How to add a new network to a wallet safely
To add a network to a wallet safely, enter the official name, RPC URL, chain ID, ticker, and explorer, then test the network with a small transaction.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20263 min readFact-checked
A custom network lets your wallet talk to a blockchain that is not in its default list. The main risks are fake settings and a network you do not understand.
Before you add a network
Adding a network means entering its name, RPC URL, chain ID, ticker, and block explorer. Get every value from the chain's official docs or website, not from a search ad or social post. Some wallets hide or do not support custom networks.
Add the network step by step
Menu names differ by wallet, but the sequence is the same. Enter the details from the official source, save, and then test.
- 1Open the network screenIn your wallet, open Settings or Networks, then choose Add network or Custom network.
- 2Enter the official detailsType the name, RPC URL, chain ID, ticker, and explorer exactly as the official source shows.
- 3Check and save the networkCompare the chain ID and RPC URL with the official page before you save. A fake network can copy a name and ticker, but not those fields.
- 4Test with a small transactionSend a small amount to your own address. The goal is to see whether the network records it.
- 5Confirm on the explorerPaste your address into the block explorer and check that the test transaction appears. If it does not, stop using the network.
After adding: records and safety
A network stays in your wallet's list until you remove it. Records help you remember which networks you added and what approvals you gave.
- Keep a record of each added network: name, chain ID, RPC URL, ticker, explorer, and date.
- Remove networks you no longer use from the wallet's network settings.
- Revoke token approvals on that network if you are done with it.
- Removing a network does not revoke approvals or delete transaction history.
Frequently asked questions
An RPC URL is the address your wallet uses to read and send data to a blockchain. A wrong or malicious RPC URL can show false balances or fail to send.
A wrong chain ID can make your wallet use a different network than you intended. Funds sent on the wrong network can be hard to recover because crypto transactions cannot be undone.
Open your wallet's network settings, select the network, and choose Remove or Delete. Removing the network does not revoke token approvals or erase transaction history.
No. A network is a blockchain, not a token. If a token lives on a network your wallet already supports, you usually import the token contract address instead.
