TypeScript SDK: Wallet Adapter (React)

Purpose

Guide wallet connection and frontend transaction submission in React using @aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react. End users sign transactions via their browser wallet (Petra, Nightly, etc.) — never via raw private keys.

ALWAYS

1. Use @aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react for frontend wallet integration — this is the standard React adapter.
2. Wrap your app root with AptosWalletAdapterProvider — all useWallet() calls require this context.
3. Use useWallet() hook to access wallet functions in React components.
4. Use the wallet adapter's signAndSubmitTransaction (from useWallet()) in frontend — NOT the SDK's direct aptos.signAndSubmitTransaction.
5. Always call aptos.waitForTransaction({ transactionHash }) after submit — the wallet returns when the tx is accepted, not committed.

NEVER

1. Do not use Account.generate() or raw private keys in browser/frontend — use wallet adapter for end users.
2. Do not use the SDK's aptos.signAndSubmitTransaction in React components — use the wallet adapter's version from useWallet().
3. Do not hardcode wallet names — use the wallets array from useWallet() for a dynamic list.

Installation

npm install @aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react

Modern AIP-62 standard wallets (Petra, Nightly, etc.) are autodetected and do NOT require additional packages. Legacy wallets need their plugin package installed separately.

Provider setup

Wrap your app root with AptosWalletAdapterProvider:

// main.tsx or App.tsx
import { AptosWalletAdapterProvider } from "@aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react";
import { Network } from "@aptos-labs/ts-sdk";

function App() {
  return (
    <AptosWalletAdapterProvider
      autoConnect={true}
      dappConfig={{
        network: Network.TESTNET
      }}
      onError={(error) => console.error("Wallet error:", error)}
    >
      <YourApp />
    </AptosWalletAdapterProvider>
  );
}

useWallet() hook

import { useWallet } from "@aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react";

function MyComponent() {
  const {
    account, // Current connected account { address, publicKey }
    connected, // Boolean: is wallet connected?
    wallet, // Current wallet info { name, icon, url }
    wallets, // Array of available wallets
    connect, // (walletName) => Promise<void>
    disconnect, // () => Promise<void>
    signAndSubmitTransaction, // Submit entry function calls (use THIS in frontend)
    signTransaction, // Sign without submitting
    submitTransaction, // Submit a signed transaction
    signMessage, // Sign an arbitrary message
    signMessageAndVerify, // Sign and verify a message
    changeNetwork, // Switch networks (not all wallets support this)
    network // Current network info
  } = useWallet();
}

Frontend transaction pattern

Use typed payloads with InputTransactionData:

// entry-functions/increment.ts
import { InputTransactionData } from "@aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react";
import { MODULE_ADDRESS } from "../lib/aptos";

export function buildIncrementPayload(): InputTransactionData {
  return {
    data: {
      function: `${MODULE_ADDRESS}::counter::increment`,
      functionArguments: []
    }
  };
}

// components/IncrementButton.tsx
import { useWallet } from "@aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react";
import { aptos } from "../lib/aptos";
import { buildIncrementPayload } from "../entry-functions/increment";

function IncrementButton() {
  const { signAndSubmitTransaction } = useWallet();

  const handleClick = async () => {
    try {
      const response = await signAndSubmitTransaction(buildIncrementPayload());
      await aptos.waitForTransaction({
        transactionHash: response.hash
      });
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Transaction failed:", error);
    }
  };

  return <button onClick={handleClick}>Increment</button>;
}

Wallet connection UI

import { useWallet } from "@aptos-labs/wallet-adapter-react";

function WalletInfo() {
  const { account, connected, connect, disconnect, wallet, wallets } = useWallet();

  if (!connected) {
    return (
      <div>
        {wallets.map((w) => (
          <button key={w.name} onClick={() => connect(w.name)}>
            Connect {w.name}
          </button>
        ))}
      </div>
    );
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Connected: {account?.address}</p>
      <p>Wallet: {wallet?.name}</p>
      <button onClick={disconnect}>Disconnect</button>
    </div>
  );
}

Common mistakes

References

• Wallet Adapter: https://aptos.dev/build/sdks/wallet-adapter/dapp
• Pattern: TYPESCRIPT_SDK.md
• Related: ts-sdk-transactions, ts-sdk-client, use-ts-sdk