# signer.signMessage(message) does nothing when MetaMask is locked — no popup, no error (even with WAGMI)

**URL:** <https://community.metamask.com/t/signer-signmessage-message-does-nothing-when-metamask-is-locked-no-popup-no-error-even-with-wagmi/30882>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [October 27, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.metamask.com/t/signer-signmessage-message-does-nothing-when-metamask-is-locked-no-popup-no-error-even-with-wagmi/30882 "2025-10-27T16:28:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hanomag\_13](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/metamask/user_avatar/community.metamask.com/hanomag_13/32/39110_2.png) [@hanomag\_13](https://community.metamask.com/u/hanomag_13)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.metamask.com/t/signer-signmessage-message-does-nothing-when-metamask-is-locked-no-popup-no-error-even-with-wagmi/30882/1 "2025-10-27T16:28:49Z")

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\*\*Description:\*\*Hi everyone,

I’m encountering a frustrating issue when trying to sign messages using MetaMask. Here’s the situation:

- When MetaMask is **locked** , calling `signer.signMessage(message)` (via ethers.js or WAGMI) results in **no popup** , **no error** , and **no response**.

- However, if I initiate a **transaction** or a **connect request** , MetaMask **does** show a popup asking me to unlock the wallet (enter password).

- This proves that MetaMask can prompt the user to unlock, but for some reason, `signMessage` doesn’t trigger that behavior.

- I also tried using **WAGMI** (v1 and v2) with `signMessage`, and the behavior is the same — nothing happens when MetaMask is locked.

- From the frontend, I can’t detect whether MetaMask is locked or not. There’s no reliable method to check this state before calling `signMessage`.

Has anyone found a workaround for this? Is there a way to detect if MetaMask is locked before attempting to sign a message?

Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated!

**Purpose: Make MetaMask better**

**Extension/Mobile/Both: Extension**

**Images/Attachments:**

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**Author:** ![Luigi](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/metamask/user_avatar/community.metamask.com/luigi/32/454_2.png) [@Luigi](https://community.metamask.com/u/Luigi)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.metamask.com/t/signer-signmessage-message-does-nothing-when-metamask-is-locked-no-popup-no-error-even-with-wagmi/30882/2 "2025-10-27T22:06:16Z")

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Hi @hanomag_13 If the wallet is locked, MetaMask will simply silently ignore or reject the signMessage request. This is for security and UX reasons.

The best and most reliable workaround is to manually trigger an “unlock” prompt by calling eth\_requestAccounts right before you call signMessage.