Ledger® Live App – Secure Crypto Management App™

Your official companion to Ledger hardware wallets — manage assets, stake, swap, and interact with blockchain applications while keeping your private keys offline.

Overview

Ledger® Live is a cross-platform application available for desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile devices. When paired with a Ledger hardware device (Ledger® Nano S Plus, Nano X and compatible models), Ledger® Live provides a secure, user-friendly interface to view your portfolio, send and receive assets, manage decentralized applications, and perform device firmware and app management — all while keeping private keys on the hardware device and away from internet-exposed systems.

Key features

  • Account management — Add and manage accounts for hundreds of cryptocurrencies and tokens, each derived from your device’s secure key store.
  • Secure transactions — Transactions are created in Ledger® Live but must be physically confirmed and signed on the Ledger hardware device.
  • Portfolio tracking — Real-time balances, historical performance, and value charts aggregated across all accounts and currencies.
  • Swap & Exchange integrations — Built-in swapping and exchange features via trusted partners (availability varies by region).
  • Staking & Earning — Stake supported assets directly from Ledger® Live to earn rewards without exposing private keys.
  • Manager & firmware updates — Install blockchain apps (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) on the device and update firmware safely from Ledger® Live.
  • dApp & Web3 integrations — Connect to web-based dApps while maintaining transaction confirmations on-device.

Getting started

Requirements

  • Ledger hardware device (Nano X, Nano S Plus, or compatible).
  • Desktop or mobile device with an internet connection for installing Ledger® Live and synchronizing data.
  • Your 24-word recovery phrase from device initialization (store offline; never enter it into Ledger® Live or any website).

Installation & first run

  1. Download Ledger® Live from the official Ledger website and install the appropriate package for your OS.
  2. Open the app and follow the on-screen setup. Choose whether to set up a new device or connect an existing one.
  3. Connect your Ledger hardware via USB (or Bluetooth for Ledger Nano X on mobile). Unlock the device with your PIN.
  4. Ledger® Live will guide you to install the necessary blockchain apps on your device (e.g. Bitcoin app for BTC accounts).
  5. Add accounts in Ledger® Live for the assets you wish to manage. The accounts are read-only views of on-chain data; private keys remain secure on the device.

How Ledger® Live keeps your crypto secure

Ledger® Live is designed on the principle that the hardware device is the single source of truth for private keys. The app never stores seed phrases or private keys. Instead, it creates transactions locally and sends only the unsigned transaction to the device for signing. The device displays transaction details and requires physical confirmation by the user before signing.

Best security practices

  • Never reveal your 24-word recovery phrase. Ledger® staff will never ask for it. If someone asks for your recovery phrase, it is a scam.
  • Verify addresses on-device. Always confirm recipient addresses on the hardware device display before approving a transaction.
  • Keep firmware and Ledger® Live updated. Firmware updates may include security improvements — follow official instructions when updating and ensure your recovery phrase is backed up.
  • Beware phishing. Only download Ledger® Live and related tools from the official Ledger domain and double-check URLs and email senders.
  • Consider a physical backup. For protection against fire, water, or loss, store your recovery phrase on a metal backup solution designed for seed storage.

Managing assets

Receive

To receive funds, open the desired account in Ledger® Live and click Receive. Confirm the receiving address displayed in the app matches the address shown on your Ledger device — only after matching the address should you share it with the sender.

Send

To send funds, create a transaction in Ledger® Live specifying amount and gas/fee options. Connect your device and verify the transaction details on the hardware screen. Only confirm and press the physical button(s) on the device if the details (address, amount, fees) are correct.

Swap & Exchange

Ledger® Live integrates third-party swap providers. When using swap features, you will still confirm the final transaction on-device. Check provider rates and regional availability in the app before transacting.

Staking

Supported chains offer in-app staking, allowing you to delegate tokens while keeping keys offline. Ledger® Live displays estimated rewards, lock-up periods, and unbonding information for supported assets.

Advanced features

  • Portfolio & Analytics: Track asset allocation, historical performance, and profit/loss across multiple accounts and devices.
  • Custom fee control: For certain chains, advanced users can set custom fees to prioritize transaction speed/cost.
  • Developer & enterprise integrations: Ledger offers APIs and developer tools for building integrations that respect hardware wallet security principles.
  • Multi-device & multi-account: Manage multiple Ledger devices and accounts from a single Ledger® Live installation with separate account groupings.

Troubleshooting & support

If Ledger® Live does not detect your device, try a different USB cable or port and ensure the device is unlocked. On mobile, use Bluetooth pairing for supported devices. Close other apps or browser extensions that may be accessing the device and restart Ledger® Live if necessary.

For firmware failures or lost recovery phrases, consult the official Ledger support documentation and community resources. Never share your recovery phrase with anyone claiming to be support — legitimate support will not request it.

Privacy & data

Ledger® Live collects minimal telemetry to improve performance and reliability; users can opt out of analytics in settings. The app connects to public blockchain nodes and trusted aggregators to fetch balances and market prices. Account derivation and address generation are performed locally from your device and never transmitted to external parties.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Ledger device to use Ledger® Live?

Yes — Ledger® Live is intended as a companion to Ledger hardware wallets. The security model depends on keeping private keys on the hardware device.

Can I recover my accounts if my device is lost?

Yes — with your 24-word recovery phrase you can restore access to your funds using another compatible hardware wallet or recovery tool. Without the recovery phrase, funds cannot be recovered.

Is Ledger® Live free?

Yes — Ledger® Live is free to download and use. Network fees, staking minimums, and third-party service fees (swap/exchange) may apply for certain operations.