Are you a DeFi enthusiast or crypto trader who frequently uses MetaMask to access decentralized apps? If so, you may have encountered the frustrating error message: “intrinsic gas too low.” This error can disrupt your transaction flow and cause delays or failures. But what does this error mean, and how can you fix it? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at intrinsic gas, explore the causes of the “intrinsic gas too low” error on MetaMask, and provide you with step-by-step guides to help you fix this issue.
What is Intrinsic Gas?
Before we dive into the “intrinsic gas too low” error, let’s first understand what intrinsic gas is and why it’s important. Intrinsic gas is the minimum amount of gas required to execute a transaction on the Ethereum blockchain or any other EVM-enabled blockchain. It’s a measure of computational effort required to process transactions or execute smart contracts on a blockchain. The amount of intrinsic gas required for a transaction is determined by the nature of the transaction. For example, a simple transfer of Ether from one wallet to another may require a lower amount of intrinsic gas compared to executing a complex smart contract.
What is the “Intrinsic Gas Too Low” Error?
The “intrinsic gas too low” error is one of the most common errors encountered by MetaMask users. It occurs when the gas limit set for a transaction is insufficient to cover the intrinsic gas cost. In other words, the gas provided is not enough to complete the intended operation successfully. This error can occur when interacting with complex smart contracts, executing computationally intensive operations, or underestimating the gas required for a transaction.
Why Does the “Intrinsic Gas Too Low” Error Happen?
The “intrinsic gas too low” error can happen for various reasons. One reason is that the gas limit set for a transaction is too low to cover the intrinsic gas cost. The gas limit is the maximum amount of gas you’re willing to pay for a transaction. If the gas limit is too low, the transaction will fail with the “intrinsic gas too low” error message.
Another reason is that the gas price set for a transaction is too low. The gas price is the amount of Ether you’re willing to pay for each unit of gas. If the gas price is too low, miners may not prioritize your transaction, and it may take longer to process. This delay in processing may cause the transaction to fail with the “intrinsic gas too low” error message.
Finally, the “intrinsic gas too low” error can occur when interacting with complex smart contracts or executing computationally intensive operations. These types of transactions require a higher amount of intrinsic gas compared to simple transactions.
How to Fix the “Intrinsic Gas Too Low” Error
Now that you understand what the “intrinsic gas too low” error is and why it happens, let’s explore how to fix it. There are several ways to fix this error, and we’ll cover two methods in this article.
Method 1: Manually Increase the Gas Limit
The first method to fix the “intrinsic gas too low” error is to manually increase the gas limit of the transaction. To do this, you need to access the gas settings in your MetaMask wallet and increase the gas limit until the transaction goes through. Here’s how to do it:
- Open your MetaMask wallet and unlock it if necessary.
- Click on the transaction that failed with the “intrinsic gas too low” error message.
- Click on the “Edit” button to edit the transaction.
- In the gas settings, increase the gas limit until the transaction goes through.
- Click on “Save” to save the changes.
- Submit the transaction again.
If increasing the gas limit doesn’t fix the error, you can try the second method.
Method 2: Reset Your MetaMask Account
The second method to fix the “intrinsic gas too low” error is to reset your MetaMask account. This method will reset your local nonce calculation, clear all existing configurations and settings, and transaction history on your wallet. Here’s how to do it:
- Open your MetaMask wallet and unlock it if necessary.
- Click on the account icon and select “Settings.”
- Scroll down to the “Advanced” section and click on “Reset Account.”
- Confirm that you want to reset your account.
After resetting your MetaMask account, the “intrinsic gas too low” error should be fixed. If neither of these methods works, you can try reinstalling the MetaMask extension or mobile app.
Conclusion
The “intrinsic gas too low” error is a common issue that can disrupt your transaction flow when using MetaMask. However, with the methods outlined in this article, you can easily fix this error and continue using MetaMask to access decentralized apps. Remember to always set appropriate gas limits and gas prices for your transactions, especially when interacting with complex smart contracts or executing computationally intensive operations.
