How to set up Phantom Wallet, step by step
Install Phantom only from phantom.com or the official store listing, then create a wallet with either a Google or Apple account or a 12-word recovery phrase. Back up the recovery phrase offline before you add any money, and keep a little SOL for network fees. Setup takes a few minutes and is free.
Quick steps
- Get the official app or extension. Type phantom.com yourself or open the official store listing, and check the extension ID, app ID or package name before installing.
- Start a new wallet. Open Phantom and choose to create a new wallet, either by continuing with Google or Apple or by creating a recovery phrase.
- Write down the recovery phrase. If Phantom shows a 12-word phrase, write it on paper in order, store it offline and confirm you saved it.
- Set a password or device lock. In the extension, create a strong password; on mobile, optionally turn on Face ID or fingerprint unlock.
- Choose a username and skip optional steps. Create your Phantom username. Referral codes and trader suggestions are optional.
- Turn on the networks you use. Open the settings and switch on the networks you need; Solana is always on.
- Fund the wallet with a test amount. Copy the receive address for the correct network, send a small test amount, then the rest, and keep some SOL for fees.
Setting up Phantom takes a few minutes. The part that matters most comes before you tap anything: making sure you install the real Phantom. Fake Phantom apps, extensions and "help" pages are common and often appear above the real site in search results. This guide covers the mobile app and the browser extension as of October 2026, based on Phantom's help centre.
Before you start: get the real Phantom
Phantom is free. It runs as a mobile app (iOS and Android) and as a browser extension for Chrome, Brave and Edge. Firefox is no longer supported. Type phantom.com into the address bar yourself or use a bookmark, and never install from a search ad, a DM or a link in a video description.
| Platform | What to check |
|---|---|
| Chrome, Brave, Edge | Chrome Web Store extension ID bfnaelmomeimhlpmgjnjophhpkkoljpa |
| iPhone and iPad | App Store app ID id1598432977, seller Phantom Technologies |
| Android | Google Play package app.phantom |
| Firefox | No longer supported or updated |
Paste any link or ID into our Phantom download checker to compare it with the official identifiers. Our download guide covers each platform in detail. "Fantom" is a different crypto project, so a "Fantom wallet" is not Phantom.
Choose how you want to create the wallet
Phantom offers two ways to create a wallet, and it calls both self-custodial (Phantom help centre, 2026). You can add more wallets and accounts later.
| Google or Apple account | Recovery phrase | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get back in | Sign in with the same Google or Apple account | Enter the 12-word phrase |
| What you must protect | Your Google or Apple account (strong password, two-factor login) | The paper or metal copy of your phrase |
| If you lose access | If you are logged out everywhere and lose the account, Phantom says the wallet cannot be recovered | If you lose the phrase and are logged out, the wallet cannot be recovered |
| Best for | Beginners who want a familiar sign-in | People who want a backup that depends on no other company |
A Google or Apple wallet still has a recovery phrase you can export, so you can keep an offline backup either way. The trade-offs are explained in our guide to Phantom's Google, Apple and email login.
Create a wallet in the mobile app
On the welcome screen, Phantom offers buttons to continue with Apple or Google. To create a recovery phrase wallet instead, open the extra options on the welcome screen and choose to create a recovery phrase. Phantom then shows the 12 words. Write them down on paper, in order, and confirm you saved them.
Next you pick a username. Phantom also offers some optional steps: a referral code field (you can skip it; Ghostlight Guide has no referral codes), suggestions of traders to follow, and device authentication such as Face ID or a fingerprint. Device authentication only unlocks Phantom on that phone. It does not replace your recovery phrase or your Google or Apple sign-in.
Create a wallet in the browser extension
After you install the extension, click the Phantom icon. A new tab opens where you choose to create a new wallet, then pick either a recovery phrase wallet or the email option (sign in with Google or Apple).
The extension asks you to create a password. Phantom requires at least eight characters, including one capital letter, one number and one special character (Phantom help centre, 2026). This password only unlocks Phantom in that browser. It cannot restore your wallet anywhere else, so it is not a backup.
Back up the recovery phrase before you deposit
Phantom does not store your recovery phrase and cannot restore it if you lose it. Do the backup now, while the wallet is empty:
- Write the 12 words on paper or stamp them into metal, numbered and in order.
- Keep the copy somewhere private and safe from fire and water. A second copy in another place protects against loss.
- Do not photograph it, email it to yourself or type it into notes, chats or websites.
If you used Google or Apple, you can still export the phrase later from Phantom's security settings. Our recovery phrase guide explains how to view, store and protect it.
Turn networks on or off
Phantom shows assets from every network that is switched on, so you do not need to switch networks by hand. As of October 2026 it supports nine networks: Solana, Ethereum, Base, Polygon, Bitcoin, HyperEVM, Robinhood Chain, Arc and BNB Chain. Solana is always on. You can turn the others on or off in the settings under active networks. Phantom does not let you add custom networks. Sui and Monad were removed in 2026; see supported chains.
Add funds and keep some SOL for fees
To receive crypto, open Phantom's receive screen and copy the address for the right network. A Solana address is different from your Ethereum or Bitcoin address. Before a large deposit, send a small test amount from the exchange and check that it arrives. Our Solana address checker helps you compare addresses character by character.
On Solana, keep a small amount of SOL in the wallet. Network fees and new token accounts cost SOL, and having none is one of the most common reasons transactions fail (see not enough SOL). Phantom can also pay some fees in the token you are using (gasless transactions), but only for eligible transactions.
Five settings and habits for a safer wallet
- Bookmark phantom.com and the help centre at help.phantom.com, and use only those bookmarks.
- Turn on two-factor authentication on the Google or Apple account if your wallet uses one.
- Keep large amounts on a Ledger hardware wallet connected to Phantom, and use a separate account for trying new apps.
- Read every approval screen. Phantom previews transactions and warns about known malicious sites, but you still approve each one.
- Ignore anyone who contacts you claiming to be Phantom support. Phantom's support starts as a chat in the app or on help.phantom.com, with follow-ups by email; there is no phone number, Phantom support never contacts you first, and there is no Phantom token to claim.
Before you start trading, read is Phantom safe? and Phantom fees.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to set up Phantom?
Yes. Downloading Phantom and creating a wallet costs nothing. You pay network fees when you send, and Phantom charges a fee on in-app swaps.
Should I use Google or Apple login or a recovery phrase?
A Google or Apple wallet is easier to sign in to but depends on keeping that account. A recovery phrase depends on no other company but must be stored safely. Many people use either and also keep an offline copy of the recovery phrase.
Can I use the same Phantom wallet on my phone and computer?
Yes. Sign in with the same Google or Apple account, or import the same recovery phrase, on the other device. Wallets imported with a private key do not sync and must be imported on each device.
Can I use Phantom on Firefox?
No. Phantom says it no longer supports Firefox and the old add-on gets no updates. Use Chrome, Brave or Edge, or the mobile app.
Do I need a referral code?
No. The referral code field is optional and you can skip it.
Will Phantom ever ask for my recovery phrase?
No. Phantom support never asks for your recovery phrase, private key or PIN. Anyone who does is a scammer.