Connect to other apps
How to use your Arca wallet with other apps through QR codes, how to review what you are approving, and how to disconnect when you are done.
Arca can connect to other apps that work with wallets, using the open WalletConnect standard. When you visit an app that asks for a wallet, you can link your Arca wallet to that app with a QR code. This lets the app know your balance, receive payments, or ask you to approve actions. You stay in control. Arca never lets an app move your funds without your approval.
Two kinds of apps
The Arca app talks about two different “apps”, and they can be easy to mix up.
- Arca Safe Apps (the Apps tab) and Arca Apps (the grid on the Wallet tab) are directories of apps Arca has verified to work with your wallet. Tapping a tile opens the app’s site in your phone’s browser. This is just a bookmark.
- Connected Apps (Settings > Account > Connected Apps) is the list of apps you have actively paired with your wallet. Pairing is how an app can ask you to approve actions or sign data.
This guide is about Connected Apps.
How to connect
Most of the time, you start from the app you want to use. Open its site in your phone’s browser and look for a “Connect wallet” button. Pick the option that shows a QR code.
Then from Arca:
- Open the Arca app.
- Tap the scan icon in the top right of the screen.
- Point your camera at the QR code.
Arca reads the code and asks you to approve the connection. The prompt shows the app’s name, your public wallet address, and the supported networks for the session. Tap Approve to pair, or Reject if you do not recognize it.
From that point on, the app can ask you to approve actions. Every action still requires your tap.
What the app can and cannot do
When you connect, the app can:
- See your wallet address.
- Ask you to approve transactions.
- Ask you to sign messages.
- Ask for permission to spend certain tokens up to a set amount.
The app cannot:
- Move your funds without your approval.
- See your login or your identity documents.
- Change your wallet settings.
Every request comes back to Arca for you to review. You always see the details before you confirm.
Reviewing what you are approving
When an app sends a request, Arca shows a review screen. Read it before you tap Approve.
- Transactions. You see the amount, the destination, and any tokens involved. The reminder on the screen is clear: transfers cannot be reversed.
- Signed messages. You see what you are signing. Signed messages can authorize actions later, so do not sign anything you do not recognize.
- Token approvals. Some apps ask for permission to spend tokens on your behalf (useful for swaps and trades). You see the token, spender, amount, and your balance. If the request is unlimited, Arca marks it clearly and shows a Set a Limit option.
If something does not look right, tap Reject. The request is denied and nothing happens to your wallet.
Disconnecting
When you are done with an app, disconnect. It keeps your Connected Apps list short and makes it easier to spot anything unexpected.
Go to Settings > Account > Connected Apps. Tap the app you want to disconnect, then tap Disconnect. The app immediately loses the ability to request actions from your wallet.
You can always reconnect the same way you connected originally, starting from the app’s site.
Safety tips
- Only connect to apps you trust. If you do not know an app, look it up first.
- Read every request. The two seconds you take to read the review sheet are the main thing between you and a mistake.
- Set specific limits on token approvals instead of unlimited, when an app lets you choose.
- Disconnect apps you no longer use. Clean up the list once in a while.
- Be skeptical of QR codes on random sites. Treat a QR code the same way you would treat a link in an email from someone you do not know.
If something goes wrong
If you approved something by mistake, the first thing to do is disconnect the app in Connected Apps. That stops any further requests.
If funds moved, note the transaction in Activity (tap it to see the details) and reach out through Settings > About > Share Your Feedback. The team can look into what happened and help where possible.