Ledger Live — Secure Crypto Wallet & Portfolio Manager

Manage accounts, monitor portfolio performance, sign transactions with your Ledger hardware wallet, and keep your keys offline and safe.

What is Ledger Live?

Ledger Live is the official desktop and mobile application that serves as the user-facing companion to Ledger hardware wallets. It provides a single place to add accounts, view balances and transaction history, install currency-specific apps on your Ledger device, and construct transactions. Crucially, Ledger Live never exposes or exports your private keys — those remain secured inside the device hardware. Ledger Live acts as a secure bridge between your computer/mobile and the secure element on the Ledger device, requesting signatures that you physically confirm on-device.

Supports
BTC · ETH · 200+
Platforms
Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS · Android
Primary
Offline Keys

Key features

Secure transaction signing

Transactions are constructed in Ledger Live but must be approved on the Ledger device itself. The device displays critical details — destination address, amount, fees — and requires a physical button press to sign. Because signing happens on-device, your private keys never leave the secure element.

Portfolio overview

Ledger Live aggregates your accounts across supported blockchains and displays a consolidated portfolio view, historical performance charts, and asset breakdowns. You can track portfolio value over time and export reports for accounting or record-keeping.

App Manager

The Manager allows you to install and uninstall currency apps on your Ledger device. Each currency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) typically requires a small application on the device to support key derivation and transaction handling for that chain.

Firmware & updates

Ledger Live coordinates official firmware updates for Ledger devices. Firmware updates are signed and must be approved on-device. Keeping device firmware up-to-date ensures you have the latest security fixes and improvements.

Integrations

Ledger Live supports integrations with third-party services for staking, swapping, and dApp interactions using secure connection patterns. When interacting with third-party services, the Ledger device remains the final authority to approve signatures.

Export & reporting

Export transaction history and portfolio reports for tax and accounting tools. Ledger Live gives you control over what metadata is exported, helping with bookkeeping while keeping private material offline.

Security model — how Ledger Live keeps keys safe

Ledger Live is designed around the principle of isolating private keys inside a hardware secure element. The app itself never has access to private keys; instead it requests signature operations which the device performs internally. This separation reduces attack surface dramatically: even if your computer is compromised, it cannot extract keys from the Ledger device. Additional protections include PIN protection on the device, optional passphrases for hidden wallets, and cryptographically-signed firmware updates.

Operational habits remain critical: never type your recovery phrase on a connected computer, verify addresses on the device display before signing, keep firmware and Ledger Live up-to-date, and never install Ledger Live from unofficial sources. Ledger support will never ask for your recovery phrase — treat any such request as a scam.

Getting started — quick setup steps

  1. Purchase from an official source: Buy a Ledger device from the official store or authorized resellers to minimize tampering risk.
  2. Visit the official start page: Download Ledger Live only from the official Ledger domain and verify TLS/HTTPS in the browser.
  3. Install Ledger Live: Follow the installer for your OS, then launch the app and choose the appropriate setup path (new device or restore).
  4. Initialize the device: Set a device PIN and write down the recovery phrase exactly as displayed. Use an offline, durable backup (paper + optionally a metal backup plate).
  5. Add accounts: Use Ledger Live to install the apps you need and add accounts so you can receive and monitor balances.
  6. Verify and operate: Always verify addresses and transaction details on the device before approving any operation.

Best practices for safe custody

  • Never store your recovery phrase in digital form or take photos of it.
  • Use a metal backup if you want long-term durability against fire or water.
  • Consider a passphrase (advanced users) for creating hidden wallets — but understand the operational complexity and risks.
  • Use separate machines or user accounts for general browsing and crypto management to reduce phishing and malware exposure.
  • For very large holdings, consider multi-signature setups or professional custody advice to reduce single-point-of-failure risks.

Common issues & troubleshooting

If Ledger Live does not detect your device, try these steps in order: use a different USB cable, connect directly to a computer USB port (avoid hubs), make sure the device is unlocked with the correct PIN, restart Ledger Live and your computer, and reinstall Ledger Live from the official source if necessary. If a firmware update fails or the device behaves unexpectedly, contact official Ledger support and avoid entering your recovery phrase into any online form or tool.

If you believe your recovery phrase has been exposed, create a new device with a fresh recovery phrase and transfer funds to new addresses. Treat the exposed phrase as compromised and do not use it again.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does Ledger Live hold my private keys?
A: No. Private keys are generated and kept inside the Ledger device's secure element. Ledger Live requests signatures but cannot access private keys directly.
Q: Can I use Ledger Live on multiple computers?
A: Yes. Ledger Live settings and cached data are local to the machine. You can install Ledger Live on multiple devices; to manage funds you always need your Ledger device to sign transactions.
Q: What happens if I lose my Ledger device?
A: If you have your recovery phrase, you can restore your accounts on a new Ledger or compatible wallet. If you lose both the device and recovery phrase, funds are unrecoverable.
Q: Is Ledger Live compatible with third-party wallets?
A: Many third-party wallets and dApps integrate with Ledger devices. The integration pattern ensures signing happens on-device and that private keys remain isolated.

Conclusion

Ledger Live, combined with Ledger hardware wallets, offers a practical, secure approach to self-custody. It balances convenience — portfolio views, account management, staking and integrations — with a strong security model where private keys never leave the hardware. The system is as secure as the habits of the user: treat the recovery phrase as sacrosanct, verify everything on-device, update firmware only from official channels, and follow the operational best practices described here. When used properly, Ledger Live and Ledger devices give you a robust foundation for managing and protecting crypto assets over the long term.

Get started with Ledger Live