Ledger® Live | Getting Started with Ledger® | Official Ledger® Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Ledger®
2. What Is Ledger® Live?
3. Why Use Ledger® Live?
4. Compatibility and System Requirements
5. How to Get Started with Ledger Live
6. Downloading Ledger Live from the Official Source
7. Setting Up Your Ledger Device (Nano S Plus, Nano X, or Stax)
8. Creating a New Crypto Wallet
9. Restoring a Wallet Using Recovery Phrase
10. Installing Cryptocurrency Apps
11. Managing Crypto Assets with Ledger Live
12. Sending and Receiving Crypto
13. Buying, Swapping, and Staking
14. NFT Support in Ledger Live
15. Accessing DeFi and Web3 with Ledger Live
16. Keeping Ledger Live & Your Device Secure
17. Troubleshooting Common Issues
18. Backups, Passphrases, and Recovery Tips
19. Support, Resources, and Community
20. Final Thoughts

1. Introduction to Ledger®

Ledger® is a global leader in hardware wallet technology, providing secure cold storage solutions for cryptocurrency users. Since 2014, millions of users have trusted Ledger to safeguard Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, and more.

Its core mission is to offer ownership, self-custody, and security—empowering users to control their digital assets independently.

2. What Is Ledger® Live?

Ledger Live is the official software application from Ledger that serves as the control center for managing your crypto portfolio. It allows users to:

• Set up Ledger hardware wallets
• Manage crypto assets
• Install apps for different blockchains
• Buy, swap, and stake tokens
• View NFTs
• Access Web3 and DeFi platforms

Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, Ledger Live is the go-to interface for secure crypto management.

3. Why Use Ledger® Live?

Here’s why Ledger Live is essential:

• ✅ Manage 5,500+ assets from one dashboard
• ✅ Easy onboarding for beginners
• ✅ Full self-custody—your keys, your crypto
• ✅ View real-time market data
• ✅ Track your portfolio value
• ✅ Secure transactions via hardware device confirmation

4. Compatibility and System Requirements

To use Ledger Live, you need:

Desktop:

• Windows 10+
• macOS 10.14+
• Linux Ubuntu 16.10+

Mobile:

• Android 8.1+
• iOS 13+

Devices Supported:

• Ledger Nano S Plus
• Ledger Nano X
• Ledger Stax

5. How to Get Started with Ledger Live

Step 1: Purchase a Ledger device

Only from the official Ledger website

Step 2: Install Ledger Live

Visit ledger.com/start and download the correct version for your OS.

Step 3: Plug in your Ledger wallet

Use the USB cable or Bluetooth (Nano X only) to connect.

6. Downloading Ledger Live from the Official Source

Download ONLY from:

🔹 https://www.ledger.com/start 🔹 Avoid third-party websites or app stores outside of official channels.

Warning: Never trust links from emails, social media, or Google Ads without verifying they point to Ledger’s official domain.

7. Setting Up Your Ledger Device

For a New Wallet:

1. Select “Set up as new device” on your Ledger
2. Choose a PIN code
3. Write down the 24-word recovery phrase
4. Confirm the phrase to finish the setup

For Restoring a Wallet:

• Choose “Restore from recovery phrase”
• Enter your 24 words to recover funds

8. Creating a New Crypto Wallet

Once the device is initialized:

• Open Ledger Live
• Click “Get Started”
• Choose your device model
• Follow step-by-step instructions
• Install crypto apps (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum)
• Add corresponding accounts

Your wallet is now ready!

9. Restoring a Wallet Using Recovery Phrase

If your Ledger device is lost or reset:

• Use another Ledger device to restore
• Select "Restore device"
• Enter your exact 24-word phrase
• Ledger Live will sync your balances and accounts

Important: Ledger never stores your keys; recovery only works if you have your phrase.

10. Installing Cryptocurrency Apps

In Ledger Live:

• Go to Manager
• Approve access on your device
• Install apps for:
  • Ethereum
  • Polygon
  • XRP
  • Binance Chain
  • thousands more

Each app corresponds to a blockchain or token standard.

11. Managing Crypto Assets with Ledger Live

Ledger Live shows:

• Portfolio value (real-time)
• Individual coin balances
• Price charts and history
• Incoming/outgoing transactions
• Tags, account names, and notes

All interactions require device confirmation, ensuring safety.

12. Sending and Receiving Crypto

To Receive:

1. Click “Receive”
2. Select the coin and account
3. Verify the address on your Ledger device
4. Share the address with sender

To Send:

1. Click “Send”
2. Paste recipient’s address
3. Enter the amount
4. Confirm transaction on Ledger device

13. Buying, Swapping, and Staking

Buy Crypto:

• Through partners like MoonPay, Transak, or Coinify
• Pay with credit/debit card or bank transfer
• Funds are delivered directly to your Ledger-secured account

Swap Crypto:

• Use services like 1inch and Paraswap
• Swap ETH for USDC, or BTC for DAI, etc.

Stake Crypto:

• Earn rewards on ETH, DOT, XTZ, SOL, and more
• Ledger Live offers integrated staking tools

14. NFT Support in Ledger Live

• View Ethereum and Polygon NFTs
• Connect MetaMask + Ledger to explore NFT marketplaces
• NFTs are stored securely in your hardware wallet

Use Ledger Live’s Discover tab for NFT integrations like OpenSea, Rarible, etc.

15. Accessing DeFi and Web3 with Ledger Live

Explore:

• Uniswap, Aave, Compound, Curve
• Connect via WalletConnect or MetaMask + Ledger

Your private keys stay offline—Ledger signs the transactions for you.

16. Keeping Ledger Live & Your Device Secure

🔒 Use a strong PIN 🔒 Never share or store your 24-word phrase online 🔒 Always verify addresses on the Ledger screen 🔒 Keep Ledger firmware & Ledger Live up-to-date 🔒 Bookmark ledger.com/start

17. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Ledger Not Recognized?

• Try a different USB port or cable
• Restart both device and PC
• Update Ledger Live

Can’t Connect to Mobile?

• Ensure Bluetooth is enabled (Nano X only)
• Use the official Ledger Live app

Stuck on “Processing”?

• Reopen Ledger Live
• Reconnect the device
• Ensure you have the latest app and firmware versions

18. Backups, Passphrases, and Recovery Tips

✔️ Backup your 24-word phrase during setup ✔️ Store it offline and securely (metal backup optional) ✔️ Optional: Add a passphrase for a hidden wallet ✔️ Never give your phrase to ANYONE—not even Ledger

If phrase is lost = funds are lost. No exceptions.

19. Support, Resources, and Community

Official resources:

• 🔹 Ledger Support Center
• 🔹 Ledger Academy
• 🔹 YouTube: Ledger
• 🔹 Twitter: @Ledger
• 🔹 Reddit: r/ledgerwallet

Watch out for impersonators and scams.

20. Final Thoughts

Ledger Live is your command center for safely managing digital assets. Paired with a Ledger hardware wallet, it empowers you to take full control of your crypto journey—securely, efficiently, and independently.

✅ Whether you're buying Bitcoin, trading Ethereum, exploring NFTs, or earning passive income via staking—Ledger Live has you covered.

👉 Start now at: https://www.ledger.com/start