Ledger® Live: Secure Access to Your Wallet

Official Ledger companion app — access, secure, and manage your Bitcoin and crypto on desktop & mobile.

Welcome to Ledger Live

Ledger® Live is the official interface for interacting with your Ledger hardware wallet and your broader crypto holdings. Designed with a hardware-first security model, Ledger Live gives you a single, polished experience to view balances, send and receive assets, stake tokens, manage NFTs, and connect to decentralized applications — all while keeping your private keys protected on the Ledger device.

Hardware-backed security
Private keys are generated and stored on your Ledger device's secure element.
Multi-platform
Available for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
Extensive asset support
Manage thousands of coins, tokens and NFTs across many blockchains.
Built-in services
Buy, swap and stake through trusted partners directly inside the app.

Security by design

Security is the foundation of Ledger Live. The Ledger device acts as the root of trust: it creates and holds the private keys in an isolated Secure Element chip. Ledger Live never accesses or exposes private keys — it only receives public information necessary to display balances and craft unsigned transactions. All critical operations require direct confirmation on the Ledger device, which prevents remote malware or phishing attacks from silently draining funds.

Key features

Portfolio overview

See your total portfolio value across accounts and devices, historical charts, and asset-weight breakdowns to monitor performance at a glance.

Secure transactions

Create, review and sign transactions. Each transaction's details are shown on-device for verification before you approve the signature.

Staking & rewards

Stake supported cryptocurrencies to earn passive rewards. Ledger Live simplifies validator selection and displays expected returns.

Onboarding made simple

Getting started with Ledger Live is straightforward:

  1. Download Ledger Live from the official Ledger website and install it.
  2. Connect your Ledger hardware device and choose to create a new wallet or restore an existing one using your recovery phrase.
  3. Carefully write and store your 24-word recovery phrase offline in a secure location.
  4. Add accounts for the blockchains you use and begin sending or receiving funds.

Important: Ledger support will never ask for your recovery phrase. Keep it private and offline.

Third-party services

Ledger Live integrates reputable third-party providers for buying crypto, swapping tokens, and accessing certain DeFi services. These partners may require KYC verification and charge additional fees. Ledger is transparent about partner operations and surfaces any third-party terms and rates within the app before you proceed.

dApp compatibility and developer tools

Ledger Live works with WalletConnect and other integration standards to securely interact with decentralized applications. Developers can use Ledger’s SDKs and libraries to build compatible applications that leverage hardware-backed security for transaction signing and account management.

Privacy, fees & transparency

Ledger Live prioritizes user privacy and clear fee reporting. Network fees are sourced from the blockchain and can be customized where supported. Buy and swap services route through partners — Ledger lists partner fees and gives you control before confirming transactions. The app minimizes telemetry and gives transparent controls over data sharing preferences.

Recovery & backup

If your device is lost or damaged, your funds can be recovered with your 24-word recovery phrase. Store your recovery phrase securely and consider using multiple secure storage locations or professional backup solutions for long-term custody. Never store your phrase digitally or share it with anyone.

Updates & maintenance

Keep Ledger Live and your Ledger device firmware up to date. Ledger regularly issues updates that include security improvements, new asset support, and UX enhancements. Firmware updates that affect the secure element require careful steps — Ledger Live provides guided instructions to update safely.

Support & learning

Ledger offers a comprehensive support center with setup guides, troubleshooting articles, and video walkthroughs. For account-sensitive issues, use Ledger’s official support channels and verify communication authenticity. Avoid unofficial sources that ask for recovery phrases or request remote access to your device.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Is Ledger Live free?

A: Yes — Ledger Live is free to download and use. Third-party partner services within the app, such as buying or swapping, may charge fees.

Q: Can I use Ledger Live without a Ledger device?

A: Ledger Live provides limited read-only portfolio features without a device, but managing funds and signing transactions requires a Ledger hardware wallet.

Q: Are Ledger devices and Ledger Live open-source?

A: Many Ledger components, libraries and documentation are open-source, and Ledger engages external auditors. Some proprietary components related to the Secure Element are not open-source for security reasons.

Best practices for everyday safety