This quick tutorial will walk you through how to install the Metamask wallet extension on your browser, set up your account and get some 'fake' ETH for testing purposes. No bank account, credit card, debit card or money required! We will then be able to use our fake ETH to send between each other to serve as an example of the steps used to transact with the Metamask wallet and other users. More on that later, first let's get set up.
If you had already downloaded and installed MetaMask skip ahead to get some fake/testing ETH
Go to: https://metamask.io/
Click on 'Download' or 'Download Now'.
On the following page, make sure Chrome (or whichever browser you are using) is selected and click on 'Install MetaMask for Chrome'.
You will be re-directed to the extension download page for Chrome (or your browser of choice; this example image says Brave). Click on 'Add to Chrome' in the top right.
A pop up confirmation will appear, click 'Add extension'.
You should now have a confirmation of the install and can click on 'Get Started'.
If you are following this tutorial we will assume you do not currently have a wallet so we will select 'Create a Wallet'.
Select which ever option here about sending back data to the MetaMask team, it's voluntary on your part.
Now you will create a password for the MetaMask extension. This will be the password you use to 'unlock' the extension for normal use. Make it whatever you'd like.
Now, MetaMask is about to give you a random 12 words that will be your 'Secret Recovery Phrase'. I suggest you watch their little video and read the information on this page for a better understanding of its importance. DO NOT share this phrase. In the crypto space it is common practice to NOT take a photo of the phrase, NOT store it on a note on your phone. Ideally you want to write it down somewhere and keep it safe.
We are going through these steps for testing purposes and you will be able to create another wallet (or as many as you'd like) later so if you want to be more relaxed about the importance of this Secret Phase thats fine too. Just know that best practices for wallets that you intend to have real money on in the future should be protected by safely storing these Secret Recovery Phrases.
Hit 'Next'.
So here it is, once you click on 'CLICK HERE TO REVEAL SECRET WORDS' your secret phrase will be revealed to you. Write it down and also make sure you store the combination of words in the SAME ORDER that they are presented to you.
When you are ready hit 'Next'.
Follow the instructions to input your Secret Phrase in the same order you wrote it down. This step is for confirmation purposes. When you are ready, hit 'Confirm'.
And just like that you now have a digital wallet.
Just a few more steps.
To facilitate access to the extension in your browser, click on the puzzle piece icon in the top right.
Click on the Pin icon so that the MetaMask extension is now visible at the top right area of your browser.
If you already have a MetaMask wallet and are here for the fake (testing) ETH follow along from here.
Now, lets click on that MetaMask icon for the extension in your browser.
This drop down (or pop up) will appear. Click on 'Ethereum Mainnet' at the top.
If your dropdown looks like this, click 'Show/hide test networks'.
The extension will redirect to the advance settings where you will toggle 'Show Test Networks' to On. Then hit the 'x' in the top right.
Now when you click on 'Ethereum Mainnet' you should see more options. Select 'Rinkeby Test Network'
Great. You will notice that in the center of this MetaMask window it says you have 0 ETH valued at $0.00. So let's get some test ETH.
If you were to click on where it say 'Account 1' (Mine says 'Testing' but yours likely says 'Account 1') this will copy what is called your 'public key' or 'wallet address'. This is what you can send to a someone, for example, for them to send you funds/tokens/crypto. This is almost the equivalent of a bank account number in the crypto world. No need to copy it just yet, let's head over to the following link to connect our wallet for some free test ETH.
https://faucets.chain.link/rinkeby
Click on 'Connect Wallet'.
We want to select MetaMask from the two options presented to us.
You will notice that your MetaMask extension has opened up and you will now go through the confirmation of connecting to this website. My screenshot shows a bunch of my accounts but yours will likely just have one name 'Account 1' and it should be checked. Hit 'Next'.
Final confirmation, hit 'Connect'. Wait a few seconds for MetaMask to finish connecting.
You will notice that the webpage has refreshed and in the 'Wallet address' field it's actually the public key to your wallet. You are going to be requesting from the Chainlink site to send some test ETH to your wallet via that public wallet address that is unique to you.
For this exercise, UNCHECK '20 test LINK' as we will not be needing that.
Hit the checkmark to prove you are not a robot and click 'Send Request'.
It can take a few minutes or even hours depending on how busy the network is; usually its not so bad.
To confirm you have received your test ETH, click on the MetaMask extension and you'll see 0.1 ETH as your balance. If it still says zero check back later.
Congrats, you now have some test ETH. What we as a group can now do is go through the next steps of sending each other small amounts of ETH to learn what the process is like to send crypto. Hopefully that will help some of you get a taste for what the user experience for transaction with crypto is like in general and also, in this case, on MetaMask.
Once completed, if anyone would like to message me on Slack to send some ETH back and forth or if you have any trouble just let me know, I'd be happy to help, try and trouble shoot, or answer questions.