Ledger Live — Complete Guide (2026)
1. What Is Ledger Live?
Ledger Live is the official cryptocurrency management application developed by Ledger. It connects to Ledger hardware wallets (such as Nano X, Nano S Plus, and Stax) and lets you securely manage your digital assets. Ledger Live serves as a dashboard for your crypto and Web3 activity, while your private keys remain safely stored offline on the hardware device.
The app is non‑custodial, meaning you — and only you — control your funds. Ledger Live does not store or manage your private keys; it only helps you interact with your wallet in a secure way.
2. Key Features of Ledger Live
Secure Portfolio Dashboard
Ledger Live shows all your cryptocurrency balances, recent transactions, and portfolio performance across all connected accounts. This helps you monitor your overall holdings at a glance.
Send, Receive, Buy, Sell & Swap
- Receive Crypto: Generate receiving addresses from your hardware wallet and use them to accept incoming transactions.
- Send Crypto: Create send transactions through the app, then confirm them on the Ledger device before broadcasting.
- Buy Crypto: Integrated partners allow you to purchase cryptocurrency using bank transfer or debit/credit cards directly within the app.
- Sell Crypto: Some partners handle fiat conversions so you can sell assets from Ledger Live back to fiat.
- Swap Crypto: Exchange one cryptocurrency for another without leaving the interface, using built‑in swap services.
Staking & Rewards
Ledger Live supports staking for select assets. You can delegate or stake supported coins from within the app to earn rewards while keeping custody of your keys.
Market Data & Insights
Native price tracking and market tools show real‑time data on supported assets, helping you stay informed about market trends.
NFT Support
The app can display and help you manage your non‑fungible tokens (NFTs) for supported chains.
Cross‑Platform Sync
Ledger Live is available on desktop and mobile. Your portfolio and settings can sync between devices for convenience.
3. How Ledger Live Works With Your Ledger Device
Ledger Live acts as the interface, while the hardware wallet is the secure signer:
- Transaction Preparation: You build a transaction inside Ledger Live.
- Device Confirmation: Details of the transaction are shown on the hardware device screen.
- Signing: You physically confirm the transaction on the device — this signs it with your private key stored in the secure element.
- Broadcast: Ledger Live sends the signed transaction to the blockchain network.
This two‑step approach ensures that even if your computer or phone is compromised, your private keys remain protected on the hardware device.
4. Supported Platforms
Ledger Live runs on:
- Desktop: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Mobile: Android and iOS
On mobile, Bluetooth is supported for compatible devices like the Ledger Nano X and Stax, allowing wireless connections.
5. Supported Cryptocurrencies and Networks
Ledger Live supports a wide array of assets across major blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Polkadot, and many token standards such as ERC‑20 and SPL. NFT support is available for many popular chains.
The list of supported assets grows over time, and you can add accounts for many different cryptocurrencies within the app.
6. Security Best Practices
Always follow these practices to keep your crypto safe:
✔ Never share your 24‑word recovery phrase.
✔ Only enter your recovery phrase on the Ledger device itself.
✔ Verify transaction details on the hardware device’s screen before approving.
✔ Keep your hardware wallet firmware up to date.
✔ Download Ledger Live only from official Ledger sources.
Ledger Live will never ask you for your recovery phrase. If any interface — web or app — asks for your seed phrase, it is a scam.
7. What Ledger Live Does Not Do
❌ Ledger Live does not store your private keys — they remain strictly on the hardware device.
❌ It does not provide a way to recover your funds without your recovery phrase.
❌ It is not a custodial wallet — you are always in control of your crypto.
Advanced multisignature setups and certain specific DeFi activities are available through separate tools that can integrate with Ledger but are not built into Ledger Live itself.
8. Regular Maintenance and Updates
Ledger Live receives periodic updates that add new features, expand asset support, and improve security. Keeping the app and your hardware wallet firmware up to date ensures you benefit from the latest improvements.
9. Summary
Ledger Live is a secure, versatile, and user‑friendly application that acts as a centralized hub for managing your cryptocurrency holdings while keeping private keys exclusively on your Ledger hardware device. It offers portfolio tracking, transaction management, staking, swaps, NFT visibility, and integrated buy/sell functions — all designed to maximize security and control for crypto holders.