What should I do if my MetaMask transaction is stuck?

Understanding Why MetaMask Transactions Get Stuck

When using MetaMask, a popular Ethereum wallet, users may encounter situations where a transaction appears to be stuck—meaning it neither confirms nor fails after a long time. This typically happens due to network congestion or an insufficient gas fee. The Ethereum blockchain processes transactions based on the gas price offered. If your transaction includes a low gas fee, miners may prioritize others with higher fees, causing delays. Another common reason is a nonce conflict, where transactions are sent out of order. Each transaction has a nonce, a sequential number tied to your wallet’s transaction count. If you send a second transaction before the first one confirms, and the second uses a lower nonce, it won’t process until the earlier one clears.

Checking Transaction Status on a Block Explorer

To determine whether your transaction is truly stuck, you must verify its status using a block explorer like Etherscan. Open the MetaMask wallet, navigate to the activity tab, and locate the pending transaction. Click on it to reveal the transaction details. Copy the transaction hash (TXID). Visit https://etherscan.io and paste the hash into the search bar. The explorer will display the current status:

• If it shows 'Pending', the transaction is still in the mempool.
• If it shows 'Success' or 'Failed', the transaction has been processed.
• If it doesn’t appear at all, it may not have been broadcast properly.

Checking the gas price listed on Etherscan is also crucial. Compare it with current network rates using tools like GasNow or ETH Gas Station. If your gas price is significantly lower than the current average, that explains the delay.

Speeding Up a Stuck Transaction

MetaMask provides a built-in feature to speed up a pending transaction. This works by rebroadcasting the same transaction with a higher gas fee, incentivizing miners to process it faster. To use this function:

• Open MetaMask and go to the Activity tab.
• Locate the stuck transaction and click on it.
• Click the 'Speed Up' button.
• A new window will appear allowing you to increase the gas fee.
• Adjust the gas price (GWEI) to a higher value based on current network recommendations.
• Confirm the new transaction using your wallet password.

This action creates a replacement transaction with the same nonce but a higher gas fee. The original transaction is effectively canceled once the new one is confirmed. Ensure your wallet has enough ETH to cover the increased gas cost.

Canceling a Stuck Transaction

If you no longer wish to proceed with the original transaction, you can cancel it by sending a zero-value transaction to your own address using the same nonce. This replaces the stuck transaction and frees up the nonce for future use. To cancel:

• In MetaMask, click the 'Cancel' option on the pending transaction.
• MetaMask will generate a new transaction with 0 ETH sent to your own wallet address.
• Increase the gas fee to ensure fast processing.
• Confirm the transaction.

Alternatively, if the Cancel button is not visible, manually create a 0 ETH transfer:

• Click 'Send' in MetaMask.
• Enter your own wallet address in the recipient field.
• Set the amount to 0 ETH.
• In the advanced settings, set the nonce to match the stuck transaction’s nonce.
• Increase the gas price significantly.
• Confirm and broadcast.

This new transaction, sharing the same nonce but with higher gas, will override the original one.

Manually Adjusting Nonce and Gas Parameters

For advanced users, manually editing the nonce and gas settings gives greater control. This is useful when MetaMask’s Speed Up or Cancel options fail. To manually replace a transaction:

• Open MetaMask and go to Settings > Advanced.
• Enable 'Customize transaction nonce'.
• Initiate any new transaction (e.g., sending 0 ETH to yourself).
• Before confirming, click 'Edit' on the transaction confirmation screen.
• Locate the Nonce field and input the nonce number of the stuck transaction.
• Increase the Gas Price to at least 20–30% above the current network average.
• Confirm the transaction.

This custom transaction will have the same nonce as the stuck one but a higher gas fee, prompting the network to accept it instead. After submission, monitor it via Etherscan. Once confirmed, the stuck transaction will disappear from the mempool.

Preventing Future Transaction Delays

To avoid stuck transactions, always check current network conditions before sending. Use MetaMask’s gas tracker or external tools like GasNow.org to view recommended gas prices. During high congestion, consider using the 'Advanced' gas settings to manually set a competitive fee. Avoid sending multiple transactions rapidly, as this increases the risk of nonce mismatches. Wait for each transaction to confirm before initiating another. Also, ensure your wallet has sufficient ETH for gas in every transaction, even when interacting with tokens or dApps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my transaction remain pending for hours?A transaction stays pending when the gas fee is too low for current network demand. Miners prioritize transactions with higher fees. If your GWEI is below the market rate, it may take hours or even days to confirm, especially during peak usage.

Can I recover funds from a stuck transaction?Yes. Funds are not lost. If a transaction is stuck, you can either speed it up or cancel it using a higher gas fee. Once the replacement transaction confirms, the original one is invalidated, and your funds remain in your wallet.

What happens if two transactions have the same nonce?Only one transaction with a given nonce can be confirmed. If two are broadcast, the one with the higher gas fee typically gets processed. The other is dropped from the mempool. This is the principle behind MetaMask’s Speed Up and Cancel functions.

Is it safe to manually edit the nonce in MetaMask?Yes, if done correctly. Manually setting the nonce allows you to replace pending transactions. However, entering an incorrect nonce can cause further issues, such as skipping or duplicating transaction numbers. Always verify the correct nonce from your pending transaction on Etherscan before proceeding.