Overview. Ledger Live is the official companion application for Ledger hardware wallets that lets you manage accounts, send and receive crypto, stake, and use Web3 features while keeping your private keys offline. Ledger deliberately designs the experience so there is no traditional cloud "email + password" login for private keys — authentication depends on your physical Ledger device and the PIN you set on it.
How the login works
To “log in” to Ledger Live you connect your hardware device (Nano S / Nano X / etc.) to the Ledger Live app on desktop or mobile. The app stores account metadata locally, but critical signing operations happen on the hardware wallet itself — this means an attacker cannot sign transactions without physical access to your device and your PIN. Keep your recovery phrase (seed) offline at all times; Ledger will never ask you to type it into the app or a website.
Secure setup & best practices
- Download Ledger Live only from the official Ledger site and verified app stores (Ledger.com, Apple App Store, Google Play). Verify signatures if offered on the download page.
- Never enter or upload your 24-word recovery phrase. Any interface that asks for it is a scam.
- Keep your device firmware up to date via Ledger Live’s Manager tab and enable a strong PIN on the device.
- Use only trusted on-ramps, swap and staking providers listed in Ledger Live; avoid third-party copies of the app.
Why this matters
Hardware wallets keep private keys in a secure element isolated from your computer. Ledger Live acts as a safe, convenient UI to view balances and prepare transactions, but the hardware wallet verifies and signs transactions — so the physical device + PIN = your real "login". Scammers frequently mimic wallet apps; always confirm you downloaded the real Ledger Live and beware of fake installers and phishing pages that try to trick you into revealing your seed phrase.
Quick official resources
Below are direct, official Ledger links (open in new tabs). Links are styled for clarity so you can quickly verify downloads, support articles, and app pages.
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