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Yes, it happens.
You typed in the wrong address, or you selected the wrong option from a drop-down menu, or you sent funds to a contract address instead of a wallet address. Any number of things can happen, but if you're reading this article, you probably suspect that you sent funds to the wrong address.
What can I do about it?
Well, if you realize it in time, you can cancel the transaction while it's still pending. But again, if you're here reading this article, that time has probably already passed.
Check your transaction history on Etherscan if you're at all unsure of where you sent it, or where the funds ended up. If you know the party you sent it to, you could reach out to them and see if they would be willing to send it back to you.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee anyone can retrieve your tokens if you sent them to a contract address. A contract address is not a repository of tokens; it is essentially a computer program, a set of code, that performs some function on the blockchain. Some of them—the token contract addresses explained here—are addresses that can receive tokens. In this case, you may be able to reach out to the team that makes the token or manages the project, and they may be able to get your tokens back to you. However, some projects don't have customer support, which is another feature of the decentralized web.
MetaMask is not a bank, and it is not a custodial wallet — in other words, we do not keep any of your data. This is an essential security feature built into the nature of blockchain technology. You are the custodian of your funds. It is for this reason that we issue the constant reminder: Never share your Secret Recovery Phrase with anyone. If you do, that person has full access to, and control over, all your accounts and tokens.
To be clear: transactions are NOT reversible once final. It is NOT possible to "undo" or "reverse" a transaction once it is confirmed by the network.
What if someone from MetaMask DMs me and asks me for access to my account to help me?
MetaMask will never DM you, and will never ask for your Secret Recovery Phrase. If someone does this, they are most likely a scammer and should be ignored.
If you do have additional questions, seek assistance only through official MetaMask channels.
FAQs
Transactions on blockchains are irreversible, so the only way to get back your tokens is to ask the owner of the address to send them back. You can reach out to the customer service to get back your tokens if the address is owned by a platform.
How do I recover my crypto sent to a contract address? ›
Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. They cannot be undone by anyone. The only possible solution here is to contact them if you know who that address belongs to.
Can you reverse MetaMask transfer? ›
It is NOT possible to "undo" or "reverse" a transaction once it is confirmed by the network.
How to recover crypto sent to wrong address in MetaMask? ›
To recover your crypto, you'll need to import the private keys of the receiving address into MetaMask. You can do this by accessing the 'Import Account' option in MetaMask and entering the private keys. In some instances, your tokens might not show up immediately after importing the keys.
Can I recover funds sent to a wrong address? ›
If you sent funds to the wrong address, you'll need to contact the receiving party and ask for their cooperation in returning the funds. If you do not know the owner of the address, there are no possible actions you can take to retrieve the funds.
How do you reverse token money? ›
Here's a guide to help you navigate the token reversal or reallocation process smoothly.
- Obtain the KPLC prepaid token reversal/reallocation form. ...
- Fill out the payment details (Section A) ...
- Provide meter details (Section B) ...
- Wrong meter number details. ...
- Correct meter number details. ...
- Official use section (Section C)
When you click "Send," you're submitting a transaction to the appropriate token contract, telling it to transfer the specified number of tokens from your balance to the recipient's balance. If the recipient is the token contract itself, those tokens may be lost forever!
How do I withdraw my contract address token? ›
Examine the Features of the Contract: Check the smart contract to see whether there is a mechanism for you to take your tokens out. This could be a general transfer function or a withdrawal-specific function. Make Use of the Withdrawal Feature: You can invoke a function that looks like "withdraw" or anything like.
Can I recover USDT mistakenly sent to a contract address instead of a wallet address? ›
If you transferred USDT to a wrong deposit address—an address that is not owned by you or a different token, yes it can be reversed and the transaction can be recovered.
How to recover crypto transferred to the wrong network on Coinbase? ›
If the transaction was sent on the incorrect network, Coinbase will not be able to recover the funds. Learn more about sending on other networks.
You can't send bitcoin to an Ethereum address. (Well, you can, but it would be lost in the crypto abyss forever.) Pay careful attention when it comes to cryptocurrencies that look alike — don't send BTC to a BCH address or ETC to an ETH address.
Can Ethereum transactions be reversed? ›
When a transaction is added to the blockchain, it undergoes confirmation by network participants, or miners, who validate and secure the transaction data. Once confirmed, the transaction is permanently recorded on the blockchain, making any alteration or reversal impossible.
How do I recover crypto transferred to the wrong address? ›
Bitcoin transactions are designed to be irreversible, so once the funds have been sent to a wrong address, there is no way to retrieve them. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to double-check the address before sending any funds.
How do I contact MetaMask customer service? ›
If you can't find an answer in these resources, click on the 'Contact Support' button on https://support.metamask.io/ to speak to a support agent.
How do I recover my MetaMask wallet address? ›
Restore your wallet using the Secret Recovery Phrase. If you don't have your Secret Recovery Phrase, you may be able to retrieve it if you still have access to the device on which you were using MetaMask.
How can I get back my token? ›
If a holder of Bitcoin loses their private keys and wallet-access credentials, the tokens are lost and cannot be recovered because bitcoin tokens are controlled by an algorithm, not by any identified and responsible party.
How do I recover my token message? ›
You can query a missing token through SMS, by sending the word token, followed by the prepaid meter number to 95551. i.e TokenXXXXXXXXXXX^MM.
Can crypto assets be recovered if sent to wrong address in Coinbase? ›
While Coinbase Wallet gives you complete custodian control over your digital assets, this also means that we're not able to recover any funds sent or received to an incorrect address. We strongly suggest that you double check addresses before sending or receiving crypto through Wallet.
