How to use PancakeSwap for BNB trading? (BEP-20 tokens)

Connecting Your Wallet to PancakeSwap

1. Open the official PancakeSwap website in a supported browser like Chrome or Brave.

2. Click the “Connect Wallet” button located in the top-right corner of the interface.
3. Select a compatible wallet such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or Binance Chain Wallet.
4. Approve the connection request within your wallet extension or mobile app.
5. Ensure your wallet is configured to the BNB Smart Chain (BSC) network, not Ethereum or other chains.

Navigating the Swap Interface

1. After connecting, locate the “Trade” section and select “Swap”.

2. Input the amount of BNB you wish to trade in the top field.
3. Click the token selector next to the bottom field and search for the BEP-20 token you want to receive.
4. Confirm the token’s contract address matches the official one published by the project team.
5. Review the price impact, slippage tolerance, and estimated output before proceeding.

Adjusting Slippage and Transaction Settings

1. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the swap panel.

2. Set slippage tolerance between 0.5% and 12%, depending on token liquidity and volatility.
3. Enable “Expert Mode” only if you understand the implications of custom RPC settings and unverified tokens.
4. Adjust transaction deadline to avoid failed swaps due to network congestion or delays.
5. Disable “Auto Router API” only when manually selecting specific liquidity pools for advanced strategies.

Executing and Confirming Trades

1. Click “Swap” after verifying all parameters including token pair, amounts, and fees.

2. Approve the BNB spending allowance if this is your first time swapping with that token.
3. Sign the transaction using your wallet — gas fees will be deducted in BNB.
4. Wait for block confirmation; most swaps settle within 5–15 seconds on BSC.
5. Check your wallet balance or use BscScan to verify the receipt of the BEP-20 token.

Managing Liquidity and Token Safety

1. Avoid tokens without verified contracts or those missing audit reports from firms like CertiK or SlowMist.

2. Use PancakeSwap’s “Token Safety” warning system — red alerts indicate high-risk assets.
3. Manually verify token decimals and total supply before adding them to your wallet.
4. Remove liquidity only through the official “Liquidity” tab, never via third-party links.
5. Revoke unnecessary approvals using tools like Revoke.cash to limit exposure to malicious contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does my BNB balance not decrease immediately after approving a swap?A: Approval is a separate transaction that grants PancakeSwap permission to move your BNB. It does not transfer funds until the actual swap is confirmed.

Q: Can I swap BEP-20 tokens directly for ETH or USDT on Ethereum?A: No. PancakeSwap operates exclusively on BNB Smart Chain. Cross-chain swaps require bridges like Binance Bridge or Multichain, not native PancakeSwap functionality.

Q: What causes “Insufficient Output Amount” errors during swaps?A: This occurs when slippage tolerance is too low relative to price movement or pool depth. Increasing slippage or choosing a more liquid trading pair resolves it.

Q: How do I add a custom BEP-20 token to my MetaMask wallet after receiving it?A: In MetaMask, click “Import Token”, switch to “Custom Token”, paste the correct BEP-20 contract address, and confirm the imported symbol and decimals.