Ledger Live — manage, secure, and grow your crypto

Ledger Live is a unified desktop and mobile application that pairs with Ledger hardware devices to give you a central, secure place to manage wallets, check balances, stake assets, buy and swap tokens, and sign transactions safely — without exposing private keys to the internet.

What Ledger Live does

Ledger Live connects to Ledger hardware wallets (Ledger Nano S Plus, Nano X, etc.) and acts as your primary interface for everyday crypto tasks. It synchronizes balances across accounts, fetches market prices, shows historical performance, and offers built-in flows for receiving, sending, swapping, and staking supported coins. The app never transmits or stores your private keys — signing is done locally on the hardware device for maximum security.

Core features at a glance

  • Secure device pairing: Pair via USB or Bluetooth (on supported devices) and verify every operation on-screen.
  • Portfolio dashboard: Real-time balances, market values, and performance charts in one view.
  • Receive & send: Intuitive address checks and transaction signing with on-device confirmation.
  • Swap & buy: Integrated partners allow on-ramp/off-ramp and token swaps without exposing keys.
  • Staking: Stake supported assets directly from the app and monitor rewards.
  • Account management: Create multiple accounts per currency and manage tokens across blockchains.

Getting started — quick setup

Download Ledger Live from the official Ledger website and follow these steps: set up or recover a Ledger hardware wallet by writing down your recovery phrase, create an application account inside Ledger Live for each currency you want to hold, and synchronize balances. Whenever you sign or move funds, the transaction summary appears in Ledger Live, and you confirm it on your physical device. That second-factor physical confirmation prevents remote attackers from authorizing transfers.

Security best practices

Ledger Live is designed to complement, not replace, security hygiene. Always initialize your device offline, never share your 24-word recovery phrase, and keep the recovery phrase physically safe — ideally in a secure, fire-resistant place. Use firmware and app updates from Ledger only (verify download sources). When using mobile Bluetooth features, ensure you approve pairing requests carefully and review device names and addresses.

Common workflows

Receiving funds: choose the account, show the receive address in Ledger Live, and verify the exact address on your hardware device screen. Sending funds: prepare the transaction in Ledger Live, review amounts and fees, then confirm on your device. Swapping tokens: choose swap in-app, compare quotes, and sign with your device. Staking: select a supported asset, choose a validator or staking option, and confirm — rewards and undelegation windows vary by protocol.

Device-first design

Ledger Live uses the hardware wallet as a cryptographic anchor: private keys live on the device and never leave. This model minimizes attack surfaces and keeps custody where it belongs — with the user.

Advanced tips

Create separate accounts for different purposes (savings, trading, staking) to keep transactions clear and reduce accidental errors. Regularly export a read-only portfolio CSV for bookkeeping. For high-value holdings, consider a multi-signature solution where supported. If you use DeFi, prefer connecting Ledger Live through trusted bridges or use an intermediary like an audited wallet integration that supports on-device signing.

Support and updates

Ledger Live receives incremental updates: app features, new coin support, performance improvements, and security patches. Check the official release notes inside the app or on the Ledger website before major upgrades. For troubleshooting, Ledger provides an official support center and guides — always verify guidance comes from official channels and avoid social-engineering traps on forums or chats.

Who benefits from Ledger Live?

Whether you are a newcomer trying to keep a few assets safe, an investor tracking a diverse portfolio, or a DeFi user signing transactions, Ledger Live provides an accessible yet security-focused interface. It balances convenience (portfolio overview, swaps, staking) with hardware-backed safety by requiring on-device confirmations for any action that moves or exerts control over funds.