A practical, beginner-friendly guide to installing Ledger Live, setting up your device, creating a secure login password, managing accounts and transactions, and keeping your crypto safe.
What is Ledger Live?
Ledger Live is the official companion application for Ledger hardware wallets. Ledger Live lets you manage multiple crypto accounts, send and receive assets, install apps on your Ledger device, and monitor your portfolio in one secure interface.
Before you start with Ledger Live
Use a trusted computer — your personal desktop or laptop. Avoid using public or unfamiliar machines for wallet setup.
Have your Ledger hardware device (Ledger Nano S Plus, Ledger Nano X, or supported device) and a USB cable ready.
Allocate 15–30 minutes to complete setup and write down your recovery phrase carefully.
Step 1 — Download Ledger Live
Visit the official Ledger website and download Ledger Live for your operating system. Verify you are on the official Ledger domain before downloading.
Install Ledger Live and open the application. On first launch, choose Get Started and follow the guided steps.
Tip: Check digital signatures or official store listings for added assurance when downloading.
Step 2 — Initialize your Ledger device
Connect your Ledger device to the computer and follow on-screen instructions in Ledger Live.
Choose Set up as new device or Restore device if you already have a recovery phrase.
Write down the recovery phrase shown on the device (never on a computer). Store this phrase offline and offline-only—never in photos, email, or cloud storage.
Step 3 — Create your Ledger Live login password
Ledger Live will prompt you to set a password that secures the app on your computer. This password protects the local Ledger Live profile but NOT your recovery phrase stored on the device. Follow these best practices when creating your Ledger Live login password:
Make it long (12+ characters) and use a passphrase style — a few unrelated words or a short sentence you can recall easily.
Include a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols if possible. Avoid obvious replacements (e.g., "P@ssw0rd").
Do not reuse passwords from email, exchanges, or other important accounts.
Use a reputable password manager to store the login password securely so you don’t have to rely on memory alone.
Remember: If you lose the Ledger Live password, your funds remain recoverable using your device's recovery phrase on another installation — so securing the recovery phrase is paramount.
Step 4 — Add accounts and manage assets in Ledger Live
In Ledger Live, go to Accounts and choose Add account. Select the cryptocurrency and follow prompts to sync with your Ledger device.
To receive funds, open the account in Ledger Live, click Receive, and verify the address on your Ledger device before sharing it.
To send funds, create a transaction in Ledger Live and confirm the details on your Ledger device screen before approving.
Always verify addresses directly on the Ledger device screen — malware can alter addresses displayed on your computer.
Step 5 — App management and firmware
Use Ledger Live to install or remove cryptocurrency apps on your Ledger device (Apps > Manager).
Keep your Ledger device firmware and Ledger Live application updated to receive the latest security fixes and improvements.
Security best practices
Never share your recovery phrase or private keys with anyone. Ledger support will never ask for your recovery phrase.
Store recovery phrase offline in a safe location (consider metal backups for high-value holdings).
Enable OS-level security (strong OS password, full-disk encryption) and avoid browser extensions that request wide permissions.
Regularly back up your system and keep Ledger Live backed up by saving the app configuration (not the recovery phrase) securely.
Troubleshooting & tips
If Ledger Live can’t detect your device, try a different USB cable or port and ensure Ledger Live permissions are enabled.
If you forget your Ledger Live password, restore your wallet using the recovery phrase on a new device or fresh Ledger Live profile.
Beware of phishing: always type the Ledger website URL yourself and avoid links in unsolicited emails or messages.
