# ➡️ How to Direct Stake (/stake/how-to-direct-stake)























Learn how to direct stake to your favorite validator.

<video preload="metadata" src="/videos/7zJ2HkjazQ8r3dN11DAo.mp4" />

[Direct staking](/stake/direct-staking) lets you choose the validator your [vSOL](/about/vsol) supports. You pick a validator once and set your wallet to it by approving a transaction, then stake SOL for vSOL. Keep your vSOL in a trackable location, such as that wallet or a supported DeFi integration, or it becomes [undirected stake](/stake/direct-vs-undirected-stake), which The Vault's default delegation strategy places.

<Callout type="info">
  You need a Solana wallet such as Phantom or Solflare. Every step that changes something asks you to approve it in your wallet.
</Callout>

## Direct Stake Your SOL [#direct-stake-your-sol]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Go to The Vault [#go-to-the-vault]

    Go to [thevault.finance](https://thevault.finance/) (Figure 3.1).

        <img alt="The Vault home page" src="__img0" />

    Figure 3.1: The Vault home page
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Open the dApp [#open-the-dapp]

    Tap Open dapp in the top-right corner (Figure 3.2).

        <img alt="Open dapp button in the top-right corner" src="__img1" />

    Figure 3.2: Open dapp button in the top-right corner
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Accept the Terms [#accept-the-terms]

    The first time you visit, tick both boxes to accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then tap I Agree (Figure 3.3).

        <img alt="Terms and Privacy dialog with I Agree button" src="__img2" />

    Figure 3.3: Terms and Privacy dialog with I Agree button
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Open Direct Stake [#open-direct-stake]

    Open Direct Stake in the top navigation (Figure 3.4).

        <img alt="Direct Stake in the top navigation" src="__img3" />

    Figure 3.4: Direct Stake in the top navigation
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Search for Your Validator [#search-for-your-validator]

    Under Choose a validator, search for your validator by name or vote account (Figure 3.5).

        <img alt="Validator search box" src="__img4" />

    Figure 3.5: Validator search box
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Select Your Validator [#select-your-validator]

    Tap your validator in the list. It is marked Selected (Figure 3.6).

        <img alt="Selected validator in the list" src="__img5" />

    Figure 3.6: Selected validator in the list
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Set Your Wallet to Your Validator [#set-your-wallet-to-your-validator]

    Tap Connect Wallet and choose your wallet (Figure 3.7). Then tap Direct Stake and approve the transaction in your wallet. This sets your wallet to your validator: once it confirms, your validator appears under Currently delegated to.

        <img alt="Wallet selection dialog" src="__img6" />

    Figure 3.7: Wallet selection dialog
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Open the Stake Page [#open-the-stake-page]

    Next, open Stake in the top navigation (Figure 3.8).

        <img alt="Stake in the top navigation" src="__img7" />

    Figure 3.8: Stake in the top navigation
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Enter the Amount to Stake [#enter-the-amount-to-stake]

    Enter how much SOL to stake. The vSOL you will receive is shown below it. You receive less vSOL than the SOL you stake because each vSOL is worth more than 1 SOL: it keeps growing with staking rewards, shown as the vSOL / SOL rate above the form (Figure 3.9).

        <img alt="SOL amount field with the vSOL you receive" src="__img8" />

    Figure 3.9: SOL amount field with the vSOL you receive
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Approve the Stake [#approve-the-stake]

    Tap Connect Wallet, choose your wallet and approve the stake. Your new vSOL is directed to the validator you chose, and you can follow it on the Direct Stake page (Figure 3.10).

        <img alt="Wallet selection dialog" src="__img9" />

    Figure 3.10: Wallet selection dialog
  </Step>
</Steps>