Ledger® Live: Desktop | Getting Started With Ledger®
Welcome to Ledger® Live, the official companion app for your Ledger® hardware wallet. Whether you're new to crypto or transitioning from a software wallet, this guide will walk you through getting started with Ledger® Live for Desktop, ensuring your assets are managed with maximum security and full control. 🔐
Ledger® devices are built on the principle of self-custody — your private keys remain stored securely offline. Paired with Ledger® Live, you get a user-friendly interface to manage your portfolio, install apps, and interact with Web3 safely from your desktop.
🚀 What Is Ledger® Live?
Ledger® Live is the all-in-one desktop application that connects to your Ledger Nano S Plus®, Nano X®, or Stax®. It enables you to:
- Manage your crypto assets with real-time price tracking 📊
- Install and update apps for supported coins
- Send and receive over 5,500+ digital assets
- Stake assets like Ethereum, Polkadot, and Tezos 🔁
- Buy, swap, or sell crypto using integrated services
- Access Web3 apps securely using Ledger Extension
Best of all — your private keys never leave your device. That's true ownership.
🧰 What You’ll Need
Before you get started, make sure you have:
- A Ledger® hardware wallet (Nano S Plus, Nano X, or Stax) 📦
- A USB cable to connect your device (or Bluetooth for Nano X) 🔌
- A computer running Windows®, macOS®, or Linux 🖥️
- Internet connection 🌐
- Your recovery phrase card and a pen 🖊️
🛠️ Step-by-Step Setup for Ledger® Live (Desktop)
1. Download Ledger® Live
Go to the official website: https://ledger.com/ledger-live Click on “Download Ledger Live” for Desktop. Choose the version compatible with your OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux). 🧩
⚠️ Important: Only download from the official Ledger site. Avoid third-party links to prevent malware or phishing.
2. Install and Launch the App
Open the installer and follow the prompts to install. Once installed, open Ledger® Live. You'll be greeted with the onboarding screen.
Select: ✅ “Get Started” ✅ Choose your device model ✅ Confirm you’re setting up as a new or returning user
3. Connect Your Ledger Device
Plug in your Ledger wallet via USB (or Bluetooth if you're using Nano X). The app will prompt you to:
- Create a new wallet or restore from your 24-word recovery phrase 🔐
- Set a secure PIN code directly on the device
- Write down your recovery phrase — this is your backup! NEVER store it digitally.
💡 Tip: Ledger will never ask you to share your recovery phrase. Ever.
4. Install Apps & Add Accounts
Once your device is initialized and paired, you’ll enter the Ledger® Live dashboard.
- Go to "Manager" to install apps for the coins you want to manage (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum)
- Then go to “Accounts” and click “Add account” to sync your wallet with the desktop app
- Repeat this for each asset you want to manage
Now your wallet is fully functional and ready for transactions! 💼
💸 Sending & Receiving Crypto
To Receive:
- Go to the “Receive” tab
- Choose the asset and click “Continue”
- Verify the address shown on your device matches the one on your screen
- Copy and share it with the sender ✅
To Send:
- Click the “Send” tab
- Enter the recipient address and amount
- Confirm the transaction on your Ledger device
- Done! Your transaction is on the blockchain ⛓️
🔗 Exploring Web3 & DeFi
Ledger® Live now supports Ledger Extension — a browser extension that allows secure connection to dApps (like Uniswap, Aave, and OpenSea).
- Your private key stays on the device
- All transactions must be manually confirmed
- Great for NFT minting, staking, and DeFi interactions 🌐
🛡️ Security Best Practices
- ✅ Keep your recovery phrase offline and hidden
- ❌ Never share your seed phrase or PIN with anyone
- 📌 Bookmark ledger.com to avoid fake sites
- 🔒 Use passphrases for added wallet protection (advanced users)
- 🧊 Remember: Ledger is a cold wallet — it protects you from online threats
🎉 You’re Ready to Go!
Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up Ledger® Live for Desktop and taken a huge step toward full crypto ownership. With every transaction confirmed on your device and private keys secured offline, you’re in total control.
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