How to switch networks
- Author
- CRYPTO PORT Editorial
- Published
- Updated
- Reading time
- 5 min
In short
A wallet looks at one network at a time. Much of the confusion about missing balances or unreachable destinations is simply having the wrong network selected. You switch from the network indicator, typically near the top of the screen, and switching moves nothing — actually moving assets between chains requires a bridge or similar step.
Key points
- Switching changes what you see; it does not move any assets
- Each chain uses its own currency to pay fees
- When a dApp asks to switch, check which chain is shown before approving
- The same address holds separate balances on each chain
Definition
Changing which blockchain your wallet queries balances from and sends transactions to.
In a multi-chain wallet the same address exists on several chains, but balances are recorded separately per chain, so the wallet always holds a notion of which chain it is currently looking at. That selection is the network. You change it from the network name shown near the top of the screen or in settings, though the position and label differ by app.
The classic beginner moment is a balance that appears to have vanished. When something you were sent does not show up, the network selection is the first thing to suspect: if the sender used a different chain from the one you are viewing, nothing will appear. Opening your address in an explorer and seeing which chain holds the record settles it quickly.
Fees are the other thing to internalise. Each chain fixes which currency pays for transactions. Holding the token you want to move is not enough — without that chain's fee currency you cannot send at all. Bridging assets across and forgetting to bring fee money is a very common way to end up stuck. Bring a little extra for fees whenever you move.
While using a dApp, a site may request that you switch networks. The wallet will show a confirmation, so read the chain name and ID before approving. Pushing users onto an unfamiliar chain to hand them counterfeit tokens is a known tactic. If you are asked to switch to a chain that is not registered yet, read the cautions in 'How to add a custom network' first.
Finally, to repeat the key point: switching is a matter of display, not a transfer. If you want assets from chain A usable on chain B, changing the network does nothing by itself. That requires a bridge or an exchange, each with its own risks. For what happens when funds go to the wrong chain, see 'What to do after sending to the wrong network'.
Watch out for
- · Switching networks does not move assets; crossing chains needs a bridge or similar step
- · When a site requests a switch, confirm the chain name and ID shown before approving
- · Before any transfer, confirm that sender and recipient are using the same chain
Frequently asked questions
Why does the same address work on different chains?
Chains that derive addresses from keys in the same way produce identical-looking addresses. Balances and history are still kept independently per chain, so the same address holds completely different contents on each. Chains using a different scheme have a different address format altogether.