Ledger Live is the official app that pairs with your Ledger hardware wallet so you can manage accounts, install coin apps, sign transactions safely, and track portfolio performance — with private keys remaining on your device at all times.
Ledger Live is built to make crypto management secure and approachable. Here are the essentials you'll use every day.
Payments and approvals must be confirmed on your Ledger device, preventing remote malware from signing transactions.
Install only the blockchain apps you need (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, etc.) to conserve device space and keep operations focused.
Monitor balances, historical performance and market prices with optional privacy controls.
Always download Ledger Live from the official domain (type Ledger.com/start directly). The flow below gets you from installer to a working device in a few focused steps.
Go to Ledger.com/start, choose your platform (Desktop or Mobile) and download the app installer or mobile store page.
Run the installer. On macOS you may need to allow Gatekeeper; on Windows accept UAC prompts. For Linux follow the distro instructions.
Connect your Ledger, create a PIN on-device, and write down the recovery phrase exactly as shown. Never store the phrase digitally.
Use Ledger Live's Manager to install coin apps and add accounts. The device will prompt for confirmations.
Send a small test transaction to ensure addresses and signing work before moving larger amounts.
“Plunging” here refers to the small connector (plugin/helper) sometimes required to enable reliable USB or browser access between Ledger Live and your Ledger device. Think of it as a local helper that enables secure communications — it does not store or transmit your keys.
Certain OS/browser combinations (older macOS versions, Linux distributions, or sandboxed browsers) may block direct WebUSB/WebHID access. The helper remedies permission and discovery issues so Ledger Live or web integrations can detect and communicate with the device.
sudo udevadm control --reload-rules && sudo udevadm trigger.If your device is not detected: use the original cable, try a different USB port, avoid hubs, restart Ledger Live, and confirm the helper process is running. If an antivirus blocks the helper during install, temporarily allow the official installer and re-enable protections afterward.
Ledger Live and your Ledger device give you strong security primitives — but your practices matter most. Treat your recovery phrase like a bank vault key: offline, multiple copies stored safely, and never shared.