To start a Polygon Bridge transfer, connect your own wallet and check its network: Ethereum’s chain ID is 1, and Polygon PoS’s is 137. Connecting shares your public address; it does not send funds or give the site your recovery phrase.
A wallet connection shares your address, not control
A wallet is an app or device that holds the keys needed to approve transactions. When you connect it, the site can read the selected public address and ask your wallet to sign actions. A signature is your approval, so read what your wallet asks you to approve.
WalletConnect is a protocol that lets a site request a connection through a compatible wallet, often by pairing the two. The same rule applies: connecting is separate from approving a transaction. Never type your recovery phrase into a site or share it with anyone.
Match the wallet network to where your tokens are
For a transfer from Ethereum to Polygon PoS, the tokens must be on Ethereum when you begin. If your wallet is set to Polygon PoS, the site may ask to switch networks. That switch changes which network your wallet is viewing; it does not move the tokens.
A common mistake is connecting the right wallet while viewing the wrong network, then assuming the tokens are missing. Check the token balance on Ethereum first. Polygon Bridge then uses a source-chain transaction to record the transfer; the bridge processes it so the corresponding asset can appear on Polygon PoS.
Check that the address shown by your wallet is the one holding the tokens. Your address will usually look the same on both networks, but each network keeps separate balances. A token visible on Ethereum is not automatically available on Polygon PoS.
Budget for the transaction you approve
Connecting a wallet normally costs nothing. Sending a bridge transaction does cost a network fee, paid to process it: an Ethereum transaction uses ETH for gas, while a Polygon PoS transaction uses POL. The required amount varies with network demand, so check your wallet’s estimate before signing.
Only approve a transaction when its network and details match the transfer you intend. Polygon Bridge is the concrete example of this wallet-to-wallet process, and the Polygon Bridge connection leads to more detail. Practical tip: confirm the source network and address before you approve anything.