Start with Ledger Live — ledger.com/start

What is Ledger Live?

Ledger Live is the desktop and mobile application that lets you manage cryptocurrency accounts stored on a Ledger hardware wallet. It provides a user-friendly interface to check balances, send and receive assets, install and update apps on the device, and access dApps when combined with supported integrations. Your private keys remain on the Ledger hardware device; Ledger Live is the management interface.

Before you begin

• 1. Prepare your Ledger device Ensure your Ledger hardware wallet is genuine, sealed when new, and has a charged battery if applicable. If this is your first time, follow the device on-screen steps to create a PIN and write down your recovery phrase (seed) on the supplied recovery sheet. Never store the recovery phrase digitally or share it with anyone.
  Important: Ledger will never ask you for your recovery phrase. Treat it like the key to your assets.
• 2. Download Ledger Live from ledger.com/start Visit ledger.com/start to download the official Ledger Live application for your platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS). Always download directly from the official site — avoid third-party downloads or links from social media.
• 3. Install and verify Install the app and open it. Ledger Live performs integrity checks and will guide you through onboarding. When prompted, connect your hardware device using the included cable and follow the on-screen instructions. If asked to update the device firmware, review the message carefully and follow official instructions inside Ledger Live.
• 4. Add accounts Once connected, add the accounts you need (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ledger Live supports many blockchains). Ledger Live will generate accounts derived from your device's seed; balances shown in Ledger Live are read-only reflections of the blockchain and require the device to sign transactions.
• 5. Send & receive transactions To receive funds, create a receive address inside the correct account and verify the address on your hardware device. To send funds, prepare the transaction in Ledger Live and confirm the details directly on your hardware device before signing.
  Always confirm addresses on the device's screen — this prevents "address substitution" attacks from compromised computers.

Security best practices

Security comes down to a few simple, repeatable rules: (1) never reveal your recovery phrase; (2) always verify addresses and amounts on your Ledger device before approving; (3) keep firmware and Ledger Live up to date; (4) only download Ledger Live from ledger.com/start; and (5) consider using a passphrase (advanced users) for an additional encryption layer—understand the trade-offs before enabling it.

Common troubleshooting

If your device is not detected, try a different USB cable or port. Confirm the device is unlocked with the PIN entered. Restart Ledger Live and your computer, and ensure you have the latest version installed from ledger.com/start. For firmware updates, follow the prompts in Ledger Live exactly; do not disconnect the device mid-update.

Advanced tips

Power users can run Ledger Live on an air-gapped Linux machine for additional security, use separate accounts for different purposes (savings vs active trading), and integrate Ledger with compatible third-party wallets and dApps via supported connectors. If you use a passphrase (25th word), record how you will manage and back it up securely — losing it means you may permanently lose access to assets associated with that passphrase and seed.