MetaMask Desktop is a free, open-source Windows app for people who already use the MetaMask browser wallet and want to experiment with a desktop companion. It is aimed at developers, testers and curious users who are comfortable with early-stage software. The project labels it as an experimental feature, and its latest code update is dated May 24, 2023, so the project is more than two years old as of 2026. Treat it as a test tool rather than a finished product.
The app works by pairing with the MetaMask Flask extension, a pre-release build of the browser wallet used to try new functions. Pairing is completed with a six-digit code shown in the extension and entered in the desktop app. Because the software is experimental and has seen no code changes since May 2023, it suits sandbox setups and learning rather than holding significant funds. The sections below explain what it does, how to set it up carefully and where its limits lie.
What Is MetaMask Desktop?
MetaMask Desktop is a Windows-oriented companion app for the MetaMask ecosystem. Rather than replacing the browser wallet, it is meant to connect with the MetaMask Flask extension, which runs in Chrome or Firefox. The general idea is that a desktop window can act as a second surface for the same wallet session, while the browser continues to handle the core work.
The project describes itself as an experimental feature, and that label matters. Experimental code can change shape, break between builds or be paused without notice. Its source is hosted on GitHub, and the latest version listed for the package is @metamask/desktop 0.3.0. The last code update was made on May 24, 2023, so the project has not seen new code for more than two years.
It helps to think of the software as a research prototype. It shows how a browser wallet might reach a native desktop app, and it gives developers something concrete to read, test and discuss. It is not a polished consumer product with a streamlined onboarding experience.
Who Is MetaMask Desktop For?
The most natural audience is developers and technically confident testers. If you build Web3 applications or follow MetaMask's development work, a desktop bridge gives you a way to observe how an experimental connection behaves. The source code and documentation give you material to study, adapt or use when reporting bugs.
Curious power users who already run MetaMask in a browser may also want to try it on a spare machine or inside a separate browser profile. For example, you might keep a dedicated test wallet with small amounts of test funds on a secondary Windows PC, then pair the desktop app to see how the connection behaves. That kind of sandbox is a good place to learn without putting your main setup at risk.
Who should skip it? Anyone who needs a stable, actively supported tool for daily money management. An experimental app that has not received code updates since 2023 is a poor fit for routine payments, savings or any activity where a failure could cost real money.
Key Concepts Behind Browser Wallet Pairing
Several terms come up when you read about this kind of software. A seed phrase is the list of words that can restore a wallet. Anyone who learns it can control the funds it protects, which is why it should never be typed into a website, app or support chat you did not verify yourself.
Self-custody means you hold the keys yourself rather than a company holding them for you. A browser wallet is usually a self-custody tool, and a companion app inherits the same responsibility. As a general principle, pairing connects programs; it should not change who holds your keys.
A pairing code is a short, temporary confirmation that two programs are communicating on purpose. Reading the code on one screen and typing it on another shows that you are in control of both ends of the link. Understanding these basics makes the setup steps less mysterious and helps you spot unusual requests before you respond to them.
Key features
Browser Pairing
Six-Digit Pairing Code
Experimental Settings Switch
Chrome or Firefox Support
Open Source Code
No Cost to Use
How to install Metamask Desktop on Windows
- 1
Get the Files From the Official Source
Open the project's GitHub page at github.com/metamask/metamask-desktop and look for the Releases section. Download only from the official website or the official repository, never from a mirror or a file-sharing site.
- 2
Verify the Download
Open PowerShell and run Get-FileHash with the SHA-256 algorithm on the installer file. Compare the output with the checksum published alongside the release. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again before running anything.
- 3
Run the Installer
Launch the Windows installer or extract the Windows build into a folder you control. Follow the on-screen prompts and accept only the components you need. Choose a location that you can easily find later, since you may need to reopen the app during pairing tests.
-
Prepare the Browser Side
Add the MetaMask Flask extension to Chrome or Firefox using the steps in the How to Use section below. The project also documents a separate developer route that involves building both the app and the extension from source. That route is more technical and is not needed for a ready-made installation.
How to use Metamask Desktop
Pairing takes only a few minutes once both sides are installed. You need the desktop app running on your Windows PC and the Flask extension open in the browser where you installed it. Follow the order below so the code appears while the app is waiting for it.
