Secure Crypto Management — official desktop companion for Ledger devices
Ledger Live Desktop is the versatile, secure management app for Ledger hardware wallets. It combines portfolio overview, application management, built-in swaps, staking, and firmware updates — designed to keep your private keys isolated on the Ledger device while giving you an intuitive, colorful interface to manage assets safely.
Desktop apps offer stronger control over updates and larger UI surface for advanced features. Ledger Live allows you to update firmware, manage coin apps on your device, and perform operations with clear on-device confirmations.
Everyone from beginners to power users. Beginners benefit from guided flows; power users can integrate with DeFi through bridges and manage multiple accounts and staking strategies.
Real-time account balances, multi-asset value, and historical charts to track performance over time.
Install/uninstall coin apps on your Ledger device and add or remove accounts safely.
Stake supported coins directly in Ledger Live to earn rewards while holding keys securely.
Built-in swap providers allow instant token swaps with transparent fees — perform the operation with on-device confirmation.
Download Ledger Live Desktop from the official Ledger website to ensure you get the legitimate installer. Verify the installer checksum if you are comfortable with cryptographic verification — this adds an additional layer of assurance against tampering.
# Example checksum check (macOS/Linux) shasum -a 256 ledger-live-desktop.AppImage # Compare output with the checksum published by Ledger
Run the installer for your OS. On first run, Ledger Live will guide you to connect a Ledger device, initialize or restore a wallet, and accept a few onboarding steps. Always use a high-quality USB cable and avoid using unknown public computers during initial setup.
Install necessary coin apps on your Ledger device via the 'Manager' section, then add accounts for the coins you want to manage. Ledger Live will derive addresses from the device — always verify displayed addresses on-device.
Ledger Live blends usability with robust security. Below are some core workflows and tips to leverage the app effectively.
Track portfolio value across all connected accounts, examine historical performance, and export CSVs for accounting or tax tools.
Stake supported assets directly from Ledger Live. Delegation flows are designed to keep private keys on-device while the Ledger signs staking-related transactions.
Ledger Live aggregates swap providers for convenience. Review fees and confirm swap parameters on-device prior to signing.
For advanced DeFi interactions, connect Ledger to trusted third-party apps like MetaMask or web3 dApps using secure bridge flows. Always verify contract interactions on-device and use read-only views for initial inspection.
For large balances or institutional use, consider multi-signature setups, cold storage policies, air-gapped signing workflows, and hardware security modules (HSM) where appropriate.