Rabby not showing in a dapp, or MetaMask opens instead
Only one wallet can answer a dapp's classic connection request, so make Rabby the default wallet (Rabby confirms with "Rabby is your default wallet now") and refresh the page. In Brave, set the default Ethereum wallet to Extensions. If a dapp only offers MetaMask, use Rabby's MetaMask Mode and pick the MetaMask option.
Quick steps
- Unlock Rabby. Open the Rabby extension and enter your password before you click Connect on the dapp.
- Make Rabby the default wallet. Switch Rabby to be the default wallet or accept the Set Rabby as default wallet prompt, then refresh the page.
- Fix Brave's setting. In Brave, open brave://settings/web3 and set the default Ethereum wallet to Extensions (no fallback), then open a fresh tab.
- Check MetaMask Preferred Dapps. In Rabby's settings, remove the site from MetaMask Preferred Dapps if it keeps opening MetaMask.
- Use MetaMask Mode. If the dapp only lists MetaMask, enable Connect Rabby by Disguising as MetaMask for that site, refresh and pick MetaMask.
- Disable competing wallets. If it still fails, temporarily turn off other wallet extensions and try again.
Browser wallets connect to websites by placing a provider object in the page. Older dapps only look at one shared slot (called window.ethereum), so when several wallets are installed, whichever claims that slot wins. Newer dapps list every wallet using a standard called EIP-6963, which Rabby supports. Most "Rabby not detected" problems come from that shared slot.
Causes at a glance
| What you see | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Clicking Connect opens MetaMask | MetaMask is the active default wallet | Switch the default to Rabby, refresh |
| Brave Wallet pops up | Brave's default wallet setting | Set brave://settings/web3 to an Extensions option |
| Rabby missing from the wallet list, only MetaMask shown | Dapp only supports MetaMask by name | MetaMask Mode in Rabby |
| Nothing happens on Connect | Rabby locked, page loaded before a change, or a site-level MetaMask preference | Unlock, hard-refresh, check MetaMask Preferred Dapps |
| Rabby connects but with the wrong address | Dapp-specific address setting | Change the connected address in Rabby's dapp panel |
Fix 1: make Rabby the default wallet
Rabby is designed to live alongside MetaMask. It has a switch that decides which of the two answers dapps. When you switch it, Rabby shows a notice in the page: Rabby is your default wallet now., followed by a prompt to refresh the web page and retry (Rabby page-provider source, 2026). BitBox's Rabby troubleshooting guide gives the same advice: unlock Rabby and click the Set Rabby as default wallet prompt if it appears; if no prompt appears, temporarily disable other wallet extensions such as MetaMask, then refresh and connect again (BitBox support, 2026).
Rabby also keeps a list called MetaMask Preferred Dapps in Settings. Sites on that list stay connected through MetaMask whichever wallet is the default. If one particular site keeps opening MetaMask, check whether it is on that list and remove it.
Fix 2: Brave's default wallet setting
Brave has its own built-in wallet that can claim the connection slot. Brave's support article explains the options at brave://settings/web3 (type it into the address bar). The default Ethereum wallet setting can be:
- Extensions (Brave Wallet fallback): the default. Brave Wallet provides the connection, but extensions can override it.
- Brave Wallet: Brave Wallet provides the connection and blocks extensions from changing it. With this, Rabby cannot connect to classic dapps.
- Extensions (no fallback): Brave Wallet stays out of the way so extensions like Rabby can use the slot freely.
Choose Extensions (no fallback) if Brave Wallet keeps appearing, or at least make sure it is not set to Brave Wallet. Tabs that were already open keep the old setting until you refresh them or open a new tab (Brave support, 2026). This is a known fix: in February 2024 a Brave user found that Rabby had vanished from the wallet lists on Beefy and Hyperliquid after a Brave update, and setting the default wallet to Extensions solved it (Brave Community, 26 February 2024).
Fix 3: dapps that only show a MetaMask button
Some dapps list MetaMask but not Rabby. For these, Rabby has MetaMask Mode, labelled in the menu as Connect Rabby by Disguising as MetaMask (More, then that option). Rabby describes it like this: "If you can't connect Rabby on a Dapp, enable MetaMask Mode and connect by selecting the MetaMask option." Once enabled for the current site, Rabby confirms with Disguise enabled. Refresh the Dapp to reconnect. Refresh and choose MetaMask on the dapp; Rabby answers instead. You can manage the sites that use this mode from the same screen (Rabby extension source, v0.94.13, October 2026).
MetaMask Mode is per site. If you also have the real MetaMask installed, turn the mode off for that site when you want MetaMask itself.
Other things to check
- Unlock Rabby first. Open the extension and enter your password before clicking Connect.
- Disable other wallet extensions such as Phantom, Coinbase Wallet or OKX Wallet while testing. They can also claim the shared slot.
- Use the dapp's own button. When Rabby is not connected, its panel tells you:
Rabby is not connected to the current Dapp.To connect, find and click the connect button on the Dapp's webpage. - WalletConnect for mobile. On a phone, open the dapp in the Rabby mobile app's browser, or choose WalletConnect on the desktop site. See Rabby mobile.
- Check the site is real. A cloned dapp may not work properly with any wallet, and connecting is the first step of most drainer scams. Rabby's security checks flag many known phishing sites when you connect. Read how Rabby's simulation works before signing anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep both MetaMask and Rabby installed?
Yes. Rabby is built to sit alongside MetaMask. Use its default wallet switch to choose which one answers dapps, and the MetaMask Preferred Dapps list for sites that should stay on MetaMask.
Is MetaMask Mode safe?
Yes. It only changes how Rabby introduces itself to that site, so the dapp thinks it is talking to MetaMask. Rabby still shows its own signing screen and simulation.
Why is Rabby not in the Brave wallet list?
Brave's built-in wallet can take over the connection. Set brave://settings/web3 to an Extensions option, preferably Extensions (no fallback), and open a fresh tab.
The dapp connected the wrong address. How do I change it?
Open Rabby on that site and switch the connected address. Rabby also has an option to choose a separate address for each dapp.
Does Rabby work with dapps on my phone?
Yes. Use the dapp browser in the Rabby mobile app, or connect through WalletConnect where the dapp supports it.