Ledger Live Desktop brings secure portfolio management and device control to your desktop — Ledger Live Desktop helps you view balances, send and receive assets, and manage firmware and apps.
What is Ledger Live Desktop?
Ledger Live Desktop is the official desktop application designed to manage your hardware wallet and crypto assets while keeping private keys isolated — Ledger Live Desktop provides a single, secure interface for portfolio overviews and transactions.
Ledger Live Desktop connects only to your Ledger hardware device to sign transactions; Ledger Live Desktop never exposes private keys to the internet or to third-party services.
Key Features of Ledger Live Desktop
Ledger Live Desktop includes a set of essential features for everyday and advanced users — Ledger Live Desktop supports portfolio tracking, secure send/receive flows, staking where supported, and device firmware updates.
Asset Management: Ledger Live Desktop displays balances, transaction history, and asset breakdowns for supported blockchains — Ledger Live Desktop consolidates holdings across accounts.
Device Management: Ledger Live Desktop installs and updates apps on your Ledger device and performs firmware updates securely.
Transaction Signing: Ledger Live Desktop prepares transactions while the Ledger device performs all signing operations — Ledger Live Desktop handles the user interface while the device handles secrets.
Staking & Rewards: Ledger Live Desktop supports staking for selected assets allowing users to earn rewards without exporting private keys — Ledger Live Desktop manages the staking flow.
Getting Started with Ledger Live Desktop
To start using Ledger Live Desktop, download the official installer and follow the guided setup — Ledger Live Desktop will walk you through onboarding, device pairing, and account creation without ever asking for your recovery phrase.
Open Ledger Live Desktop and choose Initialize as new device or Restore from recovery phrase when prompted — Ledger Live Desktop will present clear instructions for each option.
Pair your Ledger hardware wallet with Ledger Live Desktop and confirm device prompts to establish a secure connection — Ledger Live Desktop pairs via USB or supported connections depending on your device model.
Add accounts for supported blockchains within Ledger Live Desktop to begin viewing balances and transaction history — Ledger Live Desktop automatically fetches on-chain data for added accounts.
Security Best Practices for Ledger Live Desktop
Security is the reason Ledger Live Desktop exists — use Ledger Live Desktop together with best practices to reduce risk and maintain custody of your assets.
Never enter your recovery phrase into Ledger Live Desktop or any software — Ledger Live Desktop will never request your full seed phrase during normal operation.
Always verify transaction details on your Ledger device screen before confirming in Ledger Live Desktop — Ledger Live Desktop shows a preview, but the device confirmation ensures safety.
Keep Ledger Live Desktop and your device firmware up to date to benefit from security patches — Ledger Live Desktop will notify you of official updates.
Store your recovery phrase offline in a secure, private place and never share it — Ledger Live Desktop relies on the recovery phrase only for initial device restoration when you choose that path.
Common Tasks in Ledger Live Desktop
Ledger Live Desktop simplifies everyday crypto tasks — here are concise steps to perform common actions inside Ledger Live Desktop.
Send Crypto: Create a send transaction in Ledger Live Desktop, verify the recipient and amount, then approve the transaction on your Ledger device.
Receive Crypto: Generate a receive address in Ledger Live Desktop and confirm the address on your Ledger device before sharing it.
Install Apps: Use the Manager section of Ledger Live Desktop to add blockchain apps to your Ledger device and manage installed apps.
Check Firmware: Use Ledger Live Desktop to check and update your device firmware when official updates are available.
Troubleshooting Ledger Live Desktop
If you have connection or synchronization issues, Ledger Live Desktop includes diagnostics and logs to help resolve common problems — Ledger Live Desktop provides step-by-step guidance for reconnecting devices and resyncing accounts.
If Ledger Live Desktop cannot detect your device, ensure the cable and ports are functional, check OS permissions, and confirm that the device is unlocked and on the correct app screen.
Privacy and Data Handling in Ledger Live Desktop
Ledger Live Desktop is designed to minimize data exposure — Ledger Live Desktop queries public blockchain data but sensitive secrets remain on your Ledger hardware device at all times.
Ledger Live Desktop may collect minimal telemetry if you opt-in; you can review and manage privacy settings within the app — Ledger Live Desktop gives you control over what is shared for diagnostics or improvement.
Final Recommendations for Ledger Live Desktop Users
Use Ledger Live Desktop as the secure control center for your Ledger device and assets — combine Ledger Live Desktop with strong physical and digital security practices to maintain long-term custody and peace of mind.
For advanced custody strategies, consider using Ledger Live Desktop together with hardware-secure workflows and cold-storage best practices — Ledger Live Desktop is a tool to make those workflows easier and safer.