How to send ETH with MetaMask? How to check the transaction status?

Setting Up MetaMask for ETH Transfers

1. Install the MetaMask browser extension or mobile application from the official website or verified app store.

2. Create a new wallet or import an existing one using a 12-word recovery phrase.
3. Ensure the network is set to Ethereum Mainnet — this appears in the top-right corner of the interface.
4. Add ETH to your wallet by copying your public address and sharing it with a sender or exchange.
5. Confirm that your wallet balance reflects the expected amount before initiating any outgoing transfer.

   Initiating an ETH Transaction

   1. Click the “Send” button on the main wallet screen.

6. Paste the recipient’s Ethereum address into the “To” field — verify each character carefully.
7. Enter the amount of ETH to send in the “Amount” field, using either ETH or wei units.
8. Adjust gas settings manually if needed: MetaMask auto-fills “Recommended” values, but advanced users may modify gas price (Gwei) and gas limit.
9. Review all details including network fee estimate, then click “Confirm” to sign the transaction with your wallet password or hardware wallet prompt.

   Understanding Gas Fees and Network Confirmation

   1. Ethereum transactions require computational resources measured in gas units, priced in Gwei.

10. The total fee equals gas used multiplied by gas price — visible before confirmation in MetaMask.
11. During periods of high network congestion, fees increase significantly and block inclusion may slow.
12. Transactions remain pending until miners include them in a block; average confirmation time ranges from seconds to several minutes.
13. Users can speed up or cancel pending transactions by replacing them with higher-fee versions using the “Speed Up” or “Cancel” options inside the activity tab.

    Checking Transaction Status

    1. Navigate to the “Activity” tab in MetaMask to view recent outgoing and incoming transfers.

14. Each entry shows status indicators: “Pending”, “Confirmed”, or “Failed”.
15. Click the transaction row to reveal its hash (TXID), which serves as a unique identifier on-chain.
16. Use the embedded Etherscan link or copy the TXID and paste it into etherscan.io to see real-time block data, confirmations, and internal logs.
17. A transaction is considered final after six confirmations — though many services treat one confirmation as sufficient for standard ETH transfers.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Why does my ETH transaction show “Pending” for over 30 minutes?A: This usually occurs when the gas price is too low relative to current network demand. Check Etherscan for the transaction hash — if it remains unconfirmed, use MetaMask’s “Speed Up” function to replace it with a higher gas fee.

    Q: Can I send ETH to a non-Ethereum address like a Bitcoin wallet?A: No. ETH can only be sent to valid Ethereum addresses starting with “0x” and containing exactly 42 hexadecimal characters. Sending to an incompatible chain or format will result in permanent loss.

    Q: What happens if I enter the wrong recipient address?A: Once confirmed, Ethereum transactions are irreversible. If the address is valid but unintended, recovery depends entirely on the recipient’s willingness to return funds — there is no built-in reversal mechanism.

    Q: Do I need ETH in my wallet to receive ETH?A: No. Receiving ETH requires no gas or balance. However, you must have ETH to perform any action after receiving — such as sending, swapping, or interacting with smart contracts.