Swapping tokens on the Solana network using Phantom is usually simple. But sometimes, swaps can fail. This guide explains the most common reasons for failed swaps and offers clear steps to help you resolve them.
Insufficient funds
All Solana swaps require SOL to cover gas fees. Usually, you’ll need at least 0.05 SOL. However, on mobile, swaps over $10 are gasless—meaning Phantom covers the network fee by deducting it from the swapped token instead.
Why it happens
If your wallet doesn’t have enough SOL, and your swap doesn’t qualify as gasless, the transaction will fail.
What to do
- Check your SOL balance. Make sure you have enough to cover fees.
- Top up your wallet using an exchange or Phantom’s in-app buy feature.
- If you’re on mobile and swapping over $10, retry the swap—it may go through without SOL.
Slippage tolerance exceeded
Slippage is the change in price between when a swap starts and when it completes. Phantom sets a default slippage tolerance of 0.5%.
Why it happens
If the token price moves beyond the allowed slippage range before your transaction finalizes, Phantom cancels the swap to protect you from an unfavorable rate.
What to do
- Increase your slippage tolerance in the swap settings.
- Turn on auto slippage to automatically adjust for price volatility.
- Retry the swap with a slightly higher setting.
Liquidity provider issues
Swaps rely on liquidity providers to match your token pair. If a provider doesn’t have enough available tokens, the swap may fail. This is common with new or low-volume tokens.
Why it happens
The provider’s liquidity pool doesn’t have enough of the token you’re trying to receive. This is common with new, low-volume, or thinly traded tokens.
What to do
- Choose another provider in Phantom, if the option appears during the swap.
- Use a different swapping platform that may support your token pair better.
A different provider might have a deeper pool for your trade.
Network congestion
The Solana network may experience high traffic, causing delays or failed transactions.
Why it happens
During periods of high demand, validators may not process all transactions promptly. This results in swap failures or timeouts.
What to do
- Check Solana’s network status using Solscan.
- Wait for congestion to ease, then retry your swap.
Scam tokens and frozen assets
Some tokens are designed to block swaps or prevent users from transferring funds. These include scam tokens, frozen assets, and those subject to market manipulation.
Frozen tokens
These are tokens locked by a freeze authority, which stops them from being traded or transferred.
Why it happens
A smart contract or authority has locked the token, making it immovable until the freeze is lifted.
What to do
- Check the token status using RugCheck.
- Only the token’s creator or freeze authority can unlock it.
Price manipulation
Some tokens show misleading price activity due to fake liquidity or wash trading.
Why it happens
These tokens inflate their prices artificially to appear more valuable. However, there’s often no real liquidity to support swaps.
What to do
- Avoid tokens with suspicious price spikes.
- Verify token activity using trusted tools like Solscan, Birdeye, or RugCheck.
Price impact
Price impact is how much your trade changes the market price. If the token pool is small, even modest trades can move prices significantly.
Why it happens
If the token pool is too shallow, your swap moves the price significantly. This leads to a worse exchange rate—or the swap may fail altogether.
What to do
- Break large trades into smaller ones. This minimizes your impact on the pool.
- Wait for increased liquidity before trying again.
Note: Phantom shows estimated price impact before confirming a trade.
Malicious account error
If you see an error stating that the swap failed due to a malicious account, the token is likely a scam.
Why it happens
Some tokens are intentionally programmed to prevent swaps. These scam tokens often impersonate real ones or bait users with inflated prices.
What to do
- Stop interacting with the token. Do not approve or transfer it again.
- Avoid future exposure. Only use verified tokens and check token contracts using trusted tools.
Important: Scam tokens cannot be swapped. Unfortunately, funds tied to them are usually unrecoverable.