Ledger Live is the essential companion application that brings the power of your **Ledger hardware wallet** to your desktop and mobile devices. Securely manage, grow, and control your **digital assets** from one trusted interface.
Always download the **Ledger Live** application directly from the official Ledger website. Avoid third-party sources to protect yourself from malicious versions. Install the software on your preferred device (desktop or mobile). This application serves as your secure interface, but it's important to remember that it **never holds your private keys**—your Ledger device does that.
The application will guide you through connecting your **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X** for the first time. Power on your device and enter your **PIN code** to unlock it.
If your device is brand new, choose **"Set up as new device"** in Ledger Live. The app will confirm your device's originality and guide you through setting a **new PIN** and, most importantly, writing down your **24-word Recovery Phrase**. This phrase is your only backup. Store it in a **secure, physical location**—never digitally.
If you already have a Recovery Phrase, choose **"Restore from Recovery Phrase"** and follow the instructions to input the words on the device itself. This action migrates your existing **digital assets** to the new hardware wallet.
Once synced, navigate to the **Manager** section in **Ledger Live**. This is where you install the specific applications (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana) needed to manage different **cryptocurrency networks**. Since Ledger devices have limited storage, install only the apps for the coins you actively manage. You must confirm the installation of each app on your physical Ledger device screen.
After installing an app (e.g., Bitcoin), go to the **Accounts** tab and click **"Add account."** **Ledger Live** will prompt you to connect and unlock your device and open the corresponding app (e.g., open the Bitcoin app on your device). The software then securely scans the blockchain to detect any existing funds associated with the keys derived from your **Recovery Phrase** and displays the addresses within the app.
Your **Ledger hardware wallet** is only vulnerable if your **24-word Recovery Phrase** is compromised. **Ledger Live** is the user interface; the security remains locked on the device. Never type your phrase into your computer or share it with anyone, including Ledger support.
To **receive** funds, select the account and click **"Receive."** **Ledger Live** will generate a new address. Crucially, the application will prompt you to **verify this address on your physical Ledger screen**. You must manually confirm the address matches exactly before sharing it or sending funds to it. To **send** funds, you input the recipient address and amount, and then physically confirm the transaction details (amount, fee, address) on your Ledger device.
The **Portfolio** tab provides an aggregated view of all your **digital assets** held across all accounts. It tracks historical balances and asset value changes, allowing you to monitor your performance securely. **Ledger Live** also offers real-time charts and market data for key cryptocurrencies.
Periodically check the **Manager** section for **firmware updates** for your Ledger device and updates for the **Ledger Live** application itself. Always keep both the firmware and the application updated to ensure you have the latest security patches and features for managing your **cryptocurrency**.
**Ledger Live** integrates with various external partners (e.g., Coinify, Wyre, Changelly) directly within the application. You can use the **Buy/Sell** feature to acquire **cryptocurrency** directly into your **hardware wallet** addresses, or use the **Swap** function to trade one asset for another without moving funds to an external exchange. All transactions still require **on-device confirmation**, maintaining the security chain.
For proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, and Tezos, **Ledger Live** allows you to securely **stake** your assets directly from your account. This process keeps your funds locked in your wallet address (under the protection of your **private keys**) while delegating them to a validator to earn rewards. Navigate to the **"Earn"** tab to see which assets are available for staking.
The **Discover** section is a curated list of third-party **dApps** (decentralized applications) and services integrated with the Ledger ecosystem. This includes services for DeFi, NFTs, and more. **Ledger Connect** is a secure protocol that allows these external services to communicate with your Ledger device via **Ledger Live**, signing transactions without ever exposing your **Recovery Phrase**.
**Ledger Live** supports managing both Ethereum and Solana-based **NFTs** (Non-Fungible Tokens). Your collectibles will appear directly in their respective account tabs. You can also add and manage thousands of supported **ERC-20** and other standard tokens by simply having the native coin's app (e.g., Ethereum) installed on your device.