Connect MetaMask to hardware wallets

Learn how to connect MetaMask to hardware wallets such as Ledger and Trezor

Why connect MetaMask to hardware wallets?

Metamask allows you to connect directly to your Ledger or Trezor hardware wallet. Once connected, it will act as an interface to your hardware wallet. Think of it as an alternative app for your hardware wallet that is more powerful and advanced than the Ledger and Trezor apps. You get the best of both worlds: The security of a hardware wallet and the advanced feature set of MetaMask.

Some sites may have integration with MetaMask but not with Trezor or Ledger wallets yet. Outside of that as well, the software that comes with Ledger and Trezor is very rudimentary compared to MetaMask. In other words, MetaMask gives you much more control and also allows you to add custom tokens to your wallet that may not yet be supported by the hardware wallet software.

Connecting MetaMask to your hardware wallet allows you to do things like:

• Check your account balance (ETH, ERC-20 tokens, ethStaking tokens, etc.)

• Sign transactions (Send ETH and ERC20 tokens and collectibles, deploy contracts, etc.)

• Sign messages

• Connect to web3 dApps that don't support Ledger or Trezor directly

• Add custom tokens not yet supported by Ledger/Trezor (like ethStaking tokens)

• Speed up stuck ETH transactions

How to connect MetaMask to Ledger and Trezor

Before you begin, make sure that:

• the most up-to-date firmware on your ledger or trezor device

• up-to-date browser

• up-to-date Ethereum App on the Ledger (from Ledger Live > Manager)

• "contract data" enabled on the device (if needed for what you are doing)

• ledger live app closed

• the device plugged in via USB NOT bluetooth

• the device unlocked and in the ethereum app

• Ledgers connecting with MetaMask can be broken due to cache, follow this article to fix it

• Windows 10 security popup? Try this fix

1. Unlock your MetaMask

2. Click the avatar icon in the top right corner

3. Select "connect to hardware wallet"

4. Choose Ledger or Trezor

5. Click Connect

6. Select an account you want to interact with (note: MetaMask can only have one connected and accessible at any given time)

Once you successfully connect your account, it will behave just like other MetaMask accounts, with the difference that you need to have your wallet plugged in for signing transactions or messages.

If later you want to remove the connected account, simply click the X next to it on the account list menu (MetaMask will remember your account name and tx history if you reimport that account in the future).

What if I cannot find the account that I'm looking for?

If you previously used an account and would like to connect it to MetaMask, make sure you view multiple pages of accounts on BOTH derivation paths (Ledger Live and Legacy).

Why is my MetaMask address/account not listed when I connect my Trezor?

When you connect your Trezor wallet and the list of addresses/accounts displays, these are addresses/accounts associated with only your Trezor, not your MetaMask wallet.

To use the benefits and features of a hardware wallet, you will need to use one of your Trezor addresses/accounts, not your MetaMask address/account.

The instructions provided here were taken directly from MetaMask support website. You can view the original by visiting this link.