Understanding Basic Functionality in MetaMask

We're always working to make your wallet more secure and easier to use, while giving you control over your privacy and data. As part of that, we're bringing MetaMask's profile and privacy settings together under one unified setting, Basic Functionality, so every user can benefit from the best security protections by default.

Why we're making this change

Profile and privacy controls were previously spread across different parts of your wallet, so settings like security alerts and notifications were not always turned on automatically. Basic Functionality brings them under one simple setting, so they work by default instead of needing to be found and switched on individually. Notifications are always optional, but can only be turned on when Basic Functionality is also on.

What Basic Functionality is

Basic Functionality connects your wallet addresses to an individual profile that powers most of the everyday MetaMask experience: seeing what you hold (token and NFT detection), security layers (transaction simulations, security alerts, and phishing detection), and reading transactions clearly (ENS names, suggested nicknames, smart contract decoding, and network checks). As with any app that connects to the internet, some of these features involve standard network requests. MetaMask uses this data only to provide the features, and never sells your data. Leave Basic Functionality on for the full MetaMask experience. Turn it off and MetaMask works as a pared back wallet, with no connections beyond your configured RPC. If you use a Secret Recovery Phrase, you can change this setting any time by going to Settings > Privacy. Basic Functionality is separate from Metrics, the optional, anonymized analytics that help us improve MetaMask. You can turn Metrics off and still get the full Basic Functionality experience.

If you use a Secret Recovery Phrase

Basic Functionality is on by default for new users and yours to switch off any time. Leaving it on ties your wallet addresses to your profile, whether or not Metrics is on. Turning it off removes features and stops the addresses from being associated with a profile. Nothing else has been taken away, your wallet stays in your control.

If you use Social Login

Signing in with Google, Apple, or Telegram uses your account to identify your wallet, and the profile is intrinsic to how it works, which is why Basic Functionality always remains on, and can't be switched off. The email or handle you sign in with is securely linked to your profile, letting you move smoothly across features that require identity verification. If you'd rather have the option to turn Basic Functionality off, you can set up MetaMask with a Secret Recovery Phrase instead.

What isn't changing

Your wallet is fully self-custodial. Only you control your Secret Recovery Phrase and keys. They never leave your device. We take your privacy seriously, and we do not sell MetaMask data. For more info about our privacy practices, see MetaMask's Privacy Notice.