Skip to main content
SUBMIT A PRSUBMIT AN ISSUElast edit: Sep 30, 2025

Create a Proxy Account

This tutorial walks you through creating a standard proxy and executing a call from the proxy account using the Polkadot.js web app. You will set up a delegate account, add it as a proxy to your real account with a chosen ProxyType, and optionally use announcements for delayed execution.

A standard proxy links a delegator to a known account. The delegator specifies:

  • The delegate account.
  • The allowed ProxyType (scope of permissions).
  • An optional delay.

The delegate has access to funds in the real account and can then execute calls on behalf of the real account within the constraints of the specified ProxyType.

When to use standard proxies

Delegating through a standard proxy is a good option when you want to entrust control to trusted individuals or organizations who can act on your behalf. In this setup, the delegate maintains their own independent signing capability, which allows them to initiate and authorize actions without relying on your key. This approach provides maximum operational flexibility while also making the delegate responsible for managing the security of their own keys.

Prerequisites​

To import accounts into the Polkadot-JS web app, see create and import accounts to the Polkadot-JS extension.

Step 1: Connect Polkadot‑JS to your local chain​

  1. Open the Polkadot‑JS app.
  2. In the network selector, choose Development → custom endpoint ws://127.0.0.1:9944.
  3. Confirm your local chain metadata loads and your test accounts appear in the Accounts tab.
tip

If the web app does not connect to your local chain, your browser’s privacy or security settings may be blocking it. Try adjusting those settings and reconnecting.

Step 2: Add a Proxy​

  1. In the navbar menu, navigate to Developers → Extrinsics.

  2. Under “using the selected account”, pick the funded delegator account.

  3. Under “submit the following extrinsic”, choose the proxy pallet and call addProxy(delegate, proxyType, delay).

  4. Fill the parameters:

    • delegate: select the imported delegate account from the Accounts dropdown.
    • proxyType: select SmallTransfer; this should allow us transfer amounts that do not exceed 0.5τ.
    • delay: optionally, include a delay in blocks.

  5. Click Submit Transaction and sign with the delegator account.

Your delegate is now authorized to execute small transfers on behalf of the real account.

info

A delegator can assign multiple proxies to the same delegate account. However, each proxy entry must use a unique ProxyType. Attempting to register a duplicate entry with the same delegate and ProxyType will result in a proxy.Duplicate error.

Checking an Account’s Proxies​

You can check which proxies are associated with an account to see their delegate addresses, proxy types, and any configured delays. To do this:

  1. From the Developer dropdown, navigate to Chain state → Storage.
  2. Click the selected state query menu and select proxy.proxies.
  3. Select the account used to create the proxy.
  4. Click the + icon to run the query.

This returns the set of proxies related to the account and their information—delegate, proxyType, and delay.

Step 3: Execute a Proxy Call​

  1. Go to Developer → Extrinsics.
  2. Under “using the selected account”, choose the delegate account.
  3. Select the proxy pallet and choose proxy(real, forceProxyType, call).
  4. Fill the parameters:
    • real: select the real account used to create the proxy.
    • forceProxyType: leave option unchecked.
    • call: the call to be made by the delegate account. Fill the following parameters:
      • Select the balances pallet and choose the transferKeepAlive(dest, value) extrinsic.
      • dest: select the recipient account.
      • value: input the amount to be transferred in RAO—1 TAO = 19RAO.
  5. Click Submit Transaction and sign the transaction from the delegate account.

The runtime verifies that the call is permitted by the proxy filter and that any delay requirements have been met, then dispatches the call as if signed by the Real account.

info

After submitting the transaction, check the Polkadot.JS web app's Explorer page for a balances.Transfer event. Notice the sender is the delegator account.

warning
  • With the SmallTransfer proxy type, transfers are limited to less than 0.5 TAO (500,000,000 RAO). Use the Transfer proxy type for amounts above this limit.
  • The delegate account must hold enough funds to cover transaction fees, which are approximately 25 µTAO (0.000025 TAO).

