Ledger Live (Official) — Secure Bitcoin & Crypto Wallet

Manage, protect, and grow your crypto portfolio with Ledger's official desktop and mobile app — keys stay on your Ledger device.

Overview

Ledger Live is the official companion app for Ledger hardware wallets (Ledger Nano S Plus, Ledger Nano X). It provides a unified interface to add accounts, send and receive assets, stake supported coins, install blockchain apps on your device, and apply firmware updates — all while private keys remain isolated on the hardware device.

Why Ledger Live?

Ledger Live bridges the convenience of a modern wallet with the security of hardware key management. It’s built to:

Keep private keys on-device and out of internet-exposed software.
Offer a clear, auditable signing flow where every transaction is approved on the hardware screen.
Support multiple blockchains, tokens, staking and third-party integrations safely.

Unified dashboard

View all accounts, balances, and recent activity in one place.

Secure signing

Transactions are signed on the Ledger device, not on your computer.

Staking & earnings

Stake supported assets directly within Ledger Live.

Download & Install

Go to the official Ledger Live page: ledger.com/ledger-live.
Choose the correct installer for your OS: Windows, macOS, Linux (desktop), or the official mobile apps (iOS/Android).
Run the installer and follow prompts. On mobile, install from the App Store or Google Play.
Open Ledger Live and follow the onboarding flow to connect your Ledger device.

Security reminder: Always download Ledger Live from Ledger’s official website. Avoid third-party builds and verify checksums when provided.

Initial Setup & Login

After installing Ledger Live, connect your Ledger device and unlock it with your PIN:

Select Get Started (first-time) or Already have a device if migrating.
Pick your device model and follow the instructions to pair.
Enter your PIN on the Ledger device when prompted — Ledger Live never asks for the recovery phrase.

Adding Accounts & Managing Assets

Ledger Live groups funds into blockchain-specific accounts. To add accounts:

Open the Accounts tab and click Add Account.
Select a blockchain (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) and allow Ledger Live to scan the device for addresses.
Confirm the address displayed on the device before accepting it into Ledger Live.

You can add multiple accounts per blockchain and manage them independently. Ledger Live also supports ERC-20 token viewing and many altcoins via app installation on the device.

Send & Receive — The Secure Way

Receiving funds is read-only; sending requires signing on-device:

Receive: Click Receive, select the account, and confirm the address on your Ledger device before sharing it.
Send: Enter the recipient address and amount in Ledger Live. Review the fee estimate, then confirm the full transaction details on your Ledger device screen and approve to sign.

Always verify addresses and amounts on the hardware device's screen. Malware can attempt to alter addresses shown in software.

Backup & Recovery

During device initialization you receive a recovery phrase (typically 24 words). This is the master backup of your keys.

Write the recovery phrase on the supplied card or use a metal backup for durability.
Store backups in secure, offline, geographically separated locations if possible.
Never enter your recovery phrase into a website, or share it with anyone — Ledger support will never request it.

Security Best Practices

Buy devices only from Ledger or authorized resellers to prevent tampering.
Keep firmware, Ledger Live, and OS security patches current.
Use a strong PIN and consider an optional passphrase for hidden wallets.
Confirm every transaction on-device and never approve unknown prompts.
Consider multisignature setups for large, frequently-used funds.

Advanced: Developers & Integrations

Ledger provides developer tools and APIs to safely integrate hardware-backed signing into dApps and services. Use Ledger Connect or official APIs to request address display, transaction signing, and device info while preserving the device's isolation. When designing integrations:

Never request users' recovery phrases or private keys.
Ensure on-device confirmations for any transaction-like operation.
Test integrations across platforms — USB stacks differ between OSes.

Privacy & Network Considerations

Ledger Live queries nodes and APIs to display balances and history. If privacy is important, consider:

Connecting Ledger Live to a personal node (where supported).
Using privacy-preserving services or tools.
Minimizing linkages between addresses when required.

Troubleshooting

Device not detected: Try a different USB cable/port and ensure the device is unlocked.
Ledger Live crashing: Restart the app and check for updates. Reinstall if necessary.
Bluetooth pairing issues: For Nano X, ensure Bluetooth permissions and reset pairing if needed.
Firmware update failed: Follow official recovery instructions; never use unofficial firmware.

FAQ

Can Ledger Live work without a Ledger device?: No — Ledger Live’s key functionality requires a Ledger hardware wallet for signing. It may display read-only data but cannot sign transactions without the device.
Is Ledger Live open-source?: Ledger publishes many resources and some components; always use official installers and binaries provided by Ledger.
What happens if I lose my recovery phrase?: If you lose your recovery phrase and your device, there’s no way to recover funds. Keep secure, redundant backups.
How do I verify Ledger Live downloads?: Download from ledger.com/ledger-live and verify checksums or digital signatures if Ledger provides them for maximum assurance.

Final Notes

Ledger Live combines convenience and security: a modern wallet UI backed by hardware key isolation. For most users, it offers the safest balance between usability and robust protection. Regularly update firmware and the app, verify everything on the hardware device, and keep your recovery phrase secure to maintain strong defenses for your crypto assets.