How Do You Remove a Dead Token from Your MetaMask View?

06 November 2026

You cannot delete a dead token from MetaMask, but you can hide it so it no longer appears in your token list. The token's contract address remains on the blockchain, and MetaMask simply retrieves whatever data it can find there. Hiding the token removes the visual clutter without affecting your wallet or the token itself.

What hiding does vs. what it does not

Hiding a token in MetaMask is a cosmetic change. The transaction history, approvals, and any residual balance stay on the blockchain, linked to your wallet address. Hiding does not:

• Transfer or burn the tokens
• Revoke any approvals you gave to the token contract
• Remove the token from block explorers like Etherscan
• Affect other wallets or dApps that show your token holdings

Step-by-Step: Hide a Dead Token in MetaMask

1. Open the Token List

In the main MetaMask wallet view, scroll down to the token list. Dead tokens usually appear with a zero balance or no dollar value.

2. Locate the Token

Find the dead token in your list. If you have many tokens, use the search bar at the top of the token list to type part of the token name or symbol.

3. Access the Token Details

Click or tap on the token row. This opens a detail screen showing the token balance, contract address, and any recent activity.

4. Find the Hide Option

On the token detail screen, look for three dots (⋮) or a settings icon, usually in the upper-right corner. Tap it. A small menu appears with an option labeled "Hide" or "Remove from list."

5. Confirm

MetaMask will ask if you are sure you want to hide the token. Confirm. The token disappears from your main token list.

What if the token keeps reappearing?

Some dead tokens reappear because the token contract uses a feature called airdropping or forced sending. The contract can automatically send small amounts of the token to active wallets, and MetaMask detects the new balance and re-adds the token. This is common with spam tokens.

To stop a persistent token:

• Hide it again each time it reappears. This is the simplest fix.
• Block the token contract address using a third-party tool or a custom RPC provider that supports token blacklisting. MetaMask does not have a built-in blocklist.
• Consider creating a new wallet address if the token is part of a repeated spam attack. Transfer your legitimate tokens and ETH to the new address, then abandon the old one.

Why you should revoke approvals before hiding

Hiding a token does nothing about the approvals you may have given to the dead token's contract. If the token contract was malicious - common in rug pulls - it may still hold approval to spend other tokens from your wallet. Before you hide the token, revoke any outstanding approvals using a tool like Etherscan's "Token Approval" checker or a dedicated approval revoker. This is covered in the site's article "Why you should revoke token approvals on dead projects."

When hiding is not enough

If the dead token is part of a phishing scheme - for example, a fake airdrop token that asks you to visit a website to "claim" value - hiding does not address the security risk. The token contract may be able to drain other tokens if you interact with it. In that case:

1. Revoke all approvals to that contract immediately.
2. Never visit any website linked in the token's name or symbol.
3. Do not attempt to swap or transfer the token; that interaction could trigger a malicious function.
4. Consider moving your assets to a fresh wallet if you have already interacted with the contract.

Summary

• Hiding a dead token is a one-click cosmetic fix in MetaMask.
• It does not remove the token from the blockchain or your wallet's history.
• Persistent tokens may require repeated hiding or a new wallet.
• Always revoke approvals to dead token contracts before hiding them.

Back to dead tokens