If you've ever used the Ethereum mainnet—whether interacting with DeFi protocols, minting NFTs, or transferring tokens—you’ve likely encountered a common but frustrating issue: stuck transactions.
Sometimes a transaction takes minutes to confirm. During peak network congestion, it might remain pending for 30 minutes or longer. Worse, Ethereum’s transaction processing system uses a sequential order based on nonce values, meaning if one transaction stalls, every subsequent one gets blocked too—no matter how urgent or high-priority.
This guide will show you a reliable method to cancel or replace a stuck MetaMask transaction, even when the built-in "Speed Up" or "Cancel" options fail. You’ll also learn how to customize gas fees and manually control nonces for smoother interactions during high-traffic events like NFT mints.
Understanding the Problem: Why Transactions Get Stuck
Before diving into the solution, it's important to understand why transactions stall. Ethereum processes transactions in the order they're submitted, using a unique number called a nonce for each. Even if you send multiple transactions quickly, they must be confirmed one after another.
When you set a low gas fee, miners may ignore your transaction because more profitable ones are available. As a result, your transaction remains in the pending queue indefinitely. And since all future transactions depend on the completion of earlier ones (based on their nonce), everything behind it freezes.
👉 Learn how to bypass slow transaction times with smarter wallet settings.
Step-by-Step: How to Cancel a Stuck MetaMask Transaction
To resolve this, we use a technique called nonce override—essentially replacing the stuck transaction with a new one that has the same nonce but higher gas fees. This forces the network to accept the new transaction and discard the old one.
But first, you need to enable advanced settings in MetaMask.
Step 1: Enable Advanced Settings in MetaMask
- Open MetaMask and click the profile icon (circle) in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Navigate to Advanced.
Turn on:
- Show advanced gas controls
- Customize transaction nonce
🔐 Security Note: Avoid sharing your screen or allowing others to access these settings remotely. Scammers often pose as support agents and trick users into revealing sensitive data like private keys or recovery phrases.
With these options enabled, you’re ready to override your stuck transaction.
Step 2: Find the Nonce of the Pending Transaction
You need to identify the exact nonce of the stalled transaction.
- Go to Etherscan.io.
- Search your wallet address or paste the transaction hash directly.
- Locate the pending (stuck) transaction.
- Click "Click to see more" under the transaction details.
- Look for the field labeled Nonce—note this number down.
For example, if your stuck transaction shows Nonce: 114, that’s the key value you’ll reuse.
Step 3: Create a Replacement Transaction
Now, create a new transaction with the same nonce but a higher gas fee to push it through faster.
- In MetaMask, click Send.
- Enter your own wallet address as the recipient.
- Set the amount to 0 ETH (you’re not transferring funds—just paying gas).
- Scroll down and expand Advanced Options.
- Under Custom Nonce, enter the nonce number you noted earlier (e.g., 114).
👉 Discover how professionals manage gas fees during network spikes.
Step 4: Optimize Your Gas Fee for Faster Confirmation
The default gas settings in MetaMask aren't always effective during congestion. To ensure quick processing:
- Click Edit next to Gas Fee.
Use real-time gas estimation tools like:
These tools recommend competitive gas prices based on current network conditions.
For instance:
If Blocknative suggests a max fee of 187 Gwei and priority fee of 2.00 Gwei, consider rounding up slightly:
- Set Max Fee: 200 Gwei
- Set Priority Fee: 2.10 Gwei
This small increase significantly boosts priority without costing much—especially since sending 0 ETH requires minimal computation.
💡 Even with elevated gas prices, replacing a stuck transaction typically costs only a few dollars, far less than waiting hours for automatic failure or missed opportunities.
Step 5: Submit and Confirm the New Transaction
Once everything is set:
Double-check:
- The recipient is your own address
- The nonce matches the stuck transaction
- Gas fees are properly adjusted
- Confirm and submit.
Within seconds, your new transaction should be picked up by miners and confirmed. Once confirmed, the original pending transaction will automatically disappear from the mempool—it’s been overwritten.
All subsequent transactions (with higher nonces) will now resume processing normally.
Key Keywords for Ethereum Users
To help you find this guide and understand core concepts, here are essential keywords naturally integrated throughout:
- Stuck Ethereum transaction
- MetaMask cancel transaction
- Gas fee optimization
- Nonce override
- Pending transaction fix
- Customize nonce MetaMask
- Replace Ethereum transaction
- High gas fee strategy
These terms reflect common search intents and technical needs among crypto users navigating network delays.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I cancel a MetaMask transaction without paying gas?
No. Ethereum requires every on-chain action—even cancellation—to be processed as a new transaction, which means gas fees apply. However, by replacing a stuck tx with a 0 ETH transfer, you minimize cost while regaining control.
Q: What happens to the original stuck transaction after I replace it?
Once your replacement transaction confirms, the original one becomes invalid due to duplicate nonce usage and is dropped from the network’s pending pool.
Q: Is manually setting a nonce safe?
Yes—as long as you input the correct value and avoid repeating nonces unnecessarily. Mistakes can cause unexpected behavior, so double-check before confirming.
Q: Why does my next transaction still show as pending after fixing one?
Ensure all prior nonces have been resolved. Ethereum enforces strict sequential processing—every missing or stuck nonce must be cleared before later ones proceed.
Q: Can I speed up instead of canceling?
Yes, MetaMask’s “Speed Up” feature resubmits with higher gas, but only works if the original tx hasn’t been dropped. When speed-up fails, manual nonce override is your best alternative.
Q: Will this method work on other EVM-compatible chains?
Yes! This technique applies to any blockchain using Ethereum-style nonces and gas mechanisms—like BSC, Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism—though tools like Etherscan equivalents may vary.
Final Tips for Smoother Transactions
- Monitor network congestion before major interactions using tools like GasTracker.
- For time-sensitive actions (e.g., NFT mints), pre-calculate optimal gas rates.
- Regularly review pending transactions in MetaMask to catch issues early.
- Never share wallet settings or recovery phrases—even with “support.”
By mastering gas customization and nonce control, you gain greater autonomy over your Ethereum experience. No longer at the mercy of slow confirmations, you can proactively manage your wallet’s performance.
👉 Take control of your crypto transactions with advanced tools and strategies.
With this method, what once felt like helpless waiting turns into actionable problem-solving. Whether you're an active DeFi user, NFT collector, or occasional trader, understanding how to cancel stuck transactions is a vital skill in today’s decentralized ecosystem.