Coinbase Wallet Extension® Getting started, with confidence.

01 GET ORIENTED

Before you begin

Coinbase Wallet is a self-custody wallet: it gives you tools to manage supported crypto assets and interact with blockchain applications. It is distinct from a hosted exchange account. In a self-custody wallet, you control the recovery credentials, and you are responsible for keeping them safe. Coinbase cannot retrieve a lost recovery phrase or reverse a confirmed blockchain transaction.

Plan to install the extension only on a browser and computer you trust. Update your operating system and browser, use a screen lock, and avoid public or shared computers. Make sure you have a private place to record your recovery phrase offline. You do not need to buy cryptocurrency simply to install a wallet or learn how its interface works.

02 INSTALL

Install the extension

Start by typing coinbase.com/wallet into your browser yourself, or use a trusted bookmark. Follow the official wallet link to the supported browser’s extension marketplace. Check that the publisher and listing are genuine before choosing the browser’s install button. Avoid sponsored search results, download mirrors, unsolicited links, and extensions with similar names.

When the browser asks for permission, review the prompt before accepting. After installation, open the extension from the browser’s extensions menu and pin it if you want convenient access. A genuine extension should not require you to send a recovery phrase to a person, email it, or paste it into a website. If a page asks for that, close it and verify the address independently.

03 SET UP

Create a wallet or restore one

On the welcome screen, choose the option that matches your situation. If you are new to self-custody, choose the create-wallet path and follow the extension’s current prompts. Read each explanation before continuing. The extension may ask you to create a local password or passcode; this helps protect access on that device, but it is not a replacement for your recovery phrase.

If you already have a wallet, use the restore or import option only when you intend to bring that wallet into this browser. Enter recovery information only inside the authentic extension’s recovery flow that you opened yourself. Confirm the browser extension is genuine before entering anything. Never send your phrase to support, a friend, a website, or a chat—even if the request looks urgent.

After setup, take a moment to explore the home screen and account controls. If anything looks unfamiliar, pause and consult Coinbase’s official support pages rather than acting on instructions from a direct message or pop-up.

04 PROTECT

Secure your wallet and recovery phrase

Your recovery phrase is the master backup for wallet access. Write it down accurately and store it offline in a private, secure place. Do not photograph it, save it in cloud notes, send it by email, or store it in a password manager unless you have made a deliberate security assessment of that setup. Anyone who obtains the phrase may be able to control the wallet.

Never share the phrase, private keys, or sensitive one-time codes. A legitimate support representative will not need your phrase to troubleshoot. Consider a second secure backup stored separately, protected from fire, water, theft, and casual discovery. For substantial holdings, research hardware-wallet options and practice recovery procedures with care before moving assets.

Use a unique device password, enable your computer’s built-in security protections, and keep the browser updated. Lock your wallet whenever you step away. If you believe the phrase has been exposed, use a clean, trusted device and official wallet guidance to move assets to a newly created secure wallet; do not follow recovery links sent by strangers.

05 CONNECT

Connect to a decentralized app

A decentralized application, or dapp, may ask your wallet to connect so it can display an address or request an action. First verify the dapp’s web address from a trusted source. Be especially cautious with links in social posts, search advertisements, token messages, and unsolicited support chats. A professional-looking site is not proof that it is safe.

Choose the site’s connect-wallet control, select the wallet option presented for your browser, and review the request in the extension. Connecting usually shares a public wallet address; it does not by itself mean you should approve a transaction. Check the site name, requested account, permissions, and network. Decline anything you do not understand. Disconnect access you no longer use through the wallet’s settings where that control is available.

06 REVIEW

Take your time with the first transaction

Before signing, read the complete request displayed by the wallet. Confirm the asset, amount, recipient, network, and any fee. Some transactions grant a dapp permission to interact with tokens; those approvals can have ongoing effects. Do not sign a message or transaction merely because a site says it is needed to claim a reward, verify your wallet, or unlock funds.

Network transactions are generally difficult or impossible to reverse. If you choose to send a small test transfer, verify the destination address carefully and remember that network fees may apply. A small test can reduce some errors but cannot guarantee safety. Wait for the wallet to show a clear confirmation before considering an action complete, and never trust screenshots of payments sent by another person.