Getting Started: Wallet Mobile App


Let’s get you set up to use the Coinbase Wallet mobile app. To get started, you can either create a new self-custody wallet or import an existing wallet using a 12 word recovery phrase from another wallet provider like MetaMask or Trust Wallet, or even another Coinbase Wallet.

In either case, you’ll need to download the Coinbase Wallet mobile app.

Create a new Wallet

Create a new wallet

First, download the mobile app if you haven’t already. 

Step 1: Select “Create a new wallet”.

Step 2: Review and accept the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Step 3: Pick your username and set your privacy preferences. This is how other Wallet users can find you and send you payments. 

Step 4: Choose your preferred security method, biometrics or a passcode. We recommend biometric authentication.

Step 5: Backup your recovery phrase. Your recovery phrase is the key to your wallet. Keep this safe, as this is the key to access your wallet and Coinbase cannot recover this phrase for you

Select “Backup to cloud” or “Backup manually”. If backing up to the cloud, you’ll be asked to set a password to encrypt your backup. Like your recovery phrase, keep this password safe, as Coinbase cannot recover it for you.

If you choose to “backup manually”, your recovery phrase will be displayed for you to write down, or to copy and paste in a secure location. 

Now, confirm the first and last words of your recovery phrase to confirm your backup. 

Step 6: All done - your Coinbase Wallet is ready!

Import or recover an existing wallet

Jump to a wallet that you’d like to import from:

In order to import an existing wallet, you must be able to access the wallet’s recovery phrase. 

Most wallets have a 12 word recovery phrase, which acts as the key to your wallet. These words must be kept safe. No wallet provider, including Coinbase, can recover this 12 word recovery phrase for you. 

Recovery phrases are portable, enabling you to transfer your wallet from one self-custody wallet provider to another. With Coinbase Wallet, you can import any wallet that you may have created with another provider such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and others. You can also recover your existing Coinbase Wallet using a cloud backup or your recovery phrase.

When you import an existing wallet using your recovery phrase into Coinbase Wallet, you will be able to continue using your wallet across multiple providers, and any transactions you make will show up in your wallet across all of your wallet providers. 

While the recovery phrase is portable, the app passcode and/or cloud backup password that you set for your wallet is provider-specific and will not be ported over to another provider. Like recovery phrases, passcodes and passwords cannot be recovered by any wallet provider, including Coinbase Wallet.

How to import your MetaMask Wallet into Coinbase Wallet

Step 1: Install the Coinbase Wallet mobile app

Step 2: Open the MetaMask mobile app or browser extension.  Enter in your password to access your wallet if prompted.

Step 3: Click on the menu icon on the top left hand corner of the mobile app, or the top right hand corner in the extension, and navigate to Settings. From the list, click on the “Security & Privacy” option, and tap on “Reveal Secret Recovery Phrase”. Enter in your password to continue

Step 4: Copy down your Secret Recovery Phrase. This should be 12 words. Keep this safe.

Step 5: Open the Coinbase Wallet app, and select “I already have a wallet”. Then tap “Restore with Recovery Phrase”

Step 6: Enter in the Secret Recovery Phrase that you copied down on Step 5. This should be 12 words. Keep this safe, as this is the key to access your wallet and Coinbase cannot recover this phrase for you

Step 7: Select a Wallet username and set your privacy preferences

Step 8: Choose your preferred security method: biometric authentication or a passcode. Keep your passcode safe, as Coinbase cannot recover this for you

Step 9: All done - your MetaMask wallet has been imported into Coinbase Wallet, and is ready to use!

How to import your Trust Wallet to Coinbase Wallet

Step 1: Install the Coinbase Wallet mobile app

Step 2: Open the Trust Wallet app on your phone

Step 3: Click on the Settings, and tap “Wallets”. Tap the informational icon for the wallet that you’d like to import, and click on “Show Recovery Phrase”

Step 4: Copy down your Secret phrase. This should be 12 words. Keep this safe.

Step 5: Open the Coinbase Wallet app, and select “I already have a wallet”. Then tap “Restore with recovery phrase”

Step 6: Enter in the secret phrase that you copied down on Step 5. This should be 12 words. Keep this safe, as this is the key to access your wallet and Coinbase cannot recover this phrase for you. Click on Import wallet once complete.

