A friendly, step-by-step guide to signing into Ledger® Live, connecting your device, and keeping your crypto secure. This guide contains best practices, troubleshooting tips, and visual examples to get you managing assets confidently.
Follow these clear steps to install Ledger® Live, connect your Ledger hardware device, create or restore an account, and securely log in. Estimated time: ~10–20 minutes depending on device and updates.
Ledger® Live is the official desktop and mobile app that lets you manage crypto assets with your Ledger hardware wallet. You never expose private keys — the device signs transactions offline while Ledger® Live provides a secure interface for portfolio management, sending, receiving, staking and app installation.
Go to the official Ledger® website or your app store. Choose the correct version for your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android). Always verify the URL and checksum where provided to avoid impostor downloads.
Run the installer and open Ledger® Live. You will be prompted to accept the terms and optionally allow analytics. Opt out if you prefer maximum privacy.
Select Set up a new device if you bought a new device or Restore device if you already have a 24-word recovery phrase. For most new users: choose "Set up as new device" and follow the on-screen prompts.
Your Ledger device will ask you to create a PIN. Choose something memorable but not trivial. Ledger devices will require the PIN each time you unlock the device to sign transactions.
The device will display a 24-word recovery phrase. Write it down on the provided recovery sheet (do not store digitally). This is the only way to recover funds if your device is lost or damaged.
In Ledger® Live, go to Accounts > Add account, choose the currency (BTC, ETH, etc.), and follow prompts to connect your device and add the account. Ledger Live will scan the blockchain and show your balances.
Ledger® Live itself doesn't use a username/password; instead, it detects and connects to your Ledger device. To "login" you plug in and unlock your device with the PIN. For higher security, confirm each transaction by physically approving it on the device.
Device not recognized: try a different USB cable or port, ensure Ledger® Live is up-to-date, and check OS permission dialogs (macOS Security & Privacy or Windows Drivers).
App not opening or stuck: restart the app, and if needed reboot the computer. Check that no other wallet apps are conflicting.
Missing funds: confirm you added the correct account type and that Ledger® Live finished syncing. Use the "Add account" flow to rescan addresses. Your funds are always on-chain — the device only holds keys.
Update failed mid-process: follow the app prompts. If the device enters a recovery mode, use Ledger® Live recovery instructions carefully and contact official support if uncertain.
• Always verify address on your device screen before sending. • If in doubt, restore using your 24-word recovery on a known-good device offline. • Keep one small test transaction when sending to a new address.
Beyond send/receive: staking, swapping, and app management.
Private key: secret data that signs transactions; never leaves your Ledger device.
Recovery phrase: a human-readable backup (usually 24 words) used to restore wallets.
Passphrase: optional additional word that creates hidden wallets — treat it like a password (if lost, funds are irrecoverable).
Firmware: the device's internal software. Only update from official channels. Firmware updates may require multiple confirmations and can take several minutes.