How to set up Ledger Live and your Ledger device
Follow these concise, official steps to initialise Ledger Live and safely set up a Ledger hardware wallet so you can start managing assets with confidence.
1. Download Ledger Live
Download Ledger Live from the official channel for your operating system: download.live.ledger.com or the App Store / Google Play. Verify the checksum when available.
2. Connect and initialise your Ledger device
Power your Ledger device and follow the device prompts to create a new wallet or restore from an existing recovery phrase. Ledger devices generate the recovery phrase on-device — always record it offline and never share it.
3. Install apps within Ledger Live
Open Ledger Live, complete the onboarding wizard, and install the blockchain apps (for example Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana) you need. Ledger Live handles app installation and keeps firmware up to date.
4. Add accounts and manage assets
Add accounts for each supported asset in Ledger Live, review your portfolio, and configure settings such as currency conversion, transaction labels and performance tracking.
5. Best practices for security
Keep your recovery phrase offline, verify device firmware only via Ledger Live, and never enter your recovery phrase into a website or app. For enterprise or high-value setups consider air-gapped workflows and multi-signature configurations.
Recommended checklist
- Download Ledger Live from the official source and verify signatures.
- Initialize device on-device and record recovery phrase securely offline.
- Install only official apps via Ledger Live and keep firmware updated.
- Enable device PIN and use a unique, strong passphrase when appropriate.
Integrations & developer options
Ledger Live integrates with decentralised exchanges, DeFi platforms and NFT marketplaces through secure transaction signing. Developers can consult the Ledger Developer Portal for SDKs, Transport protocols and integration best practices.