Ledger® Live Wallet – Getting Started™ Developer Portal

A friendly, practical guide for developers and curious users to install Ledger® Live, explore the Developer Portal, integrate with the Ledger ecosystem, and follow best security practices.

H2 — Why Ledger® Live and the Developer Portal?

Ledger® Live brings hardware-wallet security together with a modern desktop and mobile experience. The Developer Portal exists to help builders connect apps, integrations, and services with Ledger’s secure platform — from signing transactions on a trusted device to building companion apps that respect user privacy.

H3 — Who is this guide for?

This guide targets three audiences: developers who want to integrate with Ledger hardware or APIs, product teams evaluating secure custody options, and power users learning how Ledger Live works. We’ll cover installation, account setup, developer resources, sample integrations, and security practices.

H4 — What you’ll need

A Ledger hardware device (e.g., Ledger Nano S Plus, Ledger Nano X) and its recovery phrase stored securely.
A computer or mobile device supported by Ledger Live (desktop: macOS, Windows, Linux; mobile: iOS/Android).
Basic familiarity with command line tools and Git for developer integrations.

H5 — Short checklist

Download Ledger Live from the official source (do not use third-party mirrors).
Create or restore an account on your Ledger device using the device UI.
Visit the Developer Portal to explore SDKs and documentation.

Installation & First Run

Download and verify

Always download Ledger Live from the official download page linked above. After downloading, verify installer checksums when provided — this helps ensure the binary you run is genuine.

Initial setup

Open Ledger Live and choose Get Started.
Choose whether to Set up a new device or Restore a device using your recovery phrase.
Follow on-screen steps; the Ledger device’s screen and buttons guide secure actions like generating a PIN and writing down your recovery phrase.

# Example: Check Ledger Live version (desktop) ledger-live -v

Adding accounts

Ledger Live supports multiple blockchains through built-in apps. Use the Manager to install necessary apps on the device, then add accounts inside Ledger Live. The Developer Portal includes guides for each supported chain.

Developer Portal Highlights

APIs, SDKs, and Tools

The Developer Portal provides:

Library references (LedgerJS) for interacting with Ledger devices in JavaScript/TypeScript.
APIs for transport layers (USB, BLE) and examples for web and native integration.
SDKs for building companion desktop and mobile applications.

Quick example: signing flow

Typical flow for an application that requests a signature from a Ledger device:

Discover available transport (USB/BLE).
Open a session with the Ledger app for the specific chain (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum).
Request the device to display/sign a transaction; the user confirms on-device.

Sample pseudo-code (conceptual):

// connect to device const transport = await TransportWebUSB.create(); const app = new AppEthereum(transport); const signature = await app.signTransaction(path, rawTx); // user confirms on device

Where to learn more

Each SDK page in the Developer Portal includes tutorials, sample apps, and GitHub repos with real code. Reuse official libraries when possible — they handle transport edge-cases and improve compatibility across OSes.

Security Best Practices

Never expose your recovery phrase

Ledger devices store private keys securely in hardware. The recovery phrase is the ultimate backup; treat it like the key to a safe deposit box: never type it into websites, never store a plain text copy on a computer, and never share it.

Update firmware and Ledger Live

Keep both Ledger Live and device firmware up to date. Ledger releases firmware updates to patch vulnerabilities and improve compatibility — check official release notes on the Ledger site before applying updates.

Verify software sources

Only install Ledger apps and software from official sources. When building integrations, depend on official SDKs and tagged GitHub releases to avoid supply-chain risks.

Troubleshooting

Common issues

Device not detected: Try a different USB cable, enable webUSB in browser flags, or use the Ledger Live Desktop app.
App crashes: Reinstall the app via the Manager and ensure firmware is up to date.
Stuck during update: Follow official recovery steps from Support before attempting risky workarounds.

Contacting support

If you hit a blocker, use the official support channel. Avoid sharing sensitive info like your recovery phrase when requesting help — Ledger Support will never ask for it.

FAQ

Q: Is Ledger Live open-source?: A: Parts of the Ledger ecosystem are open-source (SDKs and libraries on GitHub). The Desktop and Mobile apps include open components and official guidance in the Developer Portal.
Q: Can I build an app that talks to Ledger Live?: A: Yes — the Developer Portal explains integration patterns. For many use-cases you’ll communicate directly with the Ledger device (via LedgerJS or native libraries) rather than through Ledger Live.
Q: Where do I find official code samples?: A: Check Ledger’s GitHub organization and the Developer Portal for example repositories and starter kits.
Q: Can Ledger Live custody funds?: A: Ledger Live is a companion application to your Ledger hardware; private keys reside on the hardware device you control, not on Ledger servers.
Q: What chains does Ledger support?: A: Ledger supports a broad set of blockchains. Visit the Developer Portal and supported apps list for the most up-to-date list.