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How to Top Up a Canister with Cycles (One-Off)

Explains how to send cycles to a canister using Plug, either from an existing tCycle/XTC balance or by burning ICP.

Updated this week

Cycles are the fuel that power smart contracts (canisters) on the Internet Computer. Learn more about cycles here.

Plug lets you easily send cycles to any canister in just a few steps.

How to top up:

  1. Open Plug and go to the DeFi Hub (second tab at the bottom).

  2. Tap Cycle Top-Up.

  3. Select Instant Top-Up.

  4. Enter the canister address.

  5. Choose the token you want to use:

    • XTC or tCycles if you already have a balance

    • Or select ICP to burn it automatically into cycles before sending

  6. Tap Top-Up Canister to confirm.

If you want to mint cycles by burning ICP first, click here for a guide.

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