Why is my MetaMask not showing my balance?
MetaMask not showing your balance usually means a missing account after a restore, the wrong network, an undetected token, or a connection problem in the app.
When MetaMask is not showing your balance, the funds are almost always still on the blockchain and the app is simply looking in the wrong place. MetaMask's help center traces most cases to the account selected, the network selected, a token it has not detected, or a connection issue. Checking your address on a block explorer first tells you which one it is.
Why is my MetaMask wallet empty after restoring it?
This is the case that worries people most. MetaMask says accounts do not always come back after a restore. Only accounts made from the same Secret Recovery Phrase are re-added automatically, and only if its Backup and sync feature was on. Accounts that hold tokens but no ETH on Ethereum Mainnet may also be skipped.
The fix is to recreate them. In the extension, open the account selector, choose to add an account, and repeat until you reach the account number you used before. Addresses come from the phrase in a fixed order, so the same accounts reappear with the same balances.
Some accounts cannot come back this way. An account imported with a private key or JSON file has to be imported again with that key. A connected hardware wallet has to be reconnected. If the wallet still looks wrong, MetaMask lists other causes, such as a phrase from a different wallet provider or words entered in the wrong order. Our guide on what a seed phrase is explains how one phrase produces many addresses.
Why is my MetaMask balance wrong on one network?
A token only shows on the network it was sent on. If you are viewing Ethereum but the tokens arrived on Base or Polygon, the balance looks empty. Switch networks, or add the right one if it is missing. If funds went somewhere you did not intend, see what happens if you send crypto on the wrong network.
If the balance shows in orange or says it may be outdated, MetaMask points to a permission or connectivity problem. Its fix for Chrome, Brave, Edge and Firefox is to open the extension's menu, choose the setting that lets it read and change site data, and allow it on all sites. Restarting the browser, turning off ad blockers or VPNs, or trying a different RPC URL for the network can also help.
How do you import a token in MetaMask?
MetaMask detects popular tokens on its main networks automatically, as of November 2026, using community token lists, and that needs the Basic Functionality setting turned on. If a token still does not appear, open the three-dot menu in the tokens section, choose Manage tokens, then Add custom token. Paste the contract address, select Next and then Import.
Take the address from a block explorer or a listing site rather than from a message. MetaMask warns that unexpected tokens and explorer notes pointing to a website are often phishing. How to use a blockchain explorer shows how to confirm what your address really holds, and why crypto may not show in your wallet covers pending transfers.
This guide explains how things work. It is not financial, legal or tax advice. Last updated .