How to unstake Solana on Phantom

To unstake SOL in Phantom, initiate the process from the Staking tab, wait 2–3 days for cooldown, then manually withdraw funds to your wallet balance.

Aug 08, 2025 at 12:35 am

Understanding Staking and Unstaking on Solana

Staking Solana (SOL) involves locking up your tokens to support the network’s proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, enabling validators to process transactions and secure the blockchain. In return, stakers earn rewards. However, there are times when you may need to access your funds, which requires unstaking. This process is not instant and involves several steps to ensure network stability. The Phantom wallet, a popular non-custodial wallet for Solana, provides a user-friendly interface to manage staking and unstaking activities directly from your browser or mobile app.

When you decide to unstake SOL, it's important to understand that your tokens enter a cooldown period. During this time, your funds are no longer earning staking rewards and cannot be transferred or used. The cooldown duration on Solana is typically 2-3 days (referred to as "epochs"), depending on network conditions. This delay is a built-in feature to prevent rapid validator changes that could destabilize the network.

Accessing Your Staked SOL in Phantom

To begin the unstaking process, open the Phantom wallet extension in your browser or launch the mobile application. Ensure you are logged into the correct wallet address where the SOL is staked. Once inside, navigate to the "Staking" tab located in the main menu. This section displays all active stakes, including the validator you're delegating to, the amount staked, and the current status.

Each staking position appears as a separate entry. Look for the stake you wish to unstake. The interface will show key details such as:

• The amount of SOL currently staked
• The validator’s identity key
• The status (e.g., "Active", "Activating", or "Deactivating")

If the status is "Active", you are eligible to initiate the unstake process. Click on the three-dot menu or the "Manage" option next to the stake. A dropdown or popup will appear with available actions, including "Unstake".

Initiating the Unstake Transaction

Select the "Unstake" option to proceed. Phantom will prompt a confirmation window summarizing the action. This includes:

• The amount of SOL to be unstaked
• The associated transaction fee (paid in SOL)
• A clear message stating that the funds will be locked for several days

Review the details carefully. Once confirmed, Phantom will generate a transaction request. You must approve this transaction using your wallet’s password or biometric authentication. After approval, the transaction is broadcasted to the Solana network.

At this point, the stake status changes from "Active" to "Deactivating". This indicates the unstaking process has started. No further action is required from you during the cooldown period. The funds remain visible in the staking tab but are no longer earning rewards.

Monitoring the Unstaking Progress

While your SOL is in the deactivation phase, you can monitor its progress within the Phantom wallet. Return to the Staking tab and observe the status of the affected stake. Over the next 2–3 days, the network processes the request across upcoming epochs. You may notice intermediate statuses such as "Unstaking" or "Pending Withdrawal".

It's crucial to keep your wallet connected and accessible during this time. Although the process runs automatically, losing access to your wallet seed phrase or device could complicate recovery if issues arise. Phantom does not notify you when the cooldown ends, so manual checking is necessary.

You can verify the status by checking whether the stake entry eventually disappears from the staking list or transitions to a withdrawable balance. Once fully unstaked, the SOL amount becomes available in your main wallet balance and can be freely used.

Withdrawing Unstaked SOL to Your Wallet Balance

After the cooldown period, the unstaked SOL does not automatically appear in your spendable balance. In some cases, especially if you have multiple stakes or partial unstakes, you may need to manually withdraw the funds. Return to the Staking tab and look for any entries marked as "Inactive" or "Withdrawable".

If such an entry exists, click on it and select "Withdraw". Confirm the transaction in Phantom as prompted. This final step transfers the SOL from the staking account back into your primary wallet balance. The transaction fee applies again, typically a small fraction of SOL.

Once withdrawn, the SOL is fully liquid. You can send it to another wallet, swap it on a decentralized exchange, or restake it with a different validator. Always double-check the recipient address and transaction details before confirming.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Some users report that unstaked SOL does not appear in their balance even after several days. This can occur if the withdrawal step was skipped or if the network experienced congestion. In such cases, revisit the Staking tab and check for any residual inactive stakes.

Another issue involves transaction failures during unstake initiation. This is often due to insufficient SOL to cover the transaction fee. Ensure you have at least 0.01–0.05 SOL available in your wallet for fees. If the transaction fails, retry after confirming fee availability.

Phantom may occasionally display outdated stake statuses due to caching. Refresh the interface or disconnect and reconnect the wallet to force a sync with the Solana blockchain. Using a Solana blockchain explorer like Solana Explorer or Solscan and entering your wallet address can independently verify the status of your stake accounts.

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FAQs

Can I cancel the unstaking process after initiating it?

No, once you confirm the unstake transaction, it cannot be reversed. The process is irreversible and will proceed through the network’s cooldown period regardless of changes in your decision.

Why does my SOL still show as staked after clicking "Unstake"?

This is normal. The status changes to "Deactivating" or "Unstaking" immediately, but the SOL remains locked for 2–3 epochs. The network requires this time to safely reallocate validator responsibilities.

Do I earn staking rewards during the unstaking cooldown?

No. As soon as you initiate unstaking, your SOL stops earning rewards. The deactivation period is reward-free, so plan accordingly if maximizing yield is a priority.

Can I unstake only a portion of my staked SOL?

Currently, Phantom does not support partial unstaking from a single stake account. You must unstake the entire amount associated with a specific validator delegation. To maintain some staked balance, consider creating multiple stakes beforehand.