Here is an article explaining what may be happening when you see the “Network Request Failed” error, even if the signing was successful:
Metamask Approve Function: A Guide for React Native DApp Developers
As a React Native developer building decentralized applications (dApps) with Ethereum, you have probably been introduced to MetaMask’s approve functionality. The approve function is used to verify incoming transactions on the Ethereum network before they can be executed. However, when it comes to interacting with Metamask and signing transactions using the approve function, things can get a little more complicated.
“Network Request Failed” Error

When you call the “approve” function from your dApp, Metamask sends a request to the Ethereum network to confirm the transaction. This request is usually handled by the [Ethereum gas station]( which can be affected by several factors.
Common Causes of the “Network Request Failed” Error
Here are some common reasons why you might see this error:
- Gas Station Outage: The Ethereum gas station may be experiencing technical issues, which can lead to delays or failures in processing fuel requests.
- Ethereum Network Congestion: High traffic on the Ethereum network can lead to increased latency and reduced success rates for gas station requests.
- Issues with Signer Address: Issues with your MetaMask account or wallet settings can prevent the authorization feature from working properly.
Approve Function Return Values
When the approve function is called, it returns an integer value indicating whether the transaction was successfully approved. However, in some cases this value can be negative, such as “-32000”. This may seem confusing at first, but let’s dive deeper into what might be causing this error.
Signature Success vs. Network Request Failure
When the approve function is called, it returns an integer value indicating whether the transaction was successfully approved. However, in some cases this value can be negative, such as “-32000”. This may seem confusing at first, but this could be causing this error:
- Signature Success: If the transaction was successfully signed using the private key or mnemonic, the
approvefunction should return a positive integer (e.g. 0). However, if a problem occurs during signing, such as a key collision or invalid mnemonic format, it may result in a negative value (-32000).
- Network Request Failure
: If Metamask encounters issues with your Ethereum account or wallet settings, it may not be able to send the requested requests to the gas station. This may result in errors and return values such as “-32000”.
Mitigation
To resolve this issue, you can try the following:
- Monitor gas station uptime – Monitor the health and performance of your Ethereum gas station.
- Optimize MetaMask wallet settings – Ensure your MetaMask account is configured correctly, with a valid private key or mnemonic format.
- Test your dApp thoroughly – Check that your dApp is working properly, including the approval function and interaction with the gas station.
If you understand what might be causing this error, you can take steps to resolve it and ensure smooth execution of transactions on the Ethereum network.
