Wallet Setup

How to Add Arbitrum Network to MetaMask

⏱ 7 min read📅 Updated June 2026🦊 MetaMask

Before you can deploy a token, trade on Arbitrum DEXes, or even hold Arbitrum-based assets in MetaMask, you need to add the Arbitrum One network to your wallet. MetaMask ships with Ethereum mainnet and a few other networks by default, but Arbitrum One must be added manually or through a one-click prompt. This guide covers all three methods: auto-detection through chainlist.org, adding through Arbiscan, and fully manual configuration.

Once Arbitrum is added, you can switch between it and Ethereum mainnet with a single click — and use the same wallet address on both networks. Your Arbitrum ETH balance is separate from your mainnet ETH balance, but the address is identical.

Method 1: One-Click via Chainlist.org (Easiest)

Chainlist.org is a community-maintained directory of EVM networks. It integrates directly with MetaMask for one-click network addition:

Go to chainlist.orgNavigate to chainlist.org in your browser with MetaMask installed. Click "Connect Wallet" in the top right to connect MetaMask.
Search for "Arbitrum One"In the search box, type "Arbitrum One." You'll see it appear with chain ID 42161.
Click "Add to MetaMask"Click the blue "Add to MetaMask" button next to Arbitrum One. MetaMask will popup a confirmation dialog showing the network details.
Approve in MetaMaskReview the network details shown in the MetaMask popup and click "Approve." Then click "Switch to Network" to immediately switch to Arbitrum One.

Method 2: Add via Arbiscan

Arbiscan provides a quick network-add button:

Go to arbiscan.io
Scroll to the footer
Click "Add Arbitrum One Network" button
Approve in MetaMask

Ready to Create Your Token on Arbitrum?

Once Arbitrum is in your MetaMask, deploy your ERC-20 token in minutes — no coding required.

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Method 3: Manual Configuration

If the above methods don't work, add Arbitrum manually using these settings:

Arbitrum One Network Configuration

Network NameArbitrum One

RPC URLhttps://arb1.arbitrum.io/rpc

Chain ID42161

Currency SymbolETH

Block Explorerhttps://arbiscan.io

To add manually: Open MetaMask → click the network dropdown → "Add network" → "Add a network manually" → enter the details above → Save.

After Adding Arbitrum One

With Arbitrum One added, you need ETH on Arbitrum to pay for transactions. You can:

Bridge from Ethereum mainnet: Use the official Arbitrum bridge. Send ETH from mainnet → Arbitrum. Takes ~15 minutes.
Buy directly on Arbitrum: Some exchanges (Binance, Kraken, OKX) allow direct withdrawal to Arbitrum One. Check "withdrawal network" and select "Arbitrum One."
Use a CEX-to-L2 service: Services like Rhino.fi and Orbiter Finance let you transfer between exchanges and Arbitrum efficiently.

Switching Between Networks

Once Arbitrum is added, switching is instant — click the network name at the top of MetaMask and select "Arbitrum One." Your balances update immediately to show your Arbitrum assets. Your Ethereum mainnet assets are still there — just not visible while you're on Arbitrum. Switch back to mainnet to see them.

Troubleshooting

MetaMask shows "Network not found"

The RPC might be temporarily unavailable. Try alternative RPCs: https://arbitrum-one.public.blastapi.io or https://1rpc.io/arb1. These are public endpoints that work as fallbacks.

Transactions failing on Arbitrum

Make sure you have ETH on Arbitrum One for gas — not just on Ethereum mainnet. ETH bridged to Arbitrum is a separate balance from mainnet ETH. If you have 1 ETH on mainnet but 0 ETH on Arbitrum, transactions on Arbitrum will fail.

Network keeps switching back to mainnet

Some DeFi websites automatically switch MetaMask to Ethereum mainnet when you connect. You'll need to manually switch back to Arbitrum One each time you visit these sites. The Arbitrum network setting persists in MetaMask but website connections can override it temporarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Arbitrum Goerli and Arbitrum Sepolia are testnets — networks where you use free test ETH with no real value. Arbitrum One (chain ID 42161) is the mainnet where real ETH and real tokens are used. For creating and trading real tokens, always use Arbitrum One. For testing before spending real money, use Arbitrum Sepolia (chain ID 421614).

MetaMask itself doesn't charge any fees for connecting to Arbitrum. You pay Arbitrum's gas fees in ETH for any transactions you submit, but these go to Arbitrum validators and Ethereum (for data posting), not to MetaMask. MetaMask does take a small fee on swaps done through MetaMask's built-in swap feature, but standard transactions and contract interactions are fee-free from MetaMask's perspective.

Yes. The same wallet address works on both Ethereum mainnet and Arbitrum One. Your private key (seed phrase) generates the same address on all EVM-compatible networks. This means your 0x... address is your address on Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Base, and any other EVM chain. The balances are separate per network, but the address is universal.

Arbitrum One (chain ID 42161) uses full Ethereum data availability and is suitable for high-value DeFi applications. Arbitrum Nova (chain ID 42170) uses a Data Availability Committee for cheaper fees, targeting gaming and social applications. For token creation and DeFi, use Arbitrum One. They are separate chains with separate tokens and separate DeFi ecosystems.

Make sure MetaMask is showing the Arbitrum One network — not Ethereum mainnet. Your ETH on Arbitrum is only visible when MetaMask is connected to Arbitrum One. Also verify the ETH was sent on the Arbitrum network specifically (not Ethereum mainnet). If you sent to an exchange's Arbitrum withdrawal address, confirm the transaction on Arbiscan.io using your transaction hash to ensure it went to Arbitrum One.