How do you use Uniswap?

To use Uniswap, you connect a self-custody wallet to the Uniswap web app, choose the token you want to give and the one you want to receive, and confirm the trade in your wallet. There is no account to open, and the swap runs directly from your wallet on the blockchain. How the exchange works behind the scenes is covered in what is Uniswap.

How do you access Uniswap and connect a wallet?

Uniswap's help center points users to the web app at app.uniswap.org. Checking that address before connecting helps avoid lookalike sites.

On a desktop browser, select Connect and pick your wallet. A browser extension wallet such as MetaMask can be chosen from the list, or found under View All if it is not shown. A mobile wallet can connect by scanning a QR code through WalletConnect. Some mobile wallets also have a built-in browser that opens Uniswap directly. Either way, you approve the connection inside the wallet.

How do you swap tokens on Uniswap?

Uniswap's help center lists these steps for the web app:

1. Choose the token to swap from, then the token to receive.
2. Enter an amount. If you are spending the network's own coin, such as ETH, leave some behind to pay network costs.
3. Select Swap, review the details and select Confirm Swap.
4. In your wallet, approve spending of the token. This costs a network fee and is only needed the first time you trade that token.
5. Sign a message, which has no network cost. Uniswap uses signed permissions through its Permit2 contract.
6. Confirm the swap, which does have a network cost, and wait for the success message. You can then view the transaction on a block explorer.

Uniswap shows token warnings, supplied by the security firm Blockaid, for tokens flagged as possible scams, impersonators or honeypots. The help center notes these labels are not guaranteed, and checking the token's contract address is the surest way to confirm you have the right one.

How do you change slippage on Uniswap?

Open the settings icon, then the slippage menu, and choose Auto or Custom. According to Uniswap, Auto sets slippage between 0.5% and 5% depending on network cost and swap size. Set it too low and the trade may fail. Set it too high and you may get noticeably fewer tokens than the preview showed. Our guide to slippage in crypto explains why prices move during a trade.

How do you add liquidity to a Uniswap pool?

Go to the Pool section and select New. Then pick the two tokens, a fee tier and a price range, either custom or full range, and enter the amounts. Your wallet will ask for an approval, a Permit2 signature and a final confirmation. Once created, the position is represented by an NFT.

The help center warns that if the market price leaves your chosen range, the position becomes single-sided and stops earning fees. Liquidity providers can also face impermanent loss, so understanding how pools work before depositing is important.