Ledger Live Desktop — Secure cryptocurrency portfolio manager

Ledger Live Desktop is a companion application for hardware wallets that combines portfolio tracking, coin management, secure transactions, and built-in app updates — designed to keep your crypto safe while remaining easy to use.

What is Ledger Live Desktop?

Ledger Live Desktop is a cross-platform application that acts as the user-facing interface for a hardware wallet. It lets you:

  • connect and manage one or multiple hardware devices;
  • view balances and transaction history for many blockchains in a single dashboard;
  • send and receive cryptocurrencies securely, with every transaction signed on the device;
  • install, update, and remove blockchain apps on your hardware wallet;
  • access staking, swap, and portfolio analytics where supported.

Key features

Device-first security

All private keys remain on your hardware device; the desktop app only prepares transactions. Final approval happens physically on the device.

Portfolio overview

See your total value across accounts, filter by asset, and examine historical performance at a glance.

App management

Install and update specific blockchain apps on your device to enable support for different coins and tokens.

On-device signing

Transactions are signed on the hardware wallet (not the desktop), protecting keys from malware.

Getting started — quick setup

  1. Download the official desktop installer for your operating system and verify the signature or checksum from the official source.
  2. Open the app and choose Connect a device. Plug in your hardware wallet and follow on-screen prompts.
  3. Create or restore an account by selecting the currencies you want to manage. Accounts are local to the app but tied to your hardware wallet’s seed.
  4. Install specific blockchain apps (for example, Ethereum or Bitcoin) through the built-in manager if required.

Tip: Always verify you downloaded the app from the official website and check the cryptographic signature when possible.

Security best practices

Security is the most important part of using a hardware wallet. Follow these guidelines:

  • Keep your recovery phrase offline and never share it. Anyone with the phrase can control your funds.
  • Only install the desktop app from the official website. Avoid third-party builds.
  • Verify app updates and device firmware through the official update flow inside the desktop application.
  • Use a clean, trusted computer when doing large transactions. Consider an air-gapped workflow for maximum safety.

User interface & workflow

The UI is split into a left navigation (Accounts, Send, Receive, Manager, Swap/Buy, Settings) and a main content area. Typical flow to send funds:

  1. Select the account and click Send.
  2. Enter the recipient address and amount. Advanced options allow custom fees and memos where supported.
  3. Preview the transaction in Ledger Live; then confirm the details on your hardware device.
  4. Only once you physically confirm on the device is the transaction signed and broadcast.

Common FAQs

Q: Can I use multiple devices with one installation?
A: Yes. You can connect multiple hardware wallets and manage them from the same Ledger Live installation; each device’s accounts remain separate.

Q: What happens if I lose my device?
A: You can restore your accounts on any compatible hardware wallet using your recovery phrase. Protect the phrase above all else.