Ledger Live Desktop® — Start Your Crypto Journey Securly. Welcome to an approachable, desktop-first application designed to pair with your Ledger hardware wallet. This page walks you through everything: installing Ledger Live Desktop®, pairing a Ledger device, managing a multi-asset portfolio, staking rewards, sending/receiving crypto, and essential security best practices that keep your private keys divorced from the internet.
Overview — Ledger Live Desktop® Basics
Ledger Live Desktop® is the desktop companion app for Ledger hardware wallets, built to give you control over your crypto assets while keeping private keys stored safely on your device. Ledger Live Desktop® supports account management across hundreds of assets, fiat portfolio valuation, and integrated apps. Many users prefer the desktop experience because it reduces reliance on browser extensions or mobile devices when performing high-value actions.
The first step in your journey is downloading Ledger Live Desktop® from the official source and verifying the checksum. Always confirm the integrity of the installer and only follow the official instructions linked below. After installation, connect your Ledger device (Ledger Nano S Plus, Nano X, or other supported models), unlock it, and open the Ledger Live Desktop® app to add accounts.
Why Ledger Live Desktop® matters
Desktop applications tend to offer richer visualizations, stable local storage for wallet metadata, and robust update mechanisms. With Ledger Live Desktop®, you get:
Private keys never leave your Ledger hardware — Ledger Live Desktop® only signs transactions via the device.
Manage Bitcoin, Ethereum, ERC-20 tokens, and many other chains from a single interface.
Stake supported assets directly through Ledger Live Desktop® and track APY on eligible chains.
Security — Best practices for Ledger Live Desktop®
Ledger Live Desktop® — Start Your Crypto Journey Securly by following security-first habits. The most critical fallback is your recovery phrase (24 words by default). Treat it as the ultimate secret: never type it into a computer or send it to anyone.
When setting up, initialize your ledger device offline, write down the recovery phrase on paper (or on a specialized recovery metal), and keep it in a secure location. Ledger Live Desktop® will guide you through adding accounts but will never ask for your recovery phrase. If any site or support request does, it is a scam. Always authenticate downloads, and enable OS-level full-disk encryption on your desktop when possible.
Transaction flow explained
Sending crypto from Ledger Live Desktop® involves creating a transaction in the app and confirming it physically on the Ledger device. This two-step process ensures that the private key never interacts with the online host — the device signs the transaction and returns the signature to the app for broadcast.
Confirm visually the destination address on your Ledger device screen before approving. This prevents clipboard or host-level address replacement attacks. Use the 'Expert mode' only if you know exactly what you are doing.
Supported assets & integrations
Ledger Live Desktop® supports hundreds of coins and tokens and offers integrations for staking, swaps, and dApps through curated partners. Commonly used assets include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and major EVM-compatible tokens. For an up-to-date list of supported assets and apps, consult the official Ledger support and docs pages listed in Resources below.
Backup & recovery
Your recovery phrase is the last line of defense. If your device is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can restore access using a compatible Ledger device or any compatible wallet that supports BIP39/BIP44 standards — provided you have the exact recovery phrase. Periodically test your backup recovery process on a spare device to ensure you can restore accounts when needed.
Resources & official links
The following official resources will help you stay current and download Ledger Live Desktop® safely:
• Ledger: Ledger Live (Official)
• Ledger Support & Help Center
• Ledger Blog (official updates)
• Further reputable guides: Coinbase Blog, Binance Blog
For developer-facing integrations, see the Ledger developer docs and SDKs to build apps that interact with Ledger devices.
Next steps — get started
Ledger Live Desktop® — Start Your Crypto Journey Securly by downloading the app from the official Ledger site, verifying the installer checksum, and completing the hardware device setup. Keep your recovery phrase offline, confirm addresses on-device, and check the official links above for updates and announcements.
If you want, you can follow the step-by-step quick-start in the "Get started guide" in this page or jump directly to official downloads. Safe crypto management is built by combining hardware security, vigilant habits, and using trusted software such as Ledger Live Desktop®.