When I first tried to install an Ethereum wallet locally on my computer, I soon found out that it wasn't an easy task.
In contrast to the ease of installing my favorite Electrum Bitcoin wallet, I wasn't able to find a simple desktop Ethereum
wallet that would work without problems. So I was forced to use
MyEtherWallet.com (MEW).
Recently I discovered
MetaMask.
Metamask is a safer alternative to MyEtherWallet because it
prevents phishing and should in general be a better
option than using a direct online MEW wallet.
Moreover, with Metamask, you are always
one click away from sending your funds. You need not search for keystore
files or private keys to transfer your tokens.
Using a hot wallet like MetaMask, however, is not a good option for long term storage of funds, so you should use MetaMask
for transferring or keeping smaller amounts of coins.
Warning: For larger amounts, you should always use HARDWARE wallets or some cold storage solution (for example MEW installed
offline on
an AIR GAPPED computer).
I've seen many topics here on the forum where users complain that they have either lost their MEW private keys (or keystore files)
or they have been robbed of their tokens due to phishing when trying to manipulate their coins on MyEtherWallet.com.
Hopefully this guide can help them switch to MetaMask, which is a safer solution.
How to Install MetaMask1. Open your chrome browser and go directly to
https://metamask.io
2. Click on
Get Chrome Extension
3. Click the
Add to Chrome Button
4. Click on
Add Extension
5. It should say
Added to Chrome now
6. Click on the small
MetaMask icon top right in your Chrome Browser
7. It will connect to the Main Ethereum Network automatically
8. Accept the
Privacy Notice and then accept the
Terms of Use
9. Choose a strong password to encrypt your wallet
10. Next step is very important. Write down the
12 seed words you've been given on a
piece of paper and store them somewhere safe:
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FpvVrUIo.jpg&t=665&c=VvcDa6veIJxgKA)
Knowing your seed phrase is all you need to access your tokens in case something goes wrong.
11. And that's it. Your new
public address is now easy to be found:
12. If you click on the
three dots you can view your account on etherscan, copy your public
address to the clipboard, and so on
13. If you click on
Send, you can enter the recipient address and send some coins.
14. If you click on
Tokens, you can add tokens to your account.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FDqzaDuE.jpg&t=665&c=0QarOpyFhI_8lw)
I hope this short installation guide will be enough to help you install MetaMask and improve the security
of your ETH wallet and prevent the loss of tokens due to hackers or mismanagement of private keys,
especially if you are a newbie who tries to navigate the new word of Ethereum based tokens and crypto-assets.