How to use the Rainbow wallet for Ethereum? (Mobile UI/UX)

Setting Up the Rainbow Wallet on Mobile

1. Download the official Rainbow wallet application from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Verify the developer is listed as “Rainbow” to avoid counterfeit versions.

2. Launch the app and select “Create a New Wallet”. The interface displays a clean, minimalist onboarding flow with subtle animations guiding the user through each step.

3. Write down the 12-word recovery phrase in the exact order shown. Rainbow enforces manual transcription—no copy-paste functionality is offered at this stage to prevent clipboard interception.

4. Confirm the seed phrase by selecting words in randomized order. This screen uses tactile feedback and visual highlighting to reinforce accuracy.

5. Set a biometric unlock preference (Face ID, Touch ID, or device PIN) immediately after seed confirmation. The UI overlays a translucent modal explaining how biometrics are used only for local authentication—not stored or transmitted.

Navigating the Ethereum Dashboard

1. Upon entry, the main screen displays ETH balance in both fiat and native units, with real-time price graphs rendered using lightweight SVG components instead of external charting libraries.

2. Tap the “+” icon in the bottom navigation bar to access quick actions: Send, Receive, Swap, or Add Token. Each action opens a context-aware sheet with minimal input fields and pre-filled defaults where safe.

3. Transaction history appears as a vertically scrollable list with color-coded status indicators: green for confirmed, yellow for pending, red for failed. Each item shows timestamp, direction icon, and gas fee in gwei.

4. Tap any transaction to view raw details: block number, nonce, input data toggle, and Etherscan link. A collapsible section reveals decoded function calls when available via Rainbow’s internal ABI resolver.

5. The wallet address is displayed prominently at the top. Tapping it copies to clipboard with haptic confirmation and a floating toast message saying “Address copied”.

Sending ETH and ERC-20 Tokens

1. Initiate a transfer by tapping “Send”, then paste or scan a valid Ethereum address. Rainbow validates checksum format and warns if the address lacks EIP-55 compliance.

2. Select asset—ETH or any imported ERC-20 token—with dynamic balance display including decimal precision relevant to that token’s contract.

3. Enter amount; the UI instantly calculates and displays estimated network fee in ETH and USD. Sliders allow adjustment between “Fast”, “Average”, and “Slow” gas tiers powered by real-time GasNow API integration.

4. Review screen shows total outflow, recipient, memo field (if enabled), and a non-editable summary of gas parameters. A prominent Confirm Transaction button appears only after all validations pass.

5. Final authorization requires biometric verification or device passcode. Once approved, the transaction broadcasts and transitions to “Pending” state with live block confirmation counter.

Managing Custom Tokens and Networks

1. Access “Settings” > “Wallet” > “Add Token” to manually input contract address, symbol, and decimals. Rainbow cross-checks against CoinGecko’s token list and flags unverified contracts with a warning icon.

2. To add a custom RPC endpoint, go to “Settings” > “Networks” > “Add Network”. Fields include Network Name, RPC URL, Chain ID, Symbol, and Block Explorer URL—all validated before saving.

3. Switching networks triggers a full UI reload with updated balance calculations and transaction history scoped to that chain. No cached data from prior networks persists in the visible interface.

4. Each network displays its own gas tracker and native currency label. When interacting with tokens on unsupported chains, the UI disables the “Send” button and displays Network not supported.

5. Deleting a custom network removes all associated token balances and transaction records from local storage—no remote deletion or sync occurs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Rainbow store private keys on its servers?A: No. Private keys remain exclusively on the user’s device, encrypted using iOS Secure Enclave or Android Keystore. Rainbow never accesses or transmits them.

Q: Can I import a wallet using a Ledger hardware device?A: Rainbow does not support direct Ledger connectivity. It only supports software-based wallets created or imported via seed phrase or keystore file.

Q: Why does the app request location permissions on Android?A: Rainbow does not use location data. This permission is inherited from underlying Web3 libraries but remains unused—no location APIs are called during operation.

Q: Are NFTs visible in the Rainbow mobile interface?A: Yes. NFTs deployed on Ethereum mainnet or supported Layer 2s appear under the “NFTs” tab, rendered with metadata fetched from IPFS or centralized gateways based on token URI resolution priority.