This presentation walks a complete beginner through installing Phantom Wallet, creating and securing a wallet, sending and receiving tokens, swapping, connecting to dApps, managing NFTs, and troubleshooting common issues. By the end you'll know practical, safe steps to get started on Solana with Phantom.
Phantom is a user-first crypto wallet focused on the Solana ecosystem, with a browser extension and mobile app. It's popular for fast transactions, simple UI, and built-in swaps and NFT support.
Open the Chrome Web Store (or your browser’s extension store) and search for “Phantom Wallet” by Phantom Technologies, Inc. Click “Add to browser” and confirm installation. After adding, the Phantom icon (a small ghost) appears in your toolbar.
On mobile, visit your app store (iOS App Store or Google Play) and download “Phantom — Crypto Wallet”. The mobile app mirrors most desktop features and includes camera access for QR codes.
Open the Phantom extension, click Create New Wallet. You'll be prompted to create a password (used to unlock the extension on this device) and then shown a 12-word recovery phrase. This recovery phrase is the only way to restore your wallet if you lose access.
Write the words on paper and store offline. Do not screenshot, email, or store the phrase on cloud storage. Consider using a fireproof safe or a secure physical backup method (metal backup for long-term storage).
Phantom will ask you to re-enter the phrase or tap the words in order to confirm that you backed them up. Only after confirmation will the wallet be ready to use.
The home screen shows your SOL balance and token list. You’ll find quick actions: Send, Receive, Swap, Buy, and NFTs. Familiarize yourself with each button before making transactions.
Phantom connects to the Solana network by default. Use Settings → Contacts and Security to manage addresses, change appearance, or reveal your secret recovery phrase (only when needed and only on a secure device).
Click Receive. You'll see your public Solana address and a QR code. Copy the address or share the QR code with the sender. Always verify that the address you paste is identical to the one shown in Phantom.
When dealing with a new counterparty or bridge, ask for a small test transfer first to verify everything is working.
Once tokens arrive, they appear in the assets list. For some SPL tokens, you may need to add them manually by using the token's mint address (only from trusted sources).
Crypto transactions are irreversible. Always double-check the full address and consider pasting and verifying the first/last few characters before sending large amounts.
If a transaction fails, check the transaction status in your wallet or a Solana block explorer like Solscan. Some failures are due to insufficient funds for fees or temporary network congestion.
Phantom includes an in-wallet swap feature. Select Swap, choose the token pair, set slippage tolerance if needed, and preview rates. Phantom sources liquidity across Solana AMMs to show you an estimated rate and fee.
Higher slippage increases the chance a swap completes but can cost more. Approvals are not required like in some EVM wallets — Phantom signs the swap directly.
On Solana, fees are generally minimal; however, low-liquidity pairs can have significant price impact. Always preview the trade and, if unsure, use smaller trade sizes.
When a website asks to connect to your Phantom wallet, a popup asks for permission. Check the domain carefully before approving and only allow connections you trust. Disconnect unused sites from Settings → Connected Websites.
Phantom shows NFTs in a dedicated tab. You can view images and metadata, send NFTs like tokens, and connect to marketplaces to list them. Always confirm marketplace URLs to avoid phishing scams.
Revoke dApp access from Phantom where available; for deeper permission auditing, review transactions on a block explorer to ensure no unexpected signings occurred.
If you lose device access, restore from your 12-word phrase in a fresh Phantom install or compatible wallet. If your phrase was compromised, move funds to a new wallet immediately.
Try locking and unlocking Phantom, restarting your browser, or reinstalling the extension. Ensure no conflicting extensions block popups.
Some SPL tokens require manually adding the token by its mint address. Confirm the mint on a trusted source before adding.
Phantom’s official support docs and the Solana community are excellent next steps. Practice safe habits and test small transactions while learning.
Thanks — safe transacting! Find more guides, community channels, and official docs at Phantom’s site and trusted Solana resources.