- Start the MetaMask Desktop app on your Windows PC.
- In Chrome or Firefox, add the MetaMask Flask extension to your browser.
- Open the Flask extension and go to Settings, then Experimental.
- Click Enable Desktop app.
- Read the six-digit code displayed in the Flask extension.
- Enter that code in the desktop app to pair the two programs.
- Keep both windows open while you test the connection.
If the code is rejected, close both programs, reopen them and start the sequence again from the first step. Keep the code private, and avoid sharing screenshots that show it.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use
- Open-source code published on GitHub
- Pairs a Windows app with the MetaMask Flask extension
- Windows build or installer is available
- Useful for learning how browser wallets connect to desktop apps
- Simple six-digit code for confirming the link
- Labeled as an experimental feature
- Latest code update dated May 24, 2023
- Depends on the experimental Flask extension rather than the standard wallet
- Developer documentation centers on building from source
- Build configuration references an Infura Project ID
- Not suitable for everyday, high-value wallet use
Is Metamask Desktop safe?
MetaMask Desktop handles wallet access, so treat the installation with the same care you would give any key-related software. Download only from the official website or from the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/metamask/metamask-desktop. Before running the installer, compute its SHA-256 checksum and compare it with the value published by the project, or verify the digital signature if one is provided.
Never enter your seed phrase on third-party websites, in chat messages or in any prompt you did not expect. The project is experimental and has had no code changes since May 24, 2023, so use a separate browser profile and keep balances small. For the most current release, check the official website before installing anything.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/metamask/metamask-desktop. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Most programs in the similar-programs set serve purposes different from MetaMask Desktop. PSBT Commander is a Rust-based tool for creating partially signed Bitcoin transactions, which is a transaction-building job rather than a browser wallet bridge. Subzero focuses on keeping a Bitcoin reserve offline, which is a storage strategy. MEV Boost is Ethereum block-building middleware aimed at validators and node operators.
Where MetaMask Desktop differs is in its goal: it links a desktop window to a browser wallet session. If you need to sign everyday Ethereum transactions, a mainstream, actively maintained browser wallet is usually the more practical choice. The desktop app is best treated as an experimental extra for learning and testing.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- @metamask/[email protected]
- Last update
- 24 May 2023
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/metamask/metamask-desktop
Frequently asked questions
Yes, MetaMask Desktop is listed as free. The software is open source and its code is published on GitHub. You do not pay to download or use the app itself. Any costs you incur would relate to your computer, your network activity or funds you choose to manage through a connected wallet.
It can be used carefully, but it is experimental, and its last code update was on May 24, 2023. Download it only from the official GitHub repository, verify the file's SHA-256 checksum, and never enter a seed phrase on a third-party site. Many users should keep it away from wallets that hold significant funds.
There has been no recent code activity. The latest code update is dated May 24, 2023, and the newest listed package version is @metamask/desktop 0.3.0. Because of that gap, treat the project as experimental software that may not work with current browser or wallet releases, and check its GitHub page before installing.
Yes. The pairing process described by the project uses the MetaMask Flask extension, which must be added to Chrome or Firefox. You then open its settings, go to Experimental and enable the Desktop app option. The standard MetaMask extension is not the path this feature is built around.
Open the Flask extension, go to Settings, then Experimental, and click Enable Desktop app. Enter the six-digit code shown in the extension into the desktop app. Keep both programs open until the connection is confirmed, and do not share the code with anyone.
Yes. The project lists Windows support through a Windows build or installer. The desktop app is meant to run alongside a browser on the same PC, so confirm that your chosen browser can load the Flask extension before you begin testing.
MetaMask is the standard browser wallet, while Flask is an experimental build used to test new features before they reach the main release. Flask may contain unfinished functions and changes that are not yet stable. Keep it separate from the wallet you use for everyday transactions, and never import your main seed phrase into a test profile.
Verdict
MetaMask Desktop is a free, open-source experiment for developers and technically curious users who want to see how a Windows app can pair with a browser wallet. Its value lies in transparency and learning. It is not a tool for holding or moving significant funds, given its experimental label and a last code update dated May 2023. If you test it, use a separate profile, a sandbox setup and small amounts. For anything beyond that, a mainstream, actively maintained wallet is the safer choice.