Step 7: Select a Wallet username and set your privacy preferences

Step 8: Choose your preferred security method: biometric authentication or a passcode. Keep your passcode safe, as Coinbase cannot recover this for you

Step 9: All done - your Trust Wallet has been imported into Coinbase Wallet, and is ready to use!

How to import or recover an existing Coinbase Wallet

Step 1: Install the Coinbase Wallet mobile app

Step 2: Open the Coinbase Wallet app on your phone and select “I already have a wallet”. You will need to either restore your wallet from an existing cloud backup, or by using your 12 word recovery Phrase.

I have a cloud backup backup

Step 1: On the Restore Wallet page, select the “Restore with cloud” option. 

Step 2: Enter the password created for the wallet you’d like to restore. Note that Coinbase cannot recover this password for you. 

Step 3: Choose your preferred security method: biometric authentication or a passcode. Keep your passcode safe, as Coinbase cannot recover this for you

Step 4: All done! Your Coinbase Wallet has been recovered, and is ready to use!

I want to use my recovery phrase

Step 1: On the Restore Wallet page, select the “Restore with recovery phrase” option. 

Step 2: Enter the 12 word recovery phrase you were given when you created your wallet. Coinbase cannot recover this phrase for you. 

Step 3: Choose your preferred security method: biometric authentication or a passcode. Keep your passcode safe, as Coinbase cannot recover this for you

Step 4: All done! Your Coinbase Wallet has been recovered, and is ready to use!

Other wallets

Step 1: Install the Coinbase Wallet mobile app.

Step 2: Open up your existing wallet, either on your mobile app or extension.

Step 3: You can typically find your Recovery Phrase in the Settings menu of most wallets. Copy down your Recovery Phrase. This should be 12 words. Keep this safe.

Step 4: Open up the Coinbase Wallet app, and click on the “Import an existing wallet option”. Enter in the Recovery Phrase that you copied down into the Coinbase Wallet extension. Click on Import wallet once complete.

Step 5: Choose your preferred security method: biometric authentication or a passcode. Keep your passcode safe, as Coinbase cannot recover this for you.

Step 6: All done! Your wallet has been imported into the Coinbase Wallet app, and is ready to use!

Connecting your Wallet to a Coinbase account

Connect to Coinbase

You can connect your Wallet to a Coinbase account to easily buy crypto, or transfer crypto from your Coinbase account to your Wallet. 

Here’s how:

Step 1: Open your Wallet app, and navigate to the Settings tab.  

Step 2: Select “Coinbase link”from the Settings menu (under “Connections”).

Step 3: If you have a Coinbase account already, select “Connect my Coinbase Account”.  If not, select “Sign up for Coinbase”.

Step 4: Follow the instructions to sign in or sign up. For the best experience, we recommend having the Coinbase app already installed on your phone and logged in to your Coinbase account.

  • If you already have the Coinbase app on your phone with your account logged in, simply authorize the connection to Wallet. 

  • If you already have a Coinbase account but do not have the Coinbase mobile app, you can sign in to your account through the mobile web browser. 

  • If you do not have a Coinbase account, you can sign up for one and complete the required ID verification steps

Once you’re done, you’ll be able to buy crypto through Coinbase or transfer from your existing Coinbase balances. You can get more crypto into your Wallet any time by selecting “Buy” from the ” in the actions section on the home screen, or via the specific asset’s details screen..

Funding your Coinbase Wallet

Welcome to the Coinbase Wallet! To start exploring the world of crypto, you’ll need some tokens in your wallet. You can deposit ETH, DAI, USDC or another cryptocurrency to get started.

There are a few ways you can do this:

  1. Buy or transfer from Coinbase

  2. Transfer or receive funds from another wallet

To buy or transfer from Coinbase

If you already have a Coinbase account, you can purchase crypto directly from Coinbase to be delivered to your Wallet. If you have not signed up for a Coinbase account, you can sign up for one following the instructions below. 

Step 1: From the Assets tab in your app, select "Buy." If you have an existing Coinbase account, select "Connect my Coinbase account" and follow the instructions. If you do not have an existing account, select "Sign up for Coinbase" and follow the instructions to create a new account.

