Ledger® Live: Desktop | Getting Started With Ledger®
Welcome to Ledger® Live, the official companion app for your Ledger® hardware wallet. Whether you're new to crypto or transitioning from a software wallet, this guide will walk you through getting started with Ledger® Live for Desktop, ensuring your assets are managed with maximum security and full control. 🔐
Ledger® devices are built on the principle of self-custody — your private keys remain stored securely offline. Paired with Ledger® Live, you get a user-friendly interface to manage your portfolio, install apps, and interact with Web3 safely from your desktop.
🚀 What Is Ledger® Live?
Ledger® Live is the all-in-one desktop application that connects to your Ledger Nano S Plus®, Nano X®, or Stax®. It enables you to:
- Manage your crypto assets with real-time price tracking 📊
- Install and update apps for supported coins
- Send and receive over 5,500+ digital assets
- Stake assets like Ethereum, Polkadot, and Tezos 🔁
- Buy, swap, or sell crypto using integrated services
- Access Web3 apps securely using Ledger Extension
Best of all — your private keys never leave your device. That's true ownership.
🧰 What You’ll Need
Before you get started, make sure you have:
- A Ledger® hardware wallet (Nano S Plus, Nano X, or Stax) 📦
- A USB cable to connect your device (or Bluetooth for Nano X) 🔌
- A computer running Windows®, macOS®, or Linux 🖥️
- Internet connection 🌐
- Your recovery phrase card and a pen 🖊️
🛠️ Step-by-Step Setup for Ledger® Live (Desktop)
1. Download Ledger® Live
Go to the official website: https://ledger.com/ledger-live Click on “Download Ledger Live” for Desktop. Choose the version compatible with your OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux). 🧩
⚠️ Important: Only download from the official Ledger site. Avoid third-party links to prevent malware or phishing.
2. Install and Launch the App
Open the installer and follow the prompts to install. Once installed, open Ledger® Live. You'll be greeted with the onboarding screen.
Select: ✅ “Get Started” ✅ Choose your device model ✅ Confirm you’re setting up as a new or returning user
3. Connect Your Ledger Device
Plug in your Ledger wallet via USB (or Bluetooth if you're using Nano X). The app will prompt you to:
- Create a new wallet or restore from your 24-word recovery phrase 🔐
- Set a secure PIN code directly on the device
- Write down your recovery phrase — this is your backup! NEVER store it digitally.
💡 Tip: Ledger will never ask you to share your recovery phrase. Ever.
4. Install Apps & Add Accounts
Once your device is initialized and paired, you’ll enter the Ledger® Live dashboard.
- Go to "Manager" to install apps for the coins you want to manage (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum)
- Then go to “Accounts” and click “Add account” to sync your wallet with the desktop app
- Repeat this for each asset you want to manage
Now your wallet is fully functional and ready for transactions! 💼
💸 Sending & Receiving Crypto
To Receive:
- Go to the “Receive” tab
- Choose the asset and click “Continue”
- Verify the address shown on your device matches the one on your screen
- Copy and share it with the sender ✅
To Send:
- Click the “Send” tab
- Enter the recipient address and amount
- Confirm the transaction on your Ledger device
- Done! Your transaction is on the blockchain ⛓️
🔗 Exploring Web3 & DeFi
Ledger® Live now supports Ledger Extension — a browser extension that allows secure connection to dApps (like Uniswap, Aave, and OpenSea).
- Your private key stays on the device
- All transactions must be manually confirmed
- Great for NFT minting, staking, and DeFi interactions 🌐
🛡️ Security Best Practices
- ✅ Keep your recovery phrase offline and hidden
- ❌ Never share your seed phrase or PIN with anyone
- 📌 Bookmark ledger.com to avoid fake sites
- 🔒 Use passphrases for added wallet protection (advanced users)
- 🧊 Remember: Ledger is a cold wallet — it protects you from online threats
🎉 You’re Ready to Go!
Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up Ledger® Live for Desktop and taken a huge step toward full crypto ownership. With every transaction confirmed on your device and private keys secured offline, you’re in total control.
For ongoing updates, security tips, and feature rollouts, be sure to follow Ledger.com and keep your app up to date.