How to add Avalanche (AVAX) to MetaMask? (Network Settings)

Adding Avalanche Network to MetaMask

1. Open MetaMask and click the network dropdown menu located in the top-left corner of the interface.

2. Select Add Network from the list, then choose Add a network manually.

3. Enter the official Avalanche C-Chain RPC URL: https://api.avax.network/ext/bc/C/rpc.

4. Input the Chain ID: 43114. This value must match exactly to prevent transaction failures or asset misplacement.

5. Set the currency symbol as AVAX and provide the block explorer URL: https://snowtrace.io.

Verifying Network Configuration

1. After saving, confirm the network appears as Avalanche in the network selector.

2. Check that the balance section displays zero AVAX or your existing balance if funds are already present on the C-Chain.

3. Initiate a small test transaction—such as sending 0.001 AVAX to your own address—to validate connectivity and gas estimation.

4. Observe whether the transaction hash appears correctly on Snowtrace within seconds, indicating successful node synchronization.

5. Ensure MetaMask displays the correct network name next to the account icon—not “Custom RPC” or an undefined label.

Handling Common Connection Failures

1. If MetaMask shows “Failed to fetch balance”, verify the RPC endpoint is not blocked by regional firewalls or browser extensions.

2. Disable ad-blockers or privacy-focused extensions temporarily, as they may interfere with RPC calls to Avalanche’s public nodes.

3. Confirm no trailing slashes exist in the RPC URL—https://api.avax.network/ext/bc/C/rpc is valid; https://api.avax.network/ext/bc/C/rpc/ is not.

4. Try switching to an alternative RPC provider like https://rpc.ankr.com/avalanche if the default endpoint times out repeatedly.

5. Clear MetaMask’s cache by navigating to Settings → Advanced → Reset Account—this resets local state without affecting seed phrases or private keys.

Importing AVAX Tokens Manually

1. Click the Import Tokens button below the token list after selecting the Avalanche network.

2. Switch to the Custom Token tab and paste the official AVAX token contract address: 0xB31f66AA3C1e785363F0875A1B74E27b85FD66c7.

3. MetaMask will auto-populate the token symbol (AVAX) and decimals (18); ensure these values remain unchanged.

4. Click Add Custom Token to finalize import—even though AVAX is native, this step ensures visibility in the wallet UI.

5. Confirm the AVAX balance appears under the token list with accurate decimal precision and real-time updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use the same MetaMask account for Ethereum and Avalanche without conflict?A: Yes. MetaMask supports multiple networks simultaneously. Each network maintains independent balances and transaction histories. Switching networks does not alter private key derivation or compromise security.

Q: Why does my AVAX balance show zero even after receiving funds?A: This typically occurs when MetaMask is set to Ethereum Mainnet instead of Avalanche. Double-check the network selector. Also verify the receiving address used matches the one generated under the Avalanche network context.

Q: Is it safe to input custom RPC settings provided by third-party sources?A: Only use RPC endpoints published officially by Ava Labs or audited infrastructure providers like Ankr or Chainstack. Unverified URLs could expose transaction data or enable front-running attacks.

Q: Do I need ETH to pay for gas on Avalanche?A: No. Gas fees on Avalanche C-Chain are denominated and paid exclusively in AVAX. Holding ETH on Avalanche has no functional utility unless bridged into an ERC-20 representation via a cross-chain bridge.