Step 2: Once your Coinbase account is linked to your Wallet app, select “Buy or transfer” on the success screen.

Step 3: Select the asset you would like to buy or transfer, then the amount you would like to purchase or transfer. You can designate the amount using USD or in the crypto denomination.

Step 4: If buying, select an existing payment method, or select “Add debit or credit card”. If transferring from your available balance in Coinbase, you will be taken straight to confirm your transaction.

Step 5: Review the details of your transaction and select “Confirm” when ready. 

All done! Your crypto will appear in your wallet shortly after confirmation.

To transfer or receive assets from another wallet

Receive Crypto - Mobile

Step 1: Select “Receive” from the top section of the Wallet home screen.

Step 2: Select the network or asset you would like to receive. Note: you can use your Ethereum address to receive all ERC-20 compatible tokens, as well as EVM compatible chain tokens, such as Avalanche, Polygon, BNB Chain, etc.

Step 3: Use the QR code, or copy and paste the your address into the wallet you’d like to send crypto from.

Step 4: In the wallet you would like to send from, follow the instructions to send an asset. When prompted, use the QR code or copy and paste your wallet address from your Wallet app as the destination for the send. 

All done! Your assets will appear in your wallet after the standard transaction confirmations are complete.

Trade tokens using a DEX

Crypto Tokens

Why limit yourself to the assets supported by the Coinbase exchange? With our Trade feature, you can trade any ERC-20 coin for one of over 6,000 available assets. Here’s how:

Step 1: Make sure you have a balance of the asset you want to trade from. You can buy or transfer by following the instructions here.

Step 2: In the Assets tab of your app, select “Swap” from the top actions section of the page. 

Step 3: Select the asset you want to convert from, the asset you would like to convert to. Designate the amount in USD or in your asset denomination. When you’re ready, click “Proceed”

  • To trade tokens on a different network, simply tap the network icon in the top right corner of the Wallet mobile app and choose the network you’d like to swap on. Before swapping on a network, make sure you have the native token of the network you wish to make a swap on to cover the network fees. For example, for a swap on Avalanche, you will need some AVAX in your wallet.  

Step 4: Review the details on your transaction. When you’re ready, click “Swap”

All done! Your assets will be traded and updated balances will be displayed in your Wallet app after the standard transaction confirmations are complete.

Explore Earning Opportunities

Explore Earning Opportunities

So, you’ve got some crypto in your wallet. Why not earn interest on your assets while you hodl?

We’ve made it easy to explore and access the world of decentralized finance (DeFi) while keeping track of your holdings within the Coinbase Wallet app. Here’s how to get started:  

Step 1: Make sure you own some crypto. If you need to purchase some, learn how here.

Step 2: Navigate to the Browser tab (third tab at the bottom of your screen). 

Step 3: Select a DeFi protocol from the featured list, or type in the URL of your favorite DeFi dapp.. If you don’t have a favorite protocol yet, get started by checking out popular ones such as Uniswap, Trader Joe, or Aave.

Step 4: From there, it's your world to explore and earn through staking, lending or yield farming. Different protocols offer different advantages (and risks), so it helps to do your research beforehand.  Don’t forget to bookmark your favorites to visit again later.

Note: If you wind up participating in DeFi on the Ethereum network and lend, borrow, or stake your crypto,  Coinbase Wallet makes it easy to keep track of your DeFi activity. Simply navigate to the Assets tab and tap into ‘DeFi’ to see your current positions across liquidity pools, lending platforms, and more.

Browse and Manage NFTs

Browse and Manage NFTs

Crypto is great, but it’s not much to look at. In this guide we’ll explore the world of NFTs and learn how to use Coinbase Wallet to browse, buy, sell and manage NFTs. 

Step 1: Open your Wallet app and navigate to the Browser tab (third tab). 

Step 2: Type in the url of your favorite NFT platform in the search bar, or select one from our categories. If you don’t have a favorite platform yet, get started by checking out popular ones such as Coinbase NFT, OpenSea or Rarible.

Step 3: From there, it's your world to explore. You can use the NFT platform you chose to filter, search, view collections, and more. 

