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Minting an NFT means creating a blockchain token that points to a digital item such as an image, video, audio file, or membership pass. The current no-code route on OpenSea is OpenSea Studio. It is not free lazy minting: deploying a contract and minting an item are blockchain transactions, and each may require gas.

This guide uses OpenSea Studio’s current workflow and explains the two available creation methods: Open Collection, where you mint items directly to your wallet, and Scheduled Drop, where buyers mint directly to their own wallets.

Before you mint an NFT

Prepare these items before opening OpenSea Studio:

  • A wallet supported by the blockchain you plan to use.
  • The cryptocurrency needed for gas and, if applicable, the NFT sale price.
  • The final media file and its metadata.
  • A collection name, token symbol, description, and creator-earnings plan.

Check the media carefully before minting. An Open Collection cannot be moved to another collection later, and the contract name and token symbol cannot be changed after deployment.

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OpenSea’s old lazy-minting tool is no longer available for new NFTs. New lazy-minted items were disabled on October 3, 2023. Existing lazy-minted items can still be bought, sold, and transferred, but they cannot be edited.

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Choose the right OpenSea Studio method

Method Best for Standard When the NFT exists
Open Collection Minting individual items or copies directly from your wallet ERC-1155 Immediately after you mint it
Scheduled Drop Timed public sales, presales, allowlists, and larger collections ERC-721 When a buyer mints it

Open Collection supports multiple copies of one item. Set the supply to 1 when that item must be unique. A Scheduled Drop uses a minting page and sale stages, so the collection’s NFTs are not created on-chain before buyers mint them.

How to mint an NFT with Open Collection

Use this option when you want to create the NFT yourself and receive the minted item in your connected wallet.

1. Open OpenSea Studio

  1. Go to OpenSea and connect your wallet.
  2. Select Studio from the left-hand sidebar.
  3. Click Create new in the lower-left area of the Studio landing page.
  4. Select Create Collection.

OpenSea Studio also shows Scheduled Drop at this point. Do not select it if you want to mint directly to your own wallet.

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2. Deploy the collection contract

Complete the contract-deployment form with:

  • Logo image
  • Contract name
  • Token symbol
  • An EVM-compatible blockchain

The contract name and token symbol are stored on-chain and are permanent after deployment. OpenSea describes typical token symbols as four to seven characters. The logo can be changed later.

Review the spelling carefully, then click Publish Contract and approve the transaction in your wallet. Contract deployment requires gas. This is a separate transaction from the later NFT mint.

3. Add the NFT’s media and metadata

  1. After the contract is deployed, open the Media & Metadata tab.
  2. Upload the media file.
  3. Enter the item name.
  4. Set the item supply.
  5. Optionally add a description, external link, and traits.

Every NFT in the same Open Collection must use the same file type. For example, do not plan a collection that mixes PNG and MP4 files if the Studio form requires one consistent type for that collection.

Set supply to 1 for a one-of-one item. Set it to a larger number if you want several identical copies of the same token.

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4. Mint the item

Click Mint, review the wallet prompt, and approve the transaction. Minting requires gas. After the transaction is confirmed, the NFT exists in your connected wallet and can be viewed on OpenSea.

To add more items later, return to the collection and use its Upload tab.

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How to create a Scheduled Drop

Choose a Scheduled Drop when buyers should mint into their own wallets. This is the better fit for a timed release, presale, limited edition, or open edition.

1. Start a drop

  1. Open OpenSea and select Studio.
  2. Click Create new.
  3. Select Scheduled Drop.

The setup process contains these stages:

  1. Deploy a Drop smart contract
  2. Prepare your drop schedule
  3. Define your allowlists
  4. Set your pre-reveal image
  5. Set your drop earnings
  6. Build your drop page
  7. Prepare metadata for your drop

Scheduled Drops use ERC-721. If you specifically need ERC-1155 NFTs, use Create a Collection instead.

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2. Deploy the drop contract and configure the collection

Follow the Studio prompts to deploy the drop contract, then review the collection details and creator-earnings settings before publishing the sale. Each blockchain action requires a wallet confirmation and may require gas.

For collection-level changes, use OpenSea Studio → select collection → Collection Details. You can edit the OpenSea display name, description, custom OpenSea URL, category, explicit or sensitive-content setting, trait-based collection offers, and OpenRarity display when eligible.

Available categories include Art, Gaming, Memberships, Music, PFPs, Photography, Domain Names, Sports Collectibles, and Virtual Worlds.

