To display ARB in MetaMask, select the account that owns it, use the network where the tokens were received and enable the correct token entry. Importing a token changes what the wallet shows; it does not buy ARB or move an existing balance.
For ARB on Arbitrum One, use the contract and token details below. A contract for another network will not display the same balance merely because the token symbol is also ARB.
Begin with the transaction or withdrawal record rather than a token logo. It should identify the receiving network, destination address and transaction hash.
Check that the destination address belongs to the MetaMask account you are using. If the sender cannot supply a hash or the transfer is still awaiting submission, there may be no completed on-chain payment for MetaMask to display yet.
You can compare wallet arrangements in the ARB wallet guide if you are deciding which account or signing device to use. Adding a token to an unrelated account will not give that account control of someone else’s funds.
The account and network selectors control which balances you inspect. Check both before changing token settings or importing anything manually.
Compare the full address in MetaMask with the destination recorded by the sender. An account name such as “Main wallet” is only a label and is not proof that you selected the receiving address.
For a hardware-backed account, connect through the normal hardware-wallet integration. Do not type a hardware wallet’s recovery phrase into a browser extension to make a balance appear.
Choose Arbitrum One from the network selector for the transfer described here. If you need to enable the network, use MetaMask’s network selection or the connection information provided through official Arbitrum resources.
Adding the network and importing the token are separate actions. Seeing an ETH balance after selecting Arbitrum One does not mean every ERC-20 token held by the account has already been added to the visible asset list.
First look for ARB in the wallet’s token management or search feature and enable it if available. If it is missing from that list, use the custom-token import option.
Use these details for Arbitrum One:
The contract identifies the asset. It is not your receiving address and is not an address to which you should send funds to activate MetaMask.
The wallet may fill the symbol and decimals automatically. Do not change the decimal setting to force a desired number onto the screen; inspect the account, network and transaction instead.
A missing display can have several causes, and repeatedly importing the same token does not distinguish them. Use the explorer for the actual receiving network to find out whether the account holds the expected asset.
Check the network shown in the sender’s withdrawal record and open its corresponding explorer. Switching the MetaMask display to Arbitrum One does not move an Ethereum or Nova transfer there.
Use the token deployment for the chain where the balance actually exists. A network transfer or bridge is a separate operation, not a display setting.
Compare the receiving address and token contract in the transfer details. A token named ARB can still be unrelated to the official asset.
If the receiving account has no matching token transfer, ask the sender to check the payment record. Do not send an extra “unlock” or “activation” payment to an address supplied by a stranger.
Refresh the asset list and confirm the token is enabled for the same account. A wallet display or connection issue can remain even when the on-chain balance is correct.
For the checks needed before a new transfer, use the ARB sending instructions. Keep a record of the successful transaction rather than resending solely because the interface has not refreshed.
Once ARB is visible, choose whether to keep it, participate in governance or exchange it. Review the next action in the wallet before signing; a token import is different from a transfer or spending approval.
To receive a stablecoin instead, exchange ARB for USDC on your selected receiving network. Match that payout network to the wallet where you want to use the result.
No. Hiding a token changes the visible asset list, while the tokens remain associated with the same address on-chain.
Token visibility and price availability are separate features. You can hold and transfer a correctly identified token even when the wallet has no reliable fiat-price display for it.