If you configured a non-zero delay when creating the proxy, you must first make an announcement before executing the proxy call. Attempting to execute a proxy call before announcing returns a proxy.Unannounced error.

Announce and execute a delayed proxy

Announcing a delayed proxy call requires the hash of the call that you intend to execute. Therefore, you must first generate the call hash of the transaction you want to carry out. To generate the call hash:

  1. Go to Developer → Extrinsics.
  2. Under “using the selected account”, pick the delegate account.
  3. Under “submit the following extrinsic”, choose the balances pallet and call the transferKeepAlive(dest, value) extrinsic.
  4. Fill the parameters:
    • dest: select the recipient account.
    • value: input the amount to be transferred in RAO—1 TAO = 19RAO.
  5. Copy the hex code shown in the encoded call data field. You will use this to announce the call in the next step.
info

Do not submit the transaction after entering the parameters. Only copy the encoded call data once all parameters are provided.

Announce a call​

To announce a delayed call:

  1. Go to Developer → Extrinsics tab.
  2. Choose the proxy pallet and select the announce(real, call_hash) extrinsic.
  3. Fill the parameters:
    • real: select the real account used to create the proxy.
    • callHash: paste the call hash of the transaction to be executed.
  4. Click Submit Transaction and sign the transaction from the delegate account.

Next, wait for the duration of the configured delay—in blocks—before executing the call. During the waiting period, the delegate can cancel the announcement—removeAnnouncement(real, callHash), while the real account retains final authority to reject it—rejectAnnouncement(delegate, callHash).

Execute a delayed proxy call​

After the announcement waiting period has passed, the delegate account can now execute the proxy if the real account did not reject it. Attempting to execute the proxy before the waiting period passes returns a proxy.Unannounced error. To execute a delayed proxy call:

  1. Go to Developer → Extrinsics.
  2. Under “using the selected account”, choose the delegate account.
  3. Select the proxy pallet and choose proxyAnnounced(delegate, real, forceProxyType, call).
  4. Fill the parameters:
    • delegate: select the delegate account.
    • real: select the real account used to create the proxy.
    • forceProxyType: leave option unchecked.
    • call: the call to be made by the delegate account. Fill the following parameters:
      • Select the balances pallet and choose the transferKeepAlive(dest, value) extrinsic.
      • dest: select the recipient account.
      • value: input the amount to be transferred in RAO—1 TAO = 19RAO.
  5. Click Submit Transaction and sign the transaction from the delegate account.
info
  • The call details must exactly match the original announcement. Any change—such as modifying the recipient or amount—will result in a `proxy.Unannounced error.
  • Once a delayed proxy call is executed, its announcement is cleared. To run another proxy with the same details, you must create a new announcement.

Step 4: Remove a Proxy (Revoke Access)​

  1. In the navbar menu, navigate to Developers → Extrinsics.

  2. Under “using the selected account”, pick the delegator account.

  3. Under “submit the following extrinsic”, choose the proxy pallete and call removeProxy(delegate, proxyType, delay).

  4. Fill the parameters:

    • delegate: select the imported delegate account from the Accounts dropdown.
    • proxyType: select SmallTransfer; this should allow us transfer amounts that do not exceed 0.5τ.
    • delay: Optionally, include a delay in blocks.

  5. Click Submit Transaction and sign with the delegator account.

Troubleshooting​

  • proxy.Duplicate: A proxy with the same configuration already exists on the real account.
  • proxy.Unannounced: A non-zero delay proxy requires an announcement; announce and wait the delay.
  • proxy.Unproxyable/system.CallFiltered: The call is not permitted under the current ProxyType.
  • proxy.TooMany: You exceeded MaxProxies or MaxPending. Remove unused proxies/announcements.
  • proxy.NotProxy: Ensure you’re submitting from the delegate account and referencing the correct real account.
  • Token.FundsUnavailable: Ensure that your real account has enough available funds to cover the transaction.