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Web3 Wallet GuideExtension handbook

FAQ

Coinbase Wallet extension: frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people actually ask about the browser extension — what it is, how it differs from an exchange account, what it costs, which browsers it runs on, and how to keep it safe.

How to read these answers

Features and supported networks change as the product develops, so anything that shifts over time is described in general terms here and pointed back to Coinbase's official documentation. Nothing on this page is financial advice.

15 questions, answered in a couple of sentences each. If your question is about something going wrong rather than how the wallet works, the troubleshooting page is more useful.

What is the Coinbase Wallet extension?
It is a browser add-on version of Coinbase Wallet, a self-custody crypto wallet. It stores your keys on your own device, keeps a portfolio view of your crypto across several networks, and lets websites you visit request a connection so you can sign transactions and messages from a small pop-up instead of copying addresses by hand.How the extension works →
Is the extension the same thing as a Coinbase account?
No. A Coinbase account is custodial: the company holds the crypto for you and you sign in with an email and password. The wallet extension is self-custody: you hold the keys, and your recovery phrase is the only backup. You can use either one on its own, or send assets between them.Wallet vs exchange account →
Is the Coinbase Wallet extension free?
Installing and using the wallet itself costs nothing. You still pay network fees (gas) on every on-chain transaction, plus any fee a swap, bridge or on-ramp provider charges. Nothing about holding assets in the wallet costs a monthly fee.
Which browsers support the extension?
It is built for Chromium-based desktop browsers such as Chrome, Brave and Microsoft Edge, and there is a Firefox version. There is no Internet Explorer or Safari desktop extension. On phones you use the Coinbase Wallet mobile app instead.Browser requirements →
Can I recover my wallet without the recovery phrase?
No. If you uninstall the extension, lose your device, or forget your password, the only way back into the same wallet is the recovery phrase you wrote down when you created it. With no phrase, the wallet and its assets are unrecoverable — by you and by anyone else.Recovery phrase rules →
Does the extension ask for my recovery phrase?
Only during setup, when you create or import a wallet, and only inside the extension itself. It never asks again for routine use, and no legitimate site, support agent, form or chat will ever ask you to type those words. Treat any request for them as a theft attempt.Recognising phishing →
How do I know I'm installing the real extension and not a fake?
Start from Coinbase's own wallet page or the browser's official add-on store instead of a search result or an ad. Check that the publisher/developer is Coinbase, that the listing has a long history with a very large user count and recent updates, and that the permission list is small. Impostor extensions with slightly different names are the number-one wallet scam.Verifying a listing →
Can the extension be hacked if my computer is infected?
Malware that reads your screen, keyboard, clipboard or browser storage can defeat almost any wallet — the extension included. That is why the recovery phrase belongs on paper or metal, kept offline, and why a dedicated browser profile or a hardware wallet for large balances is worth the trouble.Device hygiene →
What happens when a website requests a connection?
The extension opens a prompt showing which site is asking, which wallet address it wants to see and what it will be allowed to do. Nothing is shared until you approve. Approving a connection only reveals your public address; it does not let the site move funds. Every later transaction still needs its own approval.The approval flow →
Why does my balance look different from my Coinbase account?
They are separate wallets. A balance is the sum of what that specific set of keys holds on each network, so assets sent to your exchange account do not appear in the extension, and vice versa. Deposits can also take a moment to show if the network is congested or the wallet is still looking at an older node.Missing balance →
Can I use the extension on my phone?
Extensions do not exist on mobile browsers. Coinbase Wallet has a mobile app covering the same self-custody features, and you can move the same wallet between devices by importing its recovery phrase — or use WalletConnect to pair a phone wallet with a website open on your computer.Desktop and mobile →
What are gas fees and who sets them?
Gas is the fee a network charges to include your transaction in a block. It is paid to validators, not to the wallet. Fees vary with network congestion, and speed up or slow down depending on what you selected, so a transaction can sit pending during a busy period.Stuck transactions →
Should I approve every token approval a dapp asks for?
No. Token approvals are standing permissions: once granted, a contract can spend that token until you revoke it or run out. Approve only what you are actively using, prefer limited amounts over unlimited when the option exists, and review and revoke old approvals periodically.Managing approvals →
What should I do if I think my wallet is compromised?
Move remaining funds to a brand-new wallet with a brand-new recovery phrase immediately — revoking approvals takes time, and a compromised key can be drained at any moment. Then revoke approvals on the old address, and never reuse that recovery phrase again.If funds were taken →
Is this website the official Coinbase website?
No. It is an independent educational guide that explains how the extension works and how to use it safely. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Coinbase and it is not a download page. Official software and support always come from Coinbase's own domains and your browser's add-on store.About this guide →

The answer that matters most

Your recovery phrase is the wallet. Write it down, keep it offline, and never type it into a website, a chat or a form — no legitimate wallet, exchange or support agent will ever ask for it. Everything else in this guide is a variation on that one idea.

Read the security guideSet up safely

Keep reading

Independent, informational resource

This page is educational content about browser-based self-custody wallets. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or operated by Coinbase, and it is not an official download page. Company and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners and are used here only to describe the products being discussed. Always get wallet software from the official source, and never share your recovery phrase with anyone.