Interacting With Smart Contracts Using AlgoSigner and WalletConnect

AlgoSigner was a browser extension that let web apps request Algorand accounts and ask the user to sign transactions. It was developed by PureStake, and for a time it was one of the common ways for Algorand dApps to work inside a desktop browser.

Support for browser extensions in this ecosystem has shifted over the last few years. The sources used for this guide do not confirm a current release schedule for AlgoSigner, so check the extension's store listing and the Algorand developer documentation for its present status before relying on it.

In practice, use these rules:

• If AlgoSigner is already installed and a dApp asks for it, confirm the dApp's own documentation names it as supported.
• For new setups, prefer wallets that the dApp lists as supported, including wallets that connect through WalletConnect.
• Never import a recovery phrase into a browser extension you cannot verify from an official source.

This guide focuses on WalletConnect because it keeps your keys in a wallet app on your phone, while the dApp only receives a session and sends requests for approval. The steps for reviewing transactions apply to any signing tool, including AlgoSigner if you still use it.

WalletConnect is an open protocol that links a wallet app to a dApp. The usual flow has four parts.

1. The dApp shows a QR code or a deep link to a wallet.
2. The wallet scans the code or opens the link and shows a session proposal.
3. You approve the session, which lists the networks, accounts and request types the dApp may use.
4. The two sides exchange encrypted messages through a relay service, and the dApp sends signing requests that appear in your wallet.

The private keys never leave the wallet. The dApp receives a session and the public address of the account you approved, and it can only ask for actions the wallet then displays for review. You can accept or reject each request.

WalletConnect version 2 is the current generation of the protocol, and integration guides for web apps generally target it. Compatibility still depends on the wallet. An Algorand wallet can support WalletConnect while some request types or account types behave differently from others. A FAQ from one EVM wallet describes WalletConnect as still experimental with some smart contract wallets, which is a reminder to test the exact wallet and dApp combination you plan to use.

Setup takes a few minutes and prevents most avoidable problems.

• Install a wallet that supports WalletConnect for Algorand from its official app store listing or official website. Do not install a wallet from a link in a message or advertisement.
• Write down your recovery phrase on paper and store it offline. Do not type it into any website or chat, and do not take a photo of it.
• Fund the account with a small amount of ALGO. Every transaction needs a network fee, and an account must keep a minimum balance that rises when it opts into apps or assets.
• Use a second account for experiments. This limits what a mistake or a malicious request can reach.
• Find out whether the dApp runs on MainNet or TestNet. TestNet uses tokens with no real value and is designed for practice. Faucets that supply TestNet ALGO are listed in the official Algorand documentation, and you should use only the links from that source.
• Bookmark the dApp's official address. Typing or bookmarking it protects you from lookalike sites that copy the interface.

Keep the wallet app updated, and confirm the wallet shows the network name before you connect. A wallet on the wrong network can display the same dApp but point to different accounts or assets.

These steps assume a WalletConnect-compatible Algorand wallet on your phone and a dApp open in a desktop or mobile browser.

1. Open the dApp at its official address and find its connect or wallet button.
2. Choose WalletConnect as the connection method. If the dApp shows several options, pick the one that names WalletConnect.
3. Scan the QR code with your wallet, or approve the deep link if the dApp offers one on the same device.
4. Read the session proposal. Confirm the network, the account, and the requested permissions. If the list is broader than the dApp needs, reject the session.
5. Approve the session. The dApp should now show your address.
6. Start the action you want, such as a deposit, vote, or contract call. The dApp builds the transaction and sends it to your wallet.
7. Open the request in the wallet and review it using the checklist in the next sections. Then approve or reject it.
8. When you finish, disconnect the session from the dApp or the wallet.

If the dApp asks for your recovery phrase, close the page. No legitimate wallet connection needs it.

A wallet request is a transaction, and a transaction moves value or changes state. Before you approve, look at these fields.

• Sender: the account that will sign. It should be the account you intended to use.
• Transaction type: payments, asset transfers, and application calls each look different. An application call is the type used to interact with an Algorand smart contract.
• Application ID: the number that identifies the contract being called. Compare it with the ID published in the dApp's documentation.
• Arguments and accounts: the inputs the contract will receive. Unexpected accounts or assets are a warning sign.
• Fee: the network fee should be small and match what the wallet shows.
• Receiver, amount, and close-to fields on payments: confirm the amount and the recipient.

