How to Add Optimism to MetaMask: Step-by-Step

Adding Optimism (OP Mainnet) to MetaMask means configuring its network details — chain ID 10, RPC URL, currency symbol, and block explorer — which you can do either through a one-click prompt from a trusted Optimism-based dapp or by entering the details manually in MetaMask's network settings.

One-click setup through a dapp

Many applications built on Optimism, including the official Optimism Gateway bridge, will prompt MetaMask to automatically add the network the first time you connect your wallet and attempt to interact with it. Approving this kind of prompt — after confirming you're on the genuine, official site — is the quickest path to a correctly configured network, since the dapp supplies the correct details directly rather than requiring manual entry.

Manual setup steps

1. Open MetaMask and click the network selector at the top of the app.
2. Select "Add network," then "Add a network manually."
3. Enter the following:

Field	Value
Network name	OP Mainnet
New RPC URL	https://mainnet.optimism.io
Chain ID	10
Currency symbol	ETH
Block explorer URL	https://optimistic.etherscan.io

4. Save the network and switch to it via the network selector.

Always double-check these values against Optimism's own official documentation before saving, particularly the chain ID, since entering an incorrect value can connect your wallet to an unintended network.

Confirming everything is working

After adding the network, check that your ETH balance shown in MetaMask matches what you'd expect (zero if you haven't bridged funds yet), and cross-reference your address on the Optimistic Etherscan block explorer to confirm the network is correctly configured.

Bridging funds is a separate step

Configuring the network in MetaMask only allows your wallet to communicate with Optimism — it does not move any funds there. To actually use Optimism's DeFi ecosystem, you'll need to bridge ETH or tokens over from Ethereum mainnet or another chain. See the full walkthrough in how to bridge to Optimism.

Common issues and fixes

• Network already added: check your existing list of networks first, since many dapps auto-add OP Mainnet on first interaction.
• RPC endpoint unresponsive: try an alternative public RPC provider listed in Optimism's official documentation if the default endpoint is temporarily down.
• Zero balance after bridging: confirm your bridging transaction actually finalized on Optimism by checking its transaction hash on the block explorer before assuming a wallet misconfiguration.
• Confusing "Optimism" with a similarly named network or an unofficial fork: always verify the chain ID (10) matches exactly.

A note on alternative wallets

While this guide is written for MetaMask, the same network details — chain ID 10, the official RPC endpoint, and the block explorer URL — apply equally if you're setting up OP Mainnet in a different wallet, since most wallets support an equivalent custom network configuration flow. If your wallet supports importing a network list from a trusted registry, that can be a quicker and less error-prone alternative to manual entry.

What you can do next

Once connected and funded, you can start exploring Optimism's DeFi ecosystem — decentralized exchanges, lending markets, and derivatives platforms shaped in part by sustained OP token incentive programs. See our full guide to DeFi on Optimism for an overview, and review DeFi wallet security before committing meaningful funds to any protocol.

Cross-checking your setup

As a final check after adding OP Mainnet, look up your wallet address on the Optimistic Etherscan block explorer and confirm the balance and transaction history match what MetaMask shows. A mismatch usually indicates a misconfigured RPC endpoint rather than a genuine problem with your funds, and can typically be fixed by removing and re-adding the network with the official RPC URL entered carefully.

Why getting the details exactly right matters

An incorrectly entered chain ID or RPC endpoint can lead to confusing problems later — transactions that seem to vanish, balances that don't match what you expect, or in the worst case, a wallet pointed at an unintended or malicious network if a fraudulent RPC URL were entered by mistake. Taking a moment to double-check each field against Optimism's own official documentation before saving the network is a small step that prevents a much bigger headache once you start moving meaningful funds through it.

Bottom line

Adding OP Mainnet to MetaMask takes just a couple of minutes using its chain ID (10) and official RPC endpoint, whether automatically through a dapp prompt or manually through MetaMask's settings. As with any L2, remember that adding the network is separate from funding it — bridging is still a required next step before you can use Optimism-based DeFi.