If you find something you like, you can place a bid or try to buy it directly. Your wallet and balances are connected directly through the browser for use on the site of your choice. Just make sure you have the right asset available for the auction and any network fees.

Once you’ve made an NFT purchase, it’s easy to view and manage your collection. Simply navigate to the Assets tab, tap into the NFT view, and select an NFT to view more details such as collection name and last sold price. 

Ready to sell? You can use your platform of choice to list the NFT directly from your Wallet. You can also direct any of the proceeds back to your Wallet. 

Explore and bookmark your favorite dapps

Bookmark Dapps

Coinbase Wallet makes it easy to  explore and bookmark your favorite decentralized apps (dapps).

Step 1: Not sure where to start? Discover the top dapps in categories such as DeFi, Social, Gaming, and NFTs by tapping into the Browser tab in your Wallet app. Looking for a specific dapp? Simply type in the  url of the dapp you’d like to visit or search for its name to find the site in the search results.

Step 2: Once you’re ready to add a bookmark, open the menu using the three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser, and select “Add to bookmarks”.

Step 3: When you’re done using the dapp, tap the Browser icon to  navigate back to your home screen

From here, you can launch all of your bookmarked dapps and view your browsing history

Send or receive crypto

I want to send crypto to another wallet

Step 1: Open your Wallet app and select “Send” from the top section of the home screen.

Step 2: Confirm or select the asset you would like to send indicated at the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: Choose the amount you would like to send in USD or your crypto denomination, or select MAX to send the maximum amount available.  Press “Next”

Step 4: Now, enter the recipient information.  If you’ve sent crypto to them before, you may select them from the recent addresses on the page.  If it is your first time sending to this wallet, you have a few options:

If your recipient is a Coinbase Wallet user, you can enter their Wallet username. 

If you have a QR code for the recipient, you can select the QR code symbol to scan it and populate the recipient wallet address

If you have a wallet address for the recipient, you can enter or paste it into the search bar.

Step 5: Review the transaction details, including the value and the destination address, and when ready, press “Send”.

All done!  Your transaction will be completed after the standard network confirmations. 

I want to receive crypto from another wallet

There are a couple ways of receiving crypto, depending on the wallet where it is coming from. 

To receive crypto from another Coinbase Wallet, simply provide your username (you can find it at the top of the wallet tab in your app) to the sender.  They can enter it into the search recipient field in the send flow.

To receive crypto from a non-Coinbase Wallet, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your Wallet app and select “Receive” from the top section of the home screen.. 

Step 2: Select the asset you will be receiving

Step 3: Either have the sender scan the QR code using their wallet, or share your wallet address using the “Share address” feature on the receive page.

That’s it! Your sender can now send crypto to your wallet.

Using other web3 networks

Using other web3 networks

Did you know that the Coinbase Wallet app has best-in-class multichain support? With support for multiple Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks, including Ethereum, all EVM-compatible chains, and Solana, you can access dapps and web3 on all of your favorite networks. Layer 2s (L2s) and alternative networks to Ethereum can have faster transaction speeds and more affordable network (gas) fees. 

Step 1: You’ll need to have the crypto you wish to move to an alternative network already in your wallet.  If not, you can use the buy or transfer instructions to obtain some.

Step 2: Using the Browser tab, navigate to the appropriate L1 to L2 bridge for the L2 you wish to use.  For example, if you want to use the Polygon network, you would use the Polygon Bridge.  If you want to use the Avalanche C-Chain network, you would use the Avalanche Bridge.  Different networks have different advantages, dapps, and protocols available, so it helps to research which network is right for you beforehand. 

Step 3: Bridge your funds from the Ethereum Mainnet L1 to your chosen alternative network.  Note that standard Ethereum network fees apply while bridging.  

Step 4: Navigate to the Settings tab using the gear icon in the bottom right of your Wallet app, and select “Default Network”.  Change the Default Network to desired network.

Step 5: Navigate back to the home screen, and confirm that your crypto is present after the transaction confirmations are complete.

You are now ready to use your crypto on another network!  Use the Browser to find your dapps to explore across multiple networks.  If you need to bridge assets back to Ethereum mainnet, you can use the same bridge that you used to move to the alternative network.