Delete Network Metamask? How to Remove a Custom Network

If you are asking whether you can delete a custom network you added to MetaMask, the answer is yes: MetaMask lets you remove any custom network you have added, and doing so only affects your wallet’s network list, not your funds. You delete a network through the wallet’s Settings menu, and the exact steps take less than a minute once you know where to look.

What Deleting a Network Actually Does

MetaMask is a non-custodial wallet, meaning your private keys and funds live on the blockchain, not inside the app. The network list in MetaMask is just a set of connection settings (RPC URL, chain ID, currency symbol, block explorer URL) that tells the wallet which blockchain to talk to. Removing a network deletes those settings from your local MetaMask installation. It does not:

• Move, burn, or hide any tokens you own on that network
• Affect your addresses or private keys
• Change anything on the blockchain itself
• Affect other devices or browser profiles where you have MetaMask installed

Your assets remain on the blockchain and can be accessed again at any time by re-adding the network using its correct RPC details.

Why People Want to Delete a Network

Most users delete a network for one of these reasons:

• Clutter: They added several test networks or custom RPCs while experimenting and want a cleaner list.
• Mistake: They added a network from a phishing site or an incorrect RPC and want to remove it to avoid future confusion.
• Security concern: A malicious dApp can prompt you to add a custom network that mimics a legitimate one (like a fake USDT contract). Removing it reduces the chance of accidentally transacting on the wrong chain.
• Switching wallets: They moved to a different wallet and want to tidy up MetaMask before uninstalling it.

Note that MetaMask’s default networks (Ethereum Mainnet, and often Polygon, Binance Smart Chain, Avalanche, etc. depending on your version) cannot be deleted in the same way. You can hide them from the main view, but the option to remove is only available for networks you added manually.

Step-by-Step: How to Delete a Custom Network

These steps apply to the MetaMask browser extension (Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge) and the mobile app (Android and iOS), though the exact menu labels differ slightly.

On the Browser Extension

1. Click the MetaMask fox icon in your browser toolbar to open the wallet.
2. Click the three vertical dots (â‹®) in the top-right corner of the wallet window.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Settings menu, click Networks.
5. You will see a list of networks. Find the custom network you want to delete (it will not have a lock icon next to it; default networks are locked).
6. Click the network name to open its details.
7. Scroll to the bottom of the details page and click Delete.
8. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

On the Mobile App

1. Open the MetaMask app and tap the hamburger menu (☰) in the top-left corner.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Networks.
4. Find the custom network in the list and tap it.
5. Tap Delete at the bottom of the screen, then confirm.

After deletion, the network will disappear from your network selector dropdown. If you have funds on that network, you will need to re-add the network manually to see them again in MetaMask (though your funds are safe on the blockchain regardless).

How to Re-Add a Deleted Network

If you delete a network by accident or want to add it back later, you have two options:

• Use a network aggregator site like Chainlist (a popular community tool) to connect your wallet and add the network with one click. Always verify the RPC details on the official project documentation before using any third-party site.
• Add it manually by going to Settings → Networks → Add Network and entering the network name, RPC URL, chain ID, currency symbol, and block explorer URL. You can find these details on the network’s official documentation or a reputable block explorer.

When re-adding, double-check the chain ID: it is the one value that must be exact, as it is what MetaMask uses to identify the blockchain. A wrong RPC URL will simply fail to connect, but a wrong chain ID could cause you to transact on an unintended network.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Here are the questions users often run into when trying to delete a network:

• “The Delete button is greyed out.” This happens when the network is a default network (like Ethereum Mainnet or Polygon). You cannot delete default networks; you can only hide them by scrolling to the bottom of the network list and clicking “Hide” on each one.
• “I deleted a network but my tokens are gone.” They are not gone. The tokens exist on the blockchain. Re-add the network and your balances will reappear. If they do not, you may have added the wrong network (e.g., a token on BSC but you re-added the Ethereum network).
• “I deleted a network but it still shows in my list.” This can happen if you deleted it in one browser profile but MetaMask is also installed in another profile, or if you are looking at a different wallet (e.g., MetaMask Mobile vs. extension). Delete it in each location where you use MetaMask.
• “Can I delete the network to protect my funds from a scam?” Deleting a malicious network is a good step, but it does not revoke any token approvals you may have made on that network. If you approved a malicious contract to spend your tokens, you should also revoke those approvals using a tool like Etherscan’s Token Approval Checker (for Ethereum) or the equivalent for the network in question.

Safety: What Deleting a Network Does NOT Protect You From

Deleting a network is a cosmetic and convenience action, not a security measure. The real risks in MetaMask come from:

• Signing malicious transactions that drain your wallet or approve spending.
• Entering your seed phrase on a phishing site that looks like MetaMask.
• Interacting with fake tokens that have the same name as legitimate ones but a different contract address.

If you added a network from a suspicious source, deleting it is fine, but also consider revoking any approvals you made while connected to that network. To stay safe, only add networks from official project documentation, and always verify the chain ID and RPC URL before confirming.

Alternatives to Deleting

If you do not want to delete a network but want a cleaner interface, you have two alternatives:

• Hide a network: On the network list, scroll to the bottom and click “Hide” next to a network. This removes it from your main dropdown but keeps the settings intact, so you can unhide it later without re-entering RPC details.
• Use a separate wallet for testing: If you frequently switch between mainnet and testnets, consider using a dedicated browser profile or a different wallet (like a hardware wallet’s companion app) for testnet activity to keep your main wallet’s network list clean.

Hiding is useful if you think you might need the network again soon, while deleting is better for networks you will never use or that you added by mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete Ethereum Mainnet from MetaMask?

No. Ethereum Mainnet is a default network and cannot be deleted. You can hide it from the network list by scrolling to the bottom of the network list and clicking “Hide,” but the option to delete is not available for default networks.

Will deleting a network remove my tokens?

No. Your tokens are stored on the blockchain, not in MetaMask. Deleting a network only removes the connection settings from your wallet. To see your tokens again, re-add the network using the correct RPC details.

How do I know if a network is custom or default?

In the network list, custom networks do not have a lock icon next to them, while default networks (Ethereum Mainnet, for example) do. Custom networks also have a “Delete” button in their settings, while default networks do not.

I deleted a network by accident, how do I get it back?

You can re-add it manually by going to Settings → Networks → Add Network and entering the network name, RPC URL, chain ID, currency symbol, and block explorer URL. You can also use a reputable network aggregator like Chainlist to add it with one click, but always verify the details on the official project documentation first.

Why can’t I delete a network on the mobile app?

Make sure you are tapping on the network name (not the radio button) to open its details page. On the details page, scroll down and you should see a red “Delete” button. If it is not there, the network is a default network and cannot be deleted.

Is it safe to delete a network that I added from a phishing site?

Yes, deleting it is safe and recommended. However, deleting the network does not undo any token approvals you may have made while connected to that network. Check and revoke any suspicious approvals using a block explorer’s token approval checker for the relevant chain.

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