How to sign a message in MetaMask

Signing a message in MetaMask proves you control an address without moving any funds or revealing your private key. It's the fastest way to verify wallet ownership when it's available.

How it works

When a verification flow needs a signature, it presents a signing request that MetaMask picks up automatically:

1. The request appears as a MetaMask notification or popup showing the exact message to be signed.
2. Read the message before approving. A legitimate verification message is plain text identifying what you're proving. Never sign a request you don't understand.
3. Confirm the account shown is the one you intend to verify.
4. Click Sign. MetaMask produces the signature and returns it to the flow.

No transaction is broadcast, no gas is spent, and nothing leaves your wallet.

Safety

• Only sign messages from a site or flow you initiated and trust. Malicious signing requests are a known phishing tactic.
• A verification signature should be human-readable. Be cautious of requests to sign opaque data you can't interpret.
• Signing never transfers funds — but approving a transaction does. Make sure you're being asked to sign a message, not approve a transfer, if signing is what's expected.

For MetaMask's current signing UI, see their official support documentation.