How to Add the Base Network to MetaMask Manually

12 October 2026

You can add the Base network to MetaMask by entering its network details manually in the wallet's settings. This takes about two minutes and does not require any special tools or third-party websites. The process is the same on the MetaMask browser extension and mobile app.

Before You Start

You need MetaMask installed and a funded Ethereum wallet address. If you have not used MetaMask before, install the official extension from metamask.io or the app from your device's app store. Do not use any other download source.

Base is a Layer 2 network built on Ethereum. Adding it to MetaMask does not move any funds or change your existing wallets. It simply tells MetaMask where to find the Base blockchain so you can interact with it.

Step 1: open metamask settings

Click the MetaMask icon in your browser toolbar or open the mobile app.
Click the circle icon (top right) to open the account menu.
Select "Settings" from the dropdown.
Go to "Networks" in the settings menu.

On mobile, tap the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top left, then Settings, then Networks.

Step 2: Add a Network Manually

Click the "Add Network" button at the bottom of the network list.
A new page appears with a form titled "Add a network manually." If you see a list of popular networks instead, scroll to the bottom and click "Add a network manually."

Step 3: Enter the Base Network Details

Copy and paste these values exactly. A single wrong character will prevent the network from working.

Network Name: Base
New RPC URL: https://mainnet.base.org
Chain ID: 8453
Currency Symbol: ETH
Block Explorer URL: https://basescan.org

Double-check the Chain ID. 8453 is the correct identifier for the Base mainnet. If you accidentally enter a different number, MetaMask will connect to a different network.

Step 4: Save and Switch

Click "Save." MetaMask will automatically switch to the Base network. You will see "Base" in the network selector at the top of the wallet window.

Your account address remains the same as on Ethereum. Your ETH balance on Base will show as zero until you bridge funds there.

What the details mean

RPC URL: The server address MetaMask uses to read data from and send transactions to the Base blockchain. The official public RPC (mainnet.base.org) is free and has no usage limits for typical users.
Chain ID: A unique number that identifies the Base blockchain. Every transaction on Base includes this ID to prevent replay attacks on other chains.
Currency Symbol: The native token for paying gas fees on Base is ETH, not a separate token. You pay fees in ETH just like on Ethereum mainnet.
Block Explorer: Basescan works similarly to Etherscan. You can check transaction status, wallet balances, and contract addresses there.

Alternative: Using Chainlist

Chainlist (chainlist.org) is a community-maintained directory of network RPCs. You can connect your MetaMask to Chainlist, search for "Base," and click "Add Chain" to add the network automatically. Chainlist is not run by MetaMask or Coinbase. Verify that the Chain ID shown is 8453 before confirming.

The manual method above is safer because you do not connect your wallet to any third-party site. If you use Chainlist, disconnect your wallet from the site after adding the network.

Troubleshooting

"Invalid RPC URL" error: Check that you typed the URL exactly as shown. Do not add spaces or trailing slashes.
"Chain ID already exists": You may have already added Base. Check your network list for a duplicate.
Network shows but won't load: The Base RPC may be temporarily slow. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the problem persists, try a different RPC URL such as https://base.llamarpc.com (a community-run alternative). Change it later in network settings if needed.
Balance shows zero after bridging: Bridging takes time. Check the transaction on Basescan. If confirmed but balance still shows zero, try refreshing MetaMask by switching to another network and back.

Removing the network later

If you want to remove Base from MetaMask, go to Settings > Networks, click Base, then click "Delete" at the bottom. This does not affect your funds on Base. You can always re-add the network to access them again.

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