaMask with your Google/Apple account and password, any previously imported wallets will also be synced and restored to this instance.

I’ve lost my Secret Recovery Phrase but have the password. How do I import?

If you can still unlock your MetaMask account on a device, great news. Refer to this guide to reveal your SRP and make sure you back it up afterwards! For other scenarios, try the steps listed here to recover your account.

How can I import my private key using a JSON file?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a file format commonly used to store and share data. For our purposes, it's used to encrypt the private key.

You can use a JSON to import a wallet into MetaMask, but only on Extension. To do so, get the JSON file from your external wallet and follow the steps for Extension above until you get to the import page in step 3. From there:

1. On the Import page, expand the dropdown from 'select Type'.
2. Select 'JSON File'.

3. Click 'Choose File' and locate the file from your computer.
4. Enter the password that protects your JSON file (not your MetaMask password).
5. Click 'Import'.

What type of accounts can I import?

Currently, you can import any Ethereum (EVM) and Solana account.