Ledger® Live: Download | Getting started™ Ledger®

Overview

Ledger Live is the official desktop and mobile companion application for Ledger hardware wallets. It provides a single place to install blockchain-specific apps on your device, add and manage accounts, view portfolio performance, send and receive cryptocurrencies, and access third-party services such as swaps, purchases, and staking partners — while keeping your private keys on the Ledger device at all times.

This guide covers the full flow from a safe download to advanced features. It is written to be practical and actionable: follow the steps carefully, adopt the security recommendations, and use the troubleshooting section if you run into issues.

Before you begin — what you need

• A supported Ledger device (Ledger Nano S, Nano S Plus, Nano X, or other current Ledger models).
• A desktop computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) or a mobile device for Ledger Live mobile companion features.
• An available USB port (or Bluetooth if using Nano X mobile features).
• A secure offline location to record and store your recovery phrase (the 24-word seed).
• A stable internet connection to download Ledger Live and synchronize public blockchain data.

1. Download Ledger Live safely

Security starts with obtaining Ledger Live from the official source. Do not use links from untrusted social posts, emails, or forums. The canonical start page is:

https://www.ledger.com/start

1. Open your web browser and navigate directly to the official start page.
2. Select the correct installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).
3. Download the installer and run it. On macOS you may need to allow the app in System Preferences if macOS blocks it initially; on Windows follow the installer prompts.

2. Unboxing and initial device setup

If your device is brand new, follow the quickstart sheet included in the package. If you already have a Ledger device, you can skip to adding accounts in Ledger Live.

1. Connect the device: Use the included USB cable to connect the Ledger device to your computer.
2. Power on and choose setup: Follow on-device instructions to create a new device or restore from an existing recovery phrase.
3. Create a PIN: Choose a secure PIN (avoid easy sequences). This PIN protects the device locally.
4. Write down the recovery phrase: The device will generate a recovery phrase (commonly 24 words). Write these words down in the correct order on the provided card or a durable backup medium. Store the backup offline and never share it.
5. Confirm your backup: During setup the device will prompt to confirm certain words to ensure you recorded the phrase correctly.

Important: Never enter your recovery phrase into a computer, phone, email, or cloud service. Ledger or official support will never ask you to reveal it.

3. Installing and opening Ledger Live

After installing Ledger Live, launch the app and complete first-time prompts. Ledger Live will ask whether you are setting up a new device or connecting an existing one — choose the appropriate option.

Ledger Live downloads and synchronizes public blockchain index data so it can display balances and transaction history. This synchronization only reads public network data; private keys stay on the device.

4. Manager: install blockchain apps on your device

Ledger devices use small apps for different blockchains (for example Bitcoin, Ethereum). These apps are installed on the device through Ledger Live's Manager.

1. Open the Manager in Ledger Live while your device is connected and unlocked.
2. Allow the Manager connection when prompted on the device.
3. Install only the apps you need — app sizes vary and device storage can be limited depending on model.

Removing an app from the device does not remove accounts or private keys — those are derived from your recovery phrase and can be recovered by reinstalling the app later.

5. Adding accounts and viewing your portfolio

Accounts in Ledger Live represent public addresses derived from your device's keys. After installing the necessary app(s), add accounts to view balances and history.

1. Open the Accounts tab and choose "Add account".
2. Select the currency and follow the prompts — Ledger Live will scan the blockchain for existing transactions and balances associated with addresses derived from your device.
3. Repeat to add accounts for other assets or multiple accounts for the same asset type.

Ledger Live aggregates all accounts into a portfolio view and provides charts and historical performance metrics to help you track your holdings.

6. Receiving and sending crypto

Every outgoing transaction must be verified on your Ledger device. This on-device verification is the core security benefit of using a hardware wallet.

To receive

1. Go to Receive, select an account, and display the receiving address in Ledger Live.
2. Verify that the address shown in Ledger Live matches the address on your Ledger device screen.
3. Share the verified address with the sender.

To send

1. Go to Send, enter the destination address, amount, and fee preferences.
2. Proceed to sign and confirm the transaction details on the device screen. Double-check destination address and amount shown on-device before confirming.

7. Buy, Swap, and Staking integrations

Ledger Live presents optional third-party services that enable on-ramp (buy), swap between tokens, and staking for supported coins. These partners are surfaced inside Ledger Live with partner information and clearly-stated fees.

When you trigger a partner flow that requires signing, Ledger Live still requires device confirmation. Always review partner terms and fees and verify any transaction details on the device before approving.

8. Firmware & app updates — keep things current

Ledger periodically releases firmware and app updates to improve security and compatibility. Ledger Live notifies you when updates are available. Follow the in-app instructions carefully to update firmware and apps.

As a precaution, ensure your recovery phrase is backed up before updating firmware. If an update is interrupted, reconnect the device and follow Ledger Live's recovery prompts; consult support if necessary.

9. Security best practices

• Never share your recovery phrase. Ledger will never ask for it.
• Store recovery phrase offline — consider a dedicated metal backup for long-term durability.
• Verify transaction details on the device screen — the device display is the authoritative confirmation.
• Use a strong PIN and keep it private.
• Be cautious with passphrases: optional passphrases create hidden wallets but losing a passphrase means losing access to those funds.
• Keep Ledger Live and firmware updated from official sources only.
• Avoid phishing: always navigate manually to ledger.com and be suspicious of unexpected links or messages.

10. Troubleshooting common issues

11. Advanced usage & developer notes

Advanced users may enable optional features such as passphrase-protected hidden wallets, multiple accounts per asset, custom fee settings, and developer integrations using Ledger SDKs. These capabilities increase flexibility but require careful management — particularly passphrases, which, if lost, permanently lock access to funds under that passphrase.

Developers can integrate Ledger device signing into apps using official SDKs and libraries. Maintain clear origin separation and ensure users are prompted for explicit device confirmations for signing operations.

12. Recovering from a lost or damaged device

If your device is lost or damaged, you can restore accounts on a new genuine Ledger device using your recovery phrase. During a new device setup, choose “Restore from recovery phrase” and enter your words in the correct order. After restoration, open Ledger Live and add your accounts — balances and history will resynchronize with the network.

If you suspect your recovery phrase was compromised, move funds to a fresh set of addresses derived from a new recovery phrase as soon as possible.

13. Privacy & telemetry

Ledger Live synchronizes public blockchain data (addresses, balances, transactions) to display account information. Ledger may collect minimal telemetry to improve product quality; adjustable settings are available in the app to limit telemetry. Private keys and recovery phrases are never transmitted from your device.

14. Final checklist before you go live

• Download Ledger Live from the official start page.
• Install on an up-to-date machine and verify installer integrity if possible.
• Set up your Ledger device with a PIN and write down the recovery phrase securely offline.
• Install only the apps you need and add accounts in Ledger Live.
• Perform a small test transaction before sending large amounts.
• Keep your recovery phrase and device firmware up to date and in secure custody.