A friendly, practical walkthrough to get you from unboxing to securing and using Ledger® Live.
Ledger® Live is the official companion app for Ledger hardware wallets. It’s the secure, user-friendly interface that lets you manage crypto accounts, send/receive funds, install apps on your device, and check portfolio performance. Ledger® Live talks to your physical Ledger device for private key operations; private keys never leave the hardware wallet.
Never share your 24-word recovery phrase. Ledger will never ask for it over email, chat, or phone. If anyone asks for your recovery phrase, it’s a scam.
Always download Ledger® Live from Ledger’s official site or an official app store. Below are direct official pages (colorful for visibility):
After downloading, run the installer and follow on-screen prompts. On mobile, install the official app from the App Store or Google Play.
When powering a brand-new Ledger device, choose Create a new device in the on-device menu. You will receive a 24-word recovery phrase — write it down exactly in the order shown on the provided recovery card. Store this card somewhere offline and secure (a safe, safety deposit box), never take a photo of it.
If you already have a 24-word phrase from another hardware wallet, choose Restore device and carefully enter each word. After restoring, confirm your device displays the expected accounts in Ledger® Live.
Plug your Ledger device into your computer via the USB cable (or pair via Bluetooth for Nano X). Open Ledger® Live. On first run, Ledger® Live will detect a new device and show a step-by-step wizard.
Set a secure PIN on your Ledger device — this protects against casual theft. If you forget the PIN, you can recover funds using the 24-word recovery phrase but the device will be reset in the process.
If Ledger® Live does not detect your device: try a different cable, try another USB port, ensure your OS permits the connection, and check that your device is unlocked (enter PIN). Consult Ledger Support if the problem persists.
In Ledger® Live, go to Manager to install coin-specific apps on your device (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum). Then use Add account to add those accounts to Ledger® Live. Accounts represent the public addresses you'll monitor and use for sending/receiving.
To receive, choose an account and click Receive. Verify the receiving address on your Ledger device before sharing — the address shown in Ledger® Live must match the device screen.
To send, click Send, enter a destination address and amount, and confirm the transaction details on your Ledger hardware before approving.
Ledger® Live includes options to verify your recovery phrase and check device integrity. Periodically verify your backup and ensure no one else knows your 24-word phrase.
Ledger occasionally releases firmware updates. These are important for security and compatibility. Update only via Ledger® Live and verify the update signatures when prompted.
Advanced users can enable an additional passphrase on top of the 24-word seed to create hidden wallets. This is powerful but dangerous if you forget the passphrase — losing it means losing access to those funds.
Always confirm URLs — phishing sites mimic Ledger’s design. Bookmark official pages and use only the links provided within this guide or from Ledger’s official site.
A: Yes. Ledger® Live is not limited to one machine — your accounts are derived from your recovery phrase. Install Ledger® Live on any trusted device and pair your Ledger hardware.
A: If your device is lost or stolen, use your 24-word recovery phrase to restore your accounts on a new Ledger device or compatible wallet. Keep that recovery phrase safe.
A: Ledger® Live is free to download and use. Network fees still apply when you send transactions; those fees are set by the blockchain network (e.g., gas on Ethereum).
A: Ledger® Live supports several blockchains and provides NFT viewing for compatible chains. For full NFT management, follow the Ledger documentation for supported solutions.
A: Use the official support channels linked below for verified help; avoid third-party services that request your recovery phrase.
Below are ten official Ledger resources—use them as your single source of truth:
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