3. Set the drop schedule

  1. Open the drop setup page.
  2. Go to Drop Setup → Settings.
  3. Choose Limited edition or Open edition.
  4. For a limited edition, enter the number of items.
  5. Set the Mint start date & time.
  6. Configure the sale stages and save each change.

A limited edition has a fixed number of mintable items. An open edition allows unlimited mints during the configured timeframe; when the period ends, the final collection size equals the number actually minted.

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Every schedule change is an on-chain transaction and costs gas. The start date can be edited until the drop begins.

A drop must include a public sale stage. It is always the final stage and cannot be deleted. Its settings include:

  • Name
  • Sale price
  • Duration
  • Per-wallet mint limit

The maximum stage duration is 365 days. Check the date, price, supply, and wallet limit before publishing.

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Important supply warning: OpenSea Studio cannot increase supply after minting begins. Increasing supply directly through the contract can cause OpenSea to delist the collection for violating its Terms of Service. Lowering supply during an active mint is permanent.

4. Add presales and allowlists

In the drop settings, click Create stage to add a presale stage. OpenSea supports up to five presale stages. Each can have its own price, per-wallet mint limit, and allowlist, but only one presale stage can be active at a time.

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Upload an allowlist as a CSV file with no header row, no duplicate addresses, and this format:

valid Ethereum wallet address,customer per-wallet limit,custom per-wallet price

The last two fields are optional. For example:

0x1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef12345678,2,0.05

Allowlist requirements include:

  • Use complete Ethereum wallet addresses.
  • Keep the 0x prefix.
  • Do not use ENS names.
  • Do not include column headings.
  • Use no duplicate addresses.
  • Stay within 30,000 addresses per presale stage.

OpenSea uses additive allowlists by default. A wallet’s limits from successive stages roll over and accumulate, and the public-stage allowance is additional to presale limits. Use the wallet lookup control to test eligibility before the sale starts. Allowlists cannot be edited after minting begins.

5. Upload drop media and metadata

In the Media & Metadata section, select Upload on the left.

Studio supports up to 10,000 media files for a drop in JPG, PNG, SVG, or GIF format, plus a metadata file. OpenSea recommends CSV metadata. Use Download Example to obtain a ZIP containing a 50-item CSV and companion media files that show the expected structure.

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The metadata maps media files to token IDs and can contain traits. Studio CSV uploads currently support string traits only; numeric traits are not supported.

Use View/Edit to preview the collection and edit item names, descriptions, and metadata before reveal. Check filenames, token numbering, trait spelling, and the media-to-token mapping before continuing.

6. Configure the pre-reveal image and drop page

A pre-reveal image is shown to buyers before the collection is revealed. Complete the pre-reveal-image step, then build the drop page with the collection information, sale details, and other presentation settings provided by Studio.

Preview the page as a buyer would. Confirm that the sale time uses the intended timezone, the price is correct, the mint limit is clear, and the collection description does not promise benefits you cannot deliver.

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7. Reveal the collection

After minting ends, the reveal control appears in the View tab.

  1. Open View and click Reveal.
  2. If the collection did not mint out, reduce the item supply to the number actually minted.
  3. Allow Studio to upload the items to IPFS.
  4. Click Complete Reveal.
  5. Sign the wallet transaction.

Revealing prevents further changes to drop settings and item metadata. Metadata is not published on-chain until the final wallet transaction is completed.

If you see Content not available yet, the media and metadata may not have been revealed, or the reveal transaction may not have been completed. For an already minted item, open its item page and click Refresh metadata in the upper-right corner. OpenSea then displays: “We’ve queued this item for an update!”

How creator earnings work

Set earnings from OpenSea Studio → select collection → Creator Earnings.

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  1. Click Add earnings payout address and percentage.
  2. Enter the recipient wallet address.
  3. Enter the percentage.
  4. Save the setting and approve any wallet request.

OpenSea’s maximum configurable creator-earnings percentage is 10%. Verify every payout address before saving because sending earnings to the wrong address may be difficult or impossible to reverse.

For OpenSea Studio contracts deployed after April 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. PT, you can click Enforce earnings and approve the wallet signature. Contracts deployed before that cutoff support optional earnings but not retroactive enforcement.

Custom contracts must support ERC721-C or ERC1155-C, or be upgradeable to a compatible standard, for OpenSea enforcement. Otherwise, configured earnings are optional and depend on the seller. Enforced earnings restrict compatible sales to OpenSea and marketplaces using LimitBreak’s Payment Processor; OpenSea currently identifies Magic Eden as an included marketplace.

