MetaMask is a useful tool for using Ethereum to interact with Web 3.0 Applications.
It is a plugin for your browser, and can be installed on Chrome, Firefox or Opera. Also, if you use Brave as your browser, the plugin is already included, but must be activated (see below). This plugin does not work on Safari.
This tutorial will help you to install and configure MetaMask on your browser, and assumes that you already have Chrome already installed.
-
Go to MetaMask Homepage.
-
Click
to reveal the following:
-
Click
, which will pop up a window showing:
-
Click
, and after a short time, an icon with an orange dog’s head will appear in the top right of the screen:
Now you have MetaMask installed, you must configure it for the first time.
-
Click on the orange dog icon
in the top right corner, to start the configuration setup. -
Read the Privacy Notice then click
-
Read the Terms of Use.
You must scroll all the way to the bottom before the ACCEPT button will become active.
-
Click
-
Enter a new password to encrypt your MetaMask address information, then click
You will enter this password every time you open MetaMask
-
You will now be shown 12 words in a particular order. These words are used to generate your Ethereum address and your private key
-
Write these words down by hand on paper, and store them somewhere very safe.
It is very important that you save these words, and also to write them in the correct order.
If someone gains access to these words, they will be able to gain access to your funds.
It is not recommended to save these words digitally, as this presents a more easy opportunity for a hacker to access your words, and also your account.
-
Once you have copied your seed words somewhere safe, click
Congratulations - you have created a new Ethereum account, which is connected to your browser using MetaMask:
The remainder of this tutorial is to help you to familiarise yourself with your MetaMask account
-
Click on the
icon next to where it says “Account 1”This will reveal the following options:
-
Select
to see the fully transparent public record of all transactions on this account. -
Select
to view the QR code for your account:
You can also click the
icon to copy your address to your clipboard -
Select
to copy your Ethereum address to your clipboard.
You are now ready to start using MetaMask and Ethereum on a large number of websites which are using Web 3.0 technologies for sharing value.
For example, you can now visit www.livepeer.tv and leave a tip to fund ongoing production, or contribute to any other Livepeer broadcaster:
