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Ergo Browser Wallets on Android

Overview#

To use the Nautilus or Safew Ergo wallet browser extensions on Android, you need a mobile browser that supports Chrome extensions. Most mobile browsers do not support this, but a few do.

This guide will walk you through installing Nautilus or Safew wallets on mobile, to be used as a supplement to the official Ergo wallet app, rather than a full replacement.

Alternatively, a full desktop browser can be installed natively within Termux, and run via a minimal desktop environment, such as XFCE. This method brings full Ergo browser wallet functionality to Android. A guide for this setup can be found below under Advanced Setup.

Expectations#

This method does work for installing and using Ergo wallet browser extensions on Android. However, it is important to set realistic expectations:

  • Wallet functionality works (view balances, manage addresses, sign transactions).
  • dApp connectivity for external sites usually does not work reliably.
  • Certain built-in dApps inside the wallets do work:
    • Nautilus: wallet optimizations, SigmaUSD protocol
    • Safew: token minter, mixer integration (requires local mixer running in termux)
  • The extension wallets on Android should be treated as:
    • An alternative wallet interface, or
    • A supplement to the official Ergo mobile wallet app

Supported Android Browsers#

The following Android browsers support installing Chrome extensions and can run Ergo wallet extensions:

Getting Started (Quetta Browser & Mises Browser)#

The steps below describe how to install and use the Nautilus or Safew Ergo wallet extensions on Android using browsers that support Chrome extensions.

Option 1: Quetta Browser#

  1. Install Quetta Browser

  2. Install the Wallet Extension

  3. Verify Installation

    • Open the main browser menu (three dots in the bottom-right corner near the address bar).
    • In the bottom row of icons, tap the puzzle piece icon to open the Extensions menu.
    • Confirm that the wallet extension appears in the list.
    • From this menu, you can manage extensions (enable private mode access, disable, or remove extensions).

  4. Open Wallet Extension Full-Screen

    • To view Nautilus wallet in full screen as a new tab, click the icon in the top-right corner of the extension popup (an arrow pointing up out of a square).

  5. Set Up or Restore Wallet

    • Create a new wallet or restore an existing wallet using your seed phrase.
    • Set a strong password.

Option 2: Mises Browser#

  1. Install Mises Browser

  2. Open the Extension Manager

    • Tap the puzzle piece icon at the bottom of the screen (just left of the tabs icon).
    • Open the Extensions menu.
    • Chrome extension support is enabled by default, and a link to the Chrome Web Store is available here.

  3. Install the Wallet Extension

  4. Access the Wallet

    • Open the Extensions menu.
    • Launch Nautilus or Safew from the list.

  5. Open Nautilus Wallet Full-Screen

    • Click the icon in the top-right corner of the extension popup to open it as a full-screen tab.

  6. Initialize the Wallet

    • Create a new wallet or restore an existing one using your seed phrase.
    • Set a strong password.

Notes & Limitations#

  • Extension popups may not render correctly on mobile.
  • Most Ergo dApps will not successfully connect to extension wallets on Android browsers.
  • Built-in dApps inside Nautilus and Safew do work (Nautilus: wallet optimizations, SigmaUSD protocol; Safew: token minter, mixer integration).
  • Background execution and notifications are unreliable.
  • This setup is not recommended for high-frequency or critical dApp usage.

Advanced Setup, Fully Functional dApp Connector#

This slightly more advanced method of using Nautilus or SAFEW wallets on Android requires two apps to function (Termux and Termux-X11). However, it will result in a desktop-like wallet experience, with all of the normal functionalities intact. This is a great option for users who want full access to Ergo dApps but only have an Android device (Android 8 or higher), without access to a desktop or laptop.

  1. Download Termux

  2. Download Termux-X11

    • Termux-X11 is an X server app that will display the desktop environment.
    • Download the latest release of Termux-X11 from: https://github.com/termux/termux-x11/releases/tag/nightly
    • Select the correct apk for your devices architecture, and when its finished downloading, install the apk.

  3. Open Termux and Update

    • Open the Termux app for the first time. It will install the bootstrap system, and configure itself.
    • Optionally, at this time you can install other packages which may be useful in the desktop environment later, such as termux-setup-storage, pulseaudio, etc.
    • update Termux: pkg update -y && pkg upgrade -y
    • During the update, you may be prompted to confirm some settings. It is ok to choose the default by simply pressing enter.

  4. Install the Desktop Environment and Browser

    • Now it is time to install the desktop environment and browser. For this guide, I will choose XFCE and firefox.
    • First, add the X-11 repository, and then install the termux-x11 package, which will add X graphics in Termux. Here are the commands: pkg i x11-repo -y && pkg i termux-x11-nightly -y
    • Second, install the desktop environment (XFCE) and browser (Firefox) with this command: pkg i xfce firefox -y

  5. Start the Desktop Environment

    • On most devices the following command will start the desktop environment, and launch the Termux X-11 app. Start command: am start --user 0 -n com.termux.x11/com.termux.x11.MainActivity > /dev/null 2>&1 && sleep 1 && termux-x11 :1 -xstartup "dbus-launch --exit-with-session xfce4-session"
    • And for older android devices, if above command doesnt work: am start --user 0 -n com.termux.x11/com.termux.x11.MainActivity > /dev/null 2>&1 && sleep 1 && env DISPLAY=:0 dbus-launch --exit-with-session xfce4-session

  6. Launch Desktop Browser, Install Nautilus or SAFEW

    • Familiarize yourself with the inputs of the Termux X-11 desktop environment. The screen acts as a trackpad, which controls the mouse pointer. A tap on the screen for left click, two finger tap for right click, selecting a text box and raising the onscreen keyboard and typing will enter text as expected.
    • Navigate to the applications menu located at the top left of the screen on the panel.
    • Launch Firefox by selecting it in the applications menu. It can be found under Internet
    • Go though Firefox's initial setup, then visit the Firefox addons store and install/enable your desired wallet. Here is the addons page for Nautilus: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/nautilus

  7. Initialize and Use the Wallet

    • The wallet extension can be found at the top right of Firefox, under the puzzle piece icon.
    • Optionally pin the wallet to the toolbar for easy access.
    • Open the wallet addon, and create or restore a wallet in the normal way.
    • You are now able to visit any site with the Nautilus dApp connector, and authenticate using the addon like normal.

Security Recommendations#

  • Write down your seed phrase and store it offline.
  • Do not store seed phrases in screenshots or cloud storage.
  • Lock your device and browser when not in use.
  • Avoid using extension wallets on shared, rooted, or compromised devices.
  • Consider using a dedicated mobile device for wallet usage.