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Adding collaborators safely

Collection collaborators are configured from Collection Details. Select Add collaborator, enter a wallet address or ENS name, and click Publish Changes.

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Collaborators can modify important collection settings. However, only the collection owner can create new items or edit creator-earnings recipient addresses and percentages. Give collaborator access only to wallets you trust, and check the collection settings after another person makes changes.

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Using existing JSON metadata

Scheduled Drop uploads normally use CSV metadata. If your metadata is already prepared as JSON, OpenSea documents a base-URI workaround through a blockchain explorer.

  1. Open the Drop page.
  2. Click the right-side three-dot menu.
  3. Click the explorer logo.
  4. Open the Contract tab.
  5. Select Write Contract.
  6. Find setBaseURI and enter the base URI.

The base URI must end with a slash, such as:

ipfs://your-ipfs-hash/

The token URI function appends the token ID, so the resulting files must be accessible without the .json extension. Test the resulting paths before relying on this method for a live drop.

Gas, failed transactions, and common problems

Problem Likely cause What to check
Transaction fails Insufficient funds, contract condition, or a competing mint Check the wallet network, balance, sale rules, and remaining supply
Gas was charged even though minting failed Blockchain transactions consume gas when attempted Review the transaction on the relevant block explorer
Allowlist wallet is rejected Bad address, missing 0x, typo, ENS name, duplicate, or header row Validate the CSV and use Studio’s wallet lookup
Media is missing Reveal was not completed or metadata points to the wrong file Complete reveal, verify the mapping, and refresh metadata
Drop cannot be revealed No items were minted Extend the schedule, reduce the price to zero and mint to your wallet, or adjust supply to the number minted

Gas is charged for attempted blockchain transactions, including failed mints. OpenSea does not control or refund those fees. A mint can also fail because the remaining supply was purchased while your transaction was pending.

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Final minting checklist

  1. Confirm that Open Collection or Scheduled Drop matches your distribution plan.
  2. Check the blockchain, wallet network, and gas balance.
  3. Proofread the permanent contract name and token symbol.
  4. Open and inspect every media file.
  5. Test metadata filenames, token IDs, descriptions, and traits.
  6. Check supply, sale price, dates, stage duration, and per-wallet limits.
  7. Validate allowlist addresses without headers or ENS names.
  8. Confirm creator-earnings payout addresses and percentages.
  9. Preview the drop page before the sale begins.
  10. After the sale, complete the reveal transaction and verify the resulting item pages.

FAQ

Can I mint an NFT on OpenSea for free?

Not through the current Studio workflow in the sense of free lazy minting. New lazy-minted items have been disabled. Contract deployment and minting are blockchain transactions that may require gas, although the amount depends on the blockchain and network conditions.

Should I use Open Collection or Scheduled Drop?

Use Open Collection when you want to mint items directly into your own wallet. Use Scheduled Drop when buyers should mint directly into their own wallets through a timed sale, presale, allowlist, limited edition, or open edition.

Are OpenSea NFTs ERC-721 or ERC-1155?

Both standards are used. Open Collection uses ERC-1155 and supports multiple copies of an item. Scheduled Drop uses ERC-721.

Can I change the collection contract name after deployment?

No. The contract name and token symbol are visible on-chain and cannot be changed after deployment. The collection logo can be changed later.

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Why does my NFT say “Content not available yet”?

The drop may not have been revealed, or the final reveal transaction may not have been completed. Open the drop’s View tab, complete the reveal process, and sign the wallet transaction.

Can I increase a drop’s supply after minting starts?

No through OpenSea Studio. Increasing supply through the contract can cause OpenSea to delist the collection for violating its Terms of Service. Lowering supply during an active mint is permanent.

Do failed NFT mints cost gas?

They can. Gas is charged for attempted blockchain transactions, including failed mints. A failure can also occur when another buyer purchases the remaining supply while your transaction is pending.

Can I use ENS names in an OpenSea allowlist CSV?

No. OpenSea allowlists require complete wallet addresses. The CSV must have no header, no duplicate addresses, and must retain the 0x prefix.

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The Bottom Line

For a straightforward NFT, use OpenSea → Studio → Create new → Create Collection, deploy the contract, upload the media and metadata, and approve the mint transaction. For a public release, choose Scheduled Drop and configure the supply, sale stages, allowlists, metadata, and reveal before launch. Treat contract details, supply, payout addresses, and wallet confirmations as permanent or costly decisions: check each one before signing.

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