Introduction to Ledger Live
What is Ledger Live?
Ledger Live (branded recently as the Ledger Wallet app in some product pages) is Ledger’s official application that acts as a secure gateway to manage crypto assets when paired with a Ledger hardware device. It lets users check balances, install apps on devices, access dApps and service providers, and perform swaps, buys, and staking — while keeping private keys isolated on the hardware device.
Why developers should care
For dApp, tooling, and wallet developers, Ledger Live provides two useful paths: (1) a secure UX for end users who pair their Ledger device with your service, and (2) the Developer Portal and SDKs that allow creating device apps, plugins, or Live Apps that communicate safely with Ledger hardware. Integrating cleanly with Ledger Live improves adoption and trustworthiness.
Getting Started: tools & flows
Prerequisites
- A Ledger hardware device (Nano series, Stax, or Flex).
- Latest Ledger Live desktop or mobile installed for testing.
- Familiarity with signing flows and the principle of on-device verification.
Developer Portal & SDKs
The Ledger Developer Portal hosts the Device App Kit, Device Management Kit, signing libraries, and docs for building C/Rust apps and Live Apps. Read the quickstarts, developer-mode docs, and app submission workflow before deploying anything publicly.
Security first: patterns to follow
Never request seed phrases
Remind users: any UI or prompt that asks for the 24-word recovery phrase is malicious. Ledger Live never requests the seed phrase — on-device confirmation is the only valid signing method.
On-device verification
Design your UX so that the transaction summary is concise, clearly readable, and matches what the user expects to confirm on their Ledger device. That reduces phishing risks and user errors.
Integrations & Live Apps
Ledger Live’s Discover/App Catalog exposes curated third-party services; consider building Live Apps that surface safely within that ecosystem. Use the provided APIs and follow Ledger’s submission rules.
FAQ
- Q: Is Ledger Live the same as Ledger Wallet?
- A: Ledger Live is the official app historically named Ledger Live; Ledger also refers to the all-in-one experience as Ledger Wallet in product/shop pages but the functionality and official downloads remain on ledger.com and verified app stores.
- Q: Where do I download Ledger Live?
- A: Always download Ledger Live from the official Ledger site or verified app stores to avoid fake installers. Ledger provides signatures to verify binaries.
- Q: Can Ledger Live run without a hardware device?
- A: Some features (portfolio view, read-only) may work without a device, but signing transactions requires the Ledger device; developer/test flows may enable a simulator or dev mode for development.
- Q: How does a Live App differ from a web dApp?
- A: Live Apps are integrated services surfaced in Ledger Live’s Discover section and interact with Ledger hardware through Ledger-approved APIs and security constraints.
- Q: What should I do if a user reports a fake Ledger Live installer?
- A: Direct them to Ledger’s official support and instruct them to never reveal seed phrases. Report scams to Ledger and local authorities if funds were stolen.