Ledger Live — The Secure Crypto Companion

Manage your portfolio, buy/swap/stake, access dApps and view NFTs while keeping your private keys offline.

What is Ledger Live?

Ledger Live is the official companion application that pairs with Ledger’s hardware wallets and mobile devices so you can securely manage cryptocurrencies and Web3 assets. It acts as a control center for balances, transactions, on- ramps, swaps, staking and more — while your private keys remain protected by the Ledger device itself.

Key Features & What You Can Do

Portfolio & Real-time Balances

Ledger Live aggregates all your accounts and displays up-to-date balances across supported blockchains. Whether you have BTC, ETH, SOL or an ERC-20 token, Ledger Live shows your consolidated portfolio so you can track performance and transaction history in one place.

Buy, Sell & Fiat On-Ramps

The app provides integrated on-ramp partners so you can purchase crypto directly via card or bank transfer (availability depends on your country). Purchased assets are routed to your Ledger wallet, keeping custody in your hardware device rather than leaving funds on an exchange.

(Provider availability varies by region.)

Swap & Exchange

Swap one crypto for another inside Ledger Live using aggregated liquidity from integrated swap providers. Swaps happen without needing to create accounts on external exchanges — transactions are signed by your Ledger device and sent directly to the network.

Staking & Earn

Ledger Live supports delegation and staking for a number of proof-of-stake networks, letting you earn rewards while keeping your private keys offline. You can choose validators and monitor rewards from within the app.

NFTs & dApps

Explore a curated Discover section to access Web3 apps and marketplaces. Ledger Live also provides a vault for viewing and organizing NFTs supported by integrated partners or third-party viewers.

Third-party integrations

Ledger hardware and Ledger Live can interoperate with widely used wallets and tools (for certain assets) — for example, connecting to MetaMask for Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains, or other community wallets for specialized token management. These integrations allow combining Ledger’s secure key storage with external tooling for advanced functionality.

How Ledger Live Works (simple flow)

  1. Pair: Connect your Ledger hardware wallet (e.g., Nano X, Nano S Plus) to Ledger Live via USB or Bluetooth (where supported).
  2. Manage accounts: Add accounts for each blockchain you use — Ledger Live will derive and show addresses while private keys never leave your device.
  3. Transact securely: Initiate a send, buy, swap or staking action in the app. The transaction details are displayed on your Ledger device; you confirm with a physical button press to sign.
  4. Monitor: View real-time balances, transaction history, staking rewards, and notifications from the app.

Supported Coins & Tokens

Ledger Live supports hundreds of cryptocurrencies and tokens directly and via third-party integrations. It covers major blockchains like Bitcoin, Ethereum and many popular Layer-1 and Layer-2 assets. For less common tokens, Ledger often recommends compatible third-party wallets that can be linked to your Ledger device so you still keep custody of your keys.

Security & Best Practices

Security is the core design principle behind Ledger Live: private keys are generated and stored on the hardware wallet and never exposed to your computer or phone. The app acts as a manager and a secure signing interface, but recovery phrases (seed phrases) are the single most critical asset — never share them.

Important safety warning

There have been reports of counterfeit or malicious apps impersonating Ledger Live, especially targeting desktop users on certain platforms. Always download Ledger Live from the official Ledger website or trusted app stores. If an app ever asks for your recovery phrase (seed phrase), treat it as a scam and never disclose it.

User Experience Tips

  • Keep your device firmware and Ledger Live up to date — updates often include security improvements and new asset support.
  • Use Ledger Live's sync features if you want to access your accounts from multiple devices safely.
  • When using third-party dApps, double-check contract permissions and always verify transaction details on your Ledger device before approving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Ledger hardware device to use Ledger Live?

Ledger Live is designed to pair with Ledger hardware wallets so you retain custody of your private keys. Some features (like viewing public balances) can be used without the physical device, but transactions must be signed on your Ledger device.

Can I use Ledger Live on mobile and desktop?

Yes — Ledger Live is available for desktop and mobile platforms. The experience is designed to be familiar across devices; check ledger.com for system requirements and downloads.

What if I lose my Ledger device?

If you lose your device, you can recover your funds on any compatible hardware or software wallet using your recovery phrase — provided you kept it safe. Never enter your recovery phrase into unknown websites or apps.

End of guide. Continue below for sources and a short changelog summary.