Phantom Wallet offers a feature called Wallet Watcher, which allows users to add any wallet as a view-only account to track activity. However, you will need the original seed phrase or private key to perform transactions.
These wallets will not have a sell/swap/buy button since that functionality is not available.
If your wallet has switched to a view-only state unexpectedly, this is a result of adding the wallet as a watch address instead of fully importing it. Below, we’ll walk you through how to restore access to your wallet and clarify common misunderstandings.
How to Use Wallet Watcher
The Wallet Watcher feature allows you to monitor the activity of friends, traders, and industry leaders by adding their wallets as view-only accounts.
How to Get Started with Wallet Watcher
- Go to Settings → Open the Phantom app and navigate to the Settings menu.
- Select Manage Accounts → Tap "Manage Accounts" to access your account settings.
- Choose "Add / Connect Wallet" → Begin the process of adding a new account.
- Select "Watch Address" → This allows you to add a wallet as a view-only account.
You can watch any wallet on Solana, EVM-compatible chains (Ethereum, Base, Polygon, SUI), and Bitcoin addresses. Additionally, Wallet Watcher supports tracking wallets linked to domain names from:
- Bonfida
- AllDomains
- ENS Domains
- Unstoppable Domains
How to Restore Full Access to Your Wallet
If your wallet is in watch-only mode, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings → Open Phantom Wallet and navigate to Settings.
- Manage Accounts → Select the "Manage Accounts" option.
- Check How the Wallet Was Added → If the wallet was added via "Watch Address", it is a view-only wallet and will not allow transactions.
- Fully Import the Wallet → To regain access, you must:
- Enter your seed phrase or private key to restore full functionality.
- If you do not have the recovery phrase, Phantom cannot recover or reset it, as we do not store user data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I perform transactions from a wallet added via Wallet Watcher?
A: No, Wallet Watcher is view-only. It allows you to monitor wallet activity, but you cannot send transactions. You must import the seed phrase or private key to regain full access.
Q: Can I watch multiple wallets at once?
A: Yes! You can add multiple wallets to your Wallet Watcher list to track various accounts.
Q: How can I remove a wallet from Wallet Watcher?
A: To remove a wallet:
- Go to "Manage Accounts" in the Settings menu.
- Select the wallet you want to remove.
- Choose the option to delete it.
Q: Why did my wallet suddenly become a "watch-only" wallet?
A: This typically happens if you manually added the wallet as a watch address instead of importing it with a seed phrase or private key. It does not affect your actual funds.
Q: Can Phantom restore access to my wallet if I lost my seed phrase?
A: No. Phantom is a non-custodial wallet, meaning we do not store seed phrases or private keys. If you do not have your recovery phrase, there is no way to regain access.