What is Ledger Live?
Ledger Live is the desktop and mobile companion application for Ledger hardware wallets. It provides a local user interface to manage multiple cryptocurrency accounts, monitor portfolio value, send and receive coins, and interact with staking and decentralized applications via integrations. Crucially, private keys remain on your Ledger device — Ledger Live is the gateway that helps you operate your hardware wallet securely and conveniently.
Key features
- Account management: Add and manage multiple accounts for supported blockchains (BTC, ETH, many EVM chains, Solana, and more).
- Portfolio overview: Track real-time balances, historical performance, and asset allocation across addresses.
- Send & receive: Create transactions locally and confirm them on the hardware device to sign securely.
- Staking & rewards: Stake supported tokens (where available) directly from the app to earn network rewards.
- Buy & swap: Integrated third-party providers let you buy crypto with fiat and swap assets — third parties handle custody of those transactions.
- App catalog: Install blockchain apps on your Ledger device via Ledger Live to enable support for new chains.
Security model — what actually stays safe
Ledger Live is an application, but the single most important security property is that your private keys never leave the Ledger hardware device. Transactions are prepared in Ledger Live and must be physically confirmed on your device, which prevents remote exfiltration. Ledger Live itself can be compromised like any software, so treat it as a trusted interface paired with a hardware root of trust.
Practical security tips
- Always verify addresses on the Ledger device screen before confirming a transaction.
- Never type or copy your recovery phrase into software or websites. The recovery phrase must be offline and stored securely.
- Keep Ledger firmware and Ledger Live updated; updates include security fixes and new chain support.
- Enable a strong PIN on your Ledger device and consider passphrase encryption if you understand how it works.
Using Ledger Live day-to-day
For daily portfolio checks and occasional sends, Ledger Live streamlines common tasks: open the app, connect your device, authenticate, and view balances. When sending funds, the transaction details — amount, fees, and the recipient address — are shown on your hardware device for manual verification. Use the built-in address explorer and transaction history to audit activity, and enable notifications on mobile to keep an eye on incoming transactions.
Staking, DeFi and integrations
Ledger Live supports staking for several networks directly, which lets you delegate or stake coins while your keys stay on the device. For complex DeFi interactions or dApps, Ledger Live may integrate a bridge to third-party wallets or you can use the device with browser wallet connectors. Always confirm that integrations are official and well-reviewed — third-party providers carry additional trust assumptions.
Recovery and backups
Your recovery phrase (usually 24 words with Ledger defaults) is the ultimate fallback. Store it physically in a secure location and never share it. If you lose the device, you can recover your accounts on a new Ledger or compatible hardware wallet using the phrase. Consider geographically distributed backups, but avoid online backups of your mnemonic unless you use secure encryption you fully control.
Troubleshooting & support
Common issues include device connectivity, outdated firmware, or missing apps for specific blockchains. Ledger provides official documentation and a support portal. When seeking help, do not reveal seed words or share device logs that contain sensitive info. Prefer official Ledger resources and community channels with good moderation.
Final practical pointers
- Test small first: always send a small test amount when using a new address or integration.
- Keep software minimal: run Ledger Live on a machine you use for general purposes, but follow standard security hygiene (OS updates, antivirus, safe browsing).
- Audit third-party providers: when using buy/swap partners, check fees and reputation before transacting.