How Ledger Live Wallet works
Ledger Live is an application that serves as a secure window into your Ledger hardware wallet. Private keys never leave the physical device — Ledger Live prepares transactions, displays account data, and requests signatures. The device itself is the final trust boundary: every action that moves funds requires a confirmation on the hardware screen.
Step-by-step: first-time setup
- Install Ledger Live: download from the official Ledger website and follow the installer for your OS.
- Initialize your device: power on, set a PIN on-device, and write down the 24-word recovery phrase on the physical card supplied.
- Pair with Ledger Live: open Ledger Live, choose “Set up as new device” or “Restore device”, and follow pairing instructions.
- Install apps: within Ledger Live’s Manager, install the coin-specific apps you need (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.).
- Add accounts: add accounts in Ledger Live to view balances and history.
Day-to-day uses
Ledger Live lets you send/receive assets (always verify addresses on the device), buy and sell through integrated providers, swap between assets, stake supported tokens, manage NFTs, and export transaction history for accounting. Most transactions require a final physical confirmation on the device.
Developer & advanced workflows
Power users may connect Ledger Live to third-party wallets or use developer tools for custom integrations. Always validate libraries and ensure the signing step occurs on the hardware device. Use Ledger Live's expert options only if you understand signing and recovery consequences.
Download & compatibility
Ledger Live is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Confirm your OS version meets minimum requirements on the official site. Always download the app from ledger.com to avoid counterfeit installers.