Two fields deserve extra attention. A rekey-to field changes which account holds signing authority, and approving it can hand control of your account to an address you do not control. A close-remainder-to field can send the entire remaining balance of an account to another address. Reject any request that sets either field unless you understand it and expect it.

If the wallet shows only a summary and cannot decode the transaction, reject it. A request you cannot read is not safe to approve.

Algorand smart contracts are applications, each with its own application ID. A dApp interacts with them through application call transactions. Several concepts appear in these requests.

• Opt-in: some apps require an account to opt in before it can hold their local state or use certain functions. Opt-in is a separate transaction and raises the account's minimum balance, so check that your balance covers it.
• Atomic groups: a dApp can bundle several transactions so they succeed together or fail together. This is useful for swaps and multi-step actions. Your wallet should show every transaction in the group, and you should check each one.
• Inner transactions: a contract can trigger further transfers when it runs. The main request may look small while the inner effects move more assets, so read the summary carefully.
• Logic signatures: some contracts sign actions with contract logic instead of an account key. A request that asks you to approve a logic signature authorizes that contract to act under its own rules, so approve only contracts you have verified through the dApp's official documentation.

Before approving a contract call, confirm the contract's source is published or audited, and that its application ID matches the official documentation. An audit is evidence of review, not a guarantee, so read the scope and date of any audit report.

Most problems fall into a few groups. Use this table to narrow down the cause before you retry.

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
QR code will not connect	The code expired or the wallet is on another device	Refresh the dApp page and generate a new code
Transaction rejected for balance	Account is below the minimum balance after an opt-in or fee	Add a small buffer of ALGO and retry
Action fails with an opt-in error	The account has not opted into the app or asset	Approve the opt-in first, then repeat the action
Address shown is not the one you expected	Wrong account or wrong network selected	Disconnect, select the correct account, and reconnect
Request times out	The wallet was locked or the session went idle	Unlock the wallet, reopen the request, or start the action again
Wallet cannot decode the transaction	Unsupported request type or a dApp bug	Reject the request and ask the dApp's support channel

If an error repeats and you cannot explain it, stop. Do not approve a different request in the hope that it will work. Reconnect with a fresh session and review the transaction again.

A WalletConnect session is only as safe as the wallet you use and the dApp you connect to. Neither the protocol nor the dApp is safe or dangerous on its own, so build these habits.

• Connect only to official addresses that you typed or bookmarked. Phishing sites copy interfaces closely.
• Read each session proposal. Reject sessions that ask for more networks or accounts than the dApp needs.
• Disconnect sessions you no longer use. Check the connected sites list in your wallet regularly.
• Never share your recovery phrase, private key, or a one-time code with anyone, including people who claim to be support staff.
• Treat unsolicited sign requests as hostile. If you did not start an action, reject the request.
• Use one account for everyday use and another for testing or unfamiliar dApps.
• Keep only the ALGO and assets you need in the account you connect.
• If your wallet supports a hardware signing device, consider using it for larger balances.

When something feels wrong, reject the request, disconnect the session, and check the dApp's official channels before you connect again. Losing a few minutes is far cheaper than approving an action you did not understand.

Developers who add WalletConnect to an Algorand dApp should design for the user's review, not for speed.

• Use a current WalletConnect integration and test session creation, request handling, and disconnection on TestNet before you launch.
• Show the decoded transaction, the application ID, the network, and every account the request touches. Avoid summaries that hide inner effects or grouped transactions.
• Handle expired sessions and rejected requests gracefully, and tell users what to do next.
• Never ask for a recovery phrase, and say so clearly in your interface and documentation.
• Document each application ID and the official addresses for your front end, so users can check them.
• Set the minimum balance and opt-in requirements explicitly, so users are not surprised by failed transactions.
• Publish your contract source, keep the audit scope and date visible, and update the documentation when contracts change.

WalletConnect's own documentation covers the session model and integration patterns for web apps, with examples that often use EVM libraries. Algorand-specific libraries, transaction formats, and network details are described in the Algorand developer documentation. Check both sources, and test against the exact versions you ship.