Polkadot.js
This is a guide for installing the Polkadot.js browser extension, the wallet used to interact with Acala Apps and any parachain on Polkadot, similar to MetaMask on Ethereum.
Intro to Polkadot.js - The Wallet for Polkadot & Polkadot Parachains
It's time to get you onboarded into the Polkadot ecosytem. Acala is a parachain connected to Polkadot for security and cross-chain ability. If you ever have questions, please ask in the Acala Discord.
Polkadot.js is the primary option for a non-custodial wallet in the Polkadot ecosystem. Since Acala is a parachain built on Polkadot, the Polkadot.js extension is what you'll use to interact with Acala's DeFi applications. New to Acala and Polkadot? Here's an introductory video.
Since Polkadot will scale up to have 100+ parachains connected to it Polkadot.js was configured a bit differently than you may be used to with single-chain wallets like MetaMask.
Video Guide
Installing Polkadot.js
Install the Browser Plugin
The browser plugin is available for both Google Chrome (and Chromium based browsers like Brave) and FireFox. Download the plugin here.
This browser extension does one thing: it manages accounts and allows the signing of transactions with those accounts (like submitting a DeFi transaction on Acala). It does not perform wallet functions, like sending or receiving, or show you wallet balances. To perform wallet functions you can use Acala, or after setting up your Polkadot.js browser plugin, you can use the Polkadot.js Apps website to check balances, participate in DOT staking, and more.
Once you install the Browser plugin, be sure to pin it to your toolbar:
Create Account
Open the Polkadot{.js} browser extension by clicking the logo on the top bar of your browser. You will see a browser popup not unlike the one below:
2. Click the big plus button or select Create new account from the small plus icon in the top right. The Polkadot{.js} plugin will then use system randomness to make a new seed for you and display it to you in the form of twelve words.
3. You should back up these words as explained here on the Polkadot wiki. It is imperative to store the seed somewhere safe, secret, and secure. If you cannot access your account via Polkadot.js for some reason, you can re-enter your seed through the Add account menu by selecting Import account from pre-existing seed.
Set Account Name & Password
The account name is arbitrary and for your use only. The password will be used to encrypt this account's information. You will need to re-enter it when using the account for any kind of outgoing transaction or when using it to sign a message.
Note that this password does NOT protect your seed phrase. If someone knows the twelve words in your mnemonic seed, they still have control over your account even if they do not know the password.
Do not ever share your seed phrase or password.
3. Keep "Network" as "Allow use on any chain".
Convert Address for different chain formats
If you ever wanted to see what an account format looks like for different networks within the Polkadot ecosystem, you can use the Subscan Address Transform tool to convert your address between the different chain formats.
Enter any address in the input box on the left-hand side, then click Transform button, you can see address formats for all chains on the right-hand side.
Last updated
