Guide on How to Switch Network in MetaMask

From Ethereum to testnet, and adding EVM-compatible chains and Layer-2 networks

This is a simple, step-by-step guide on how to switch your network in MetaMask. You will learn how to change your network and add new networks.

MetaMask isn’t just a wallet. It’s a tool that allows you to manage your wallets and use them to interact with dapps. This means that every network you unlock in MetaMask empowers you to explore the wider dapp ecosystem.

Notably, using advanced features on DappRadar also requires you to connect your Web3 wallet. To monitor your Portfolio on DappRadar it’s necessary to connect your Web3 wallet, for example, through MetaMask.

On desktop, MetaMask exists as a browser extension, while there’s also a mobile version available. For this guide, we look mainly at the desktop version.

Selecting a Network in Metamask

This guide assumes you already have MetaMask installed. If you don’t, install the MetaMask extension by following the guide on the official website. It will standard be set to the Ethereum blockchain (see image below). Despite current high gas fees, the Ethereum blockchain still is home to many innovations and dapp developments.

If you want to change the network of your MetaMask, for example, to the Polygon network, you need to click the ‘down arrow’ next to the current network. It will open a menu where you can select a different network.

Adding more networks to Metamask

Adding new networks on MetaMask has been made easier through an automatic retrieval feature in the Web3 wallet. This functionality allows the wallet to fetch the necessary network information without any user input. It works seamlessly for any EVM-compatible chain, Layer-2 network, and their corresponding testnets.

For instance, if you want to explore the Avalanche Fuji testnet, you can click on the “Add Subnet to Wallet” button. This action will prompt the wallet to automatically fill in the testnet information for you (image below).

However, it’s important to note that even though the process is simplified, users will still need to confirm the network switch manually before it becomes official.

This is necessary because MetaMask’s records may sometimes have network names that don’t match the corresponding chain ID. To ensure a smooth experience, we strongly advise verifying the network details before proceeding.

Guide to add or modify network details in MetaMask

If the auto-filling process fails, don’t worry, you can still manually add the new network.

At the bottom of the aforementioned list with networks, you will see the button “Add Network”. This will allow you to do exactly what it says, add support for another network to your Metamask.

It’s important to note that MetaMask supports networks within the broader Ethereum ecosystem, specifically EVM-compatible chains and Layer-2 networks. Networks like Bitcoin are not supported by MetaMask.

Thankfully the list of EVM-compatible networks is increasing, and you will see that DappRadar supports plenty of those.

To add a new network to MetaMask, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Click “Add Network”
2. A form will pop-up, requesting some information from you
   1. Network Name – you can choose any name, but be wise and just give it the name of the network you’re about to add.
   2. New RPC URL – an URL that serves as your entry point to the blockchain
   3. Chain ID – an ID number unique to the blockchain network you’re about to interact with
   4. Currency Symbol (optional) – the ticker (i.e. ETH, BNB or MATIC) of the leading currency on the new network
   5. Block Explorer URL (optional) – the URL to a block explorer, ideal for users who always want more in-depth information on their transactions.
3. After filling in all the details, click “Save”. You will now find the newly added network in your network selection.

To modify a network in MetaMask, navigate to the “Settings” page, select “Networks,” and click on the network you wish to modify. Follow the same steps as when adding a new network.

Networks to add to Metamask

Below is a comprehensive list of standard/mainnet MetaMask networks and their respective details.

Polygon

RPC URL: https://rpc-mainnet.matic.quiknode.pro
Chain ID: 137
Symbol: MATIC
Block explorer: https://polygonscan.com

Binance Smart Chain

RPC URL: https://bsc-dataseed.binance.org/
Chain ID: 56
Symbol: BNB
Block explorer: https://bscscan.com

Avalanche

RPC URL: https://api.avax.network/ext/bc/C/rpc
Chain ID: 43114
Symbol: AVAX
Block explorer: https://cchain.explorer.avax.network

Harmony (mainnet shard 0)

RPC URL: https://api.harmony.one
Chain ID: 1666600000
Symbol: ONE
Block explorer: https://explorer.harmony.one

Arbitrum

RPC URL: https://arb1.arbitrum.io/rpc
Chain ID: 42161
Symbol: ETH
Block explorer: https://arbiscan.io

Optimism

RPC URL: https://mainnet.optimism.io/
Chain ID: 10
Symbol: ETH
Block explorer: https://optimistic.etherscan.io/

Oasys

RPC URL: https://rpc.mainnet.oasys.games \
Chain ID: 248 \
Symbol: OAS \
Block explorer: https://scan.sandverse.oasys.games

Fantom Opera

RPC URL: https://rpc.ftm.tools/ \
Chain ID: 250 \
Symbol: FTM \
Block explorer: https://ftmscan.com/

Fuse Network

RPC URL: https://rpc.fuse.io
Chain ID: 122
Symbol: FUSE
Block explorer: https://explorer.fuse.io

Celo Mainnet

RPC URL: https://forno.celo.org
Chain ID: 42220
Symbol: CELO
Block explorer: https://explorer.celo.org/mainnet

Aurora Mainnet

RPC URL: https://aurora-mainnet.infura.io
Chain ID: 1313161554
Symbol: AURORA ETH
Block explorer: https://aurorascan.dev/

Moonriver

RPC URL: https://rpc.api.moonriver.moonbeam.network
Chain ID: 1285
Symbol: MOVR
Block explorer: https://moonriver.moonscan.io

Cronos

RPC URL: https://evm.cronos.org
Chain ID: 25
Symbol: CRO
Block explorer: https://cronoscan.com/

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