Getting Started
Ledger® Live – Getting Started with Ledger® Wallet
A concise, practical guide to set up Ledger Live, pair your Ledger hardware wallet, and begin managing your crypto safely.
1. What is Ledger Live & why use it?
Ledger Live is the official companion app for Ledger hardware wallets. It lets you install apps on your device, view balances, receive and send crypto, buy/swap assets, stake where supported, and keep firmware up to date — while keeping your private keys isolated on the device. Use Ledger Live as the secure bridge between your hardware wallet and the web/mobile world.
2. Quick setup (step-by-step)
- Download Ledger Live: always download Ledger Live from the official Ledger site and verify you’re on the real domain before opening any installer.
- Install and open the app: run the installer, follow on-screen prompts, and create a new device or restore an existing one.
- Initialize your Ledger device: choose a PIN, write down the 24-word recovery phrase on the provided card (never store it digitally).
- Install apps: from Ledger Live's Manager, install the apps you need (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) on your Ledger device.
- Add accounts: in Ledger Live add accounts for each asset you want to manage and let the app synchronize balances.
- Test with a small transaction: before moving large amounts, send a small test transfer to confirm everything works.
3. Security rules you must follow
- Never share your recovery phrase. Ledger (or any legitimate service) will never ask for it.
- Only download Ledger Live from the official Ledger website.
- Use a strong PIN on your device and enable a device passphrase (optional) for extra account partitions.
- Keep firmware updated using Ledger Live’s secure update flow.
- Buy devices only from official Ledger channels or authorized resellers to avoid tampered hardware.
4. Common tasks
- Receive funds: use the receive button in Ledger Live, confirm the address on the device display.
- Send funds: create a transaction in Ledger Live and confirm details on your Ledger device before approving.
- Update firmware & apps: open Manager and follow Ledger Live prompts — do not install firmware from links sent in emails.
5. Where to learn more
Official resources make a big difference for safety and reliability.
6. Final checklist
- I downloaded Ledger Live from ledger.com.
- I recorded my recovery phrase offline and stored it safely.
- I verified addresses on my Ledger device before sending crypto.
- I keep firmware and Ledger Live updated and watch the official status page for incidents.