How to fix a pending transaction on MetaMask

A pending MetaMask transaction often results from low gas fees or nonce conflicts—use Speed Up, Cancel, or manual nonce replacement to resolve it.

Aug 08, 2025 at 02:21 am

Understanding Why Transactions Remain Pending on MetaMask

When using MetaMask, a popular cryptocurrency wallet, users may encounter a pending transaction that does not confirm or disappear from the transaction list. This typically occurs when a transaction is broadcast to the Ethereum network but hasn't been included in a block. The most common reason is a low gas fee. Ethereum miners prioritize transactions with higher gas fees, so if your transaction offers insufficient compensation, it may remain stuck. Network congestion also contributes to delays, especially during periods of high activity such as NFT mints or major DeFi launches. Another cause could be a nonce conflict, where transactions are sent out of sequence, causing the network to reject or delay processing. Understanding these root causes is essential to resolving the issue effectively.

Checking the Status of Your Pending Transaction

Before attempting to fix a pending transaction, verify its current status. Open MetaMask and navigate to the Activity tab. Locate the transaction marked as "Pending." Click on it to view details such as transaction hash (TxID), gas price, and nonce. Copy the TxID and paste it into a blockchain explorer like Etherscan. This allows you to see whether the transaction is truly pending or has failed. On Etherscan, if the transaction appears with no block confirmation and status as "Pending," it is still in the mempool. If it shows "Dropped" or "Replaced," the network has already processed a different transaction with the same nonce. This information guides the next steps in resolving the issue.

Speeding Up a Pending Transaction

If the transaction is still pending and you wish to accelerate its confirmation, MetaMask provides a built-in "Speed Up" function. This feature works by resubmitting the same transaction with a higher gas fee. To use it:

• Click on the pending transaction in your MetaMask wallet
• Select the "Speed Up" option
• Adjust the gas fee to a higher value. Use tools like Ethereum Gas Tracker or ETH Gas Station to determine a competitive rate
• Confirm the new transaction with your password

This action creates a replacement transaction with the same nonce but a higher gas price. Miners are more likely to pick it up due to the increased incentive. Note that the original pending transaction will be invalidated once the new one is confirmed. This method is effective only if the original transaction hasn't been dropped by the network.

Canceling a Stuck Transaction

When you no longer wish to proceed with a pending transaction, you can cancel it by sending a zero-value transaction to your own address with the same nonce. This effectively replaces the stuck transaction. To do this:

• Click on the pending transaction in MetaMask
• Choose "Cancel" instead of "Speed Up"
• MetaMask will automatically set the transaction value to 0 ETH
• Increase the gas fee significantly to ensure quick processing
• Confirm the transaction

This sends a null transaction that consumes the same nonce, causing the network to discard the original pending one. After confirmation, the canceled transaction will disappear from your activity log. Ensure your wallet has enough ETH to cover the gas fee for this replacement. Without sufficient funds, the cancellation attempt will also remain pending.

Manually Replacing a Transaction Using Custom Nonce

If the Speed Up or Cancel options are unresponsive or unavailable, you can manually replace the transaction by editing the nonce. This method gives full control over the process. First, ensure Customize Transaction Nonce is enabled in MetaMask settings:

• Open MetaMask and go to Settings
• Navigate to Advanced
• Toggle on "Customize transaction nonce"

Next, prepare a new transaction:

• Initiate any transaction, such as sending 0 ETH to your own address
• In the transaction edit screen, locate the Nonce field
• Enter the same nonce as the pending transaction (found in the original transaction details)
• Set a high gas fee to ensure priority
• Confirm and broadcast

This custom transaction will replace the pending one once mined. After success, the original transaction will vanish from the mempool. Be cautious: using a wrong nonce can cause further delays or failed transactions. Always double-check the nonce value from the pending transaction's details.

Preventing Future Pending Transactions

To avoid recurring issues, adjust how you configure transactions. Always monitor current gas prices before sending. Use MetaMask’s gas fee estimator, but consider increasing the suggested amount during peak times. Enable "Show hex data" in Advanced settings to gain more control. Consider using EIP-1559 compliant networks, where transactions include a base fee and priority fee, making fee estimation more predictable. Schedule non-urgent transactions during off-peak hours when network congestion is lower. Regularly update MetaMask to benefit from bug fixes and performance improvements that enhance transaction handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a pending transaction confirm after several days?

Yes, a transaction can remain pending for days if the gas fee is too low, but it may eventually confirm if network congestion decreases and miners begin processing lower-fee transactions. However, most wallets and exchanges consider such transactions effectively stuck and recommend cancellation.

What happens to the gas fee if a transaction is canceled?

When you cancel a pending transaction using the replacement method, the gas fee from the replacement transaction is consumed. The original gas fee is not refunded because the network never processed the initial transaction—it was dropped from the mempool.

Why doesn’t the Speed Up option appear for my pending transaction?

The Speed Up feature may not appear if the transaction has already been dropped by the network or if MetaMask fails to recognize it as pending. It can also be missing due to a sync issue. Try refreshing the page, reconnecting to the network, or manually replacing the transaction using the nonce method.

Can I use the same nonce for multiple transactions at once?

No, each transaction on Ethereum must have a unique, sequential nonce. Submitting multiple transactions with the same nonce causes the network to process only the first valid one (usually the one with the highest gas fee) and ignore or drop the others.