Overview
Ledger Live is a desktop and mobile companion app for Ledger hardware wallets. It provides a single, secure interface for managing crypto assets, installing apps on your Ledger device, sending/receiving transactions, and connecting to third-party apps. For developers, the Ledger Developer Portal is the gateway to APIs, SDKs, integration guides, and sample projects that make it straightforward to build secure applications that interoperate with Ledger devices.
Who should read this?
This guide is tailored for:
- Frontend and wallet developers integrating Ledger support into dapps or web wallets.
- Developers building Ledger apps (native apps that run on the device).
- Security engineers and auditors wanting a practical onboarding checklist.
- Product managers planning hardware wallet support in their roadmap.
What you'll learn
By the end of this post you'll understand how to: 1) install and set up Ledger Live, 2) connect to a Ledger device from a web or desktop app, 3) use Ledger's SDKs and APIs, and 4) follow security best practices for production-ready integrations.
Getting started with Ledger Live
Download & install
Visit the official Ledger Live download page and pick the desktop (Windows/macOS/Linux) or mobile version. Always verify you're on the official domain and check file signatures if you require the highest assurance.
Pro tip: Ledger publishes checksums and release notes — review them before installing on critical systems.
First-time setup
When you first open Ledger Live you'll be guided through initializing the device or restoring from a recovery phrase. Important steps include:
- Initializing the Ledger device and choosing a PIN.
- Writing down the recovery phrase (the 24-word seed) on the provided recovery sheet and storing it offline.
- Installing the Ledger Live companion apps and updating firmware if prompted.
Never enter your recovery phrase into software on an internet-connected device — only on the Ledger hardware itself during recovery. If you need to support users through recovery flows, include clear warnings in your UX.
Key Ledger Live features
- Account management for dozens of cryptocurrencies
- App catalog for installing blockchain-specific apps on the device
- Portfolio view, swap and staking integrations
- Direct integration points for third-party apps
Ledger Developer Portal: the essentials
The Developer Portal collects SDKs, libraries, device documentation, and examples. Major components you will use as a developer include:
Transport layers
Ledger devices expose multiple transport mechanisms: USB (HID), WebUSB (for browsers), and Bluetooth (for Ledger Nano X). Choose the transport that matches your platform and UX goals.
JS/TS libraries
Ledger provides official JavaScript/TypeScript libraries (often under the @ledgerhq namespace) to interact with the device at a high level. These libraries implement APDU commands and include helper functions for popular blockchains.
APDU and protocol docs
If you are building a Ledger-native app or need low-level control, the APDU reference and FIDO/seed derivation documentation are indispensable.
Simple developer workflow (web wallet)
- Install Ledger Live on the user's machine and ensure device firmware is up to date.
- In your web app, include the @ledgerhq/hw-transport-webusb or @ledgerhq/hw-transport-u2f package to connect to ledger via the browser.
- Use the chain-specific package (for example @ledgerhq/hw-app-eth for Ethereum) to request public keys and sign transactions.
- Verify the signed payload on the server if you use server-side validation.
// Example (conceptual) - connect and request public key
import TransportWebUSB from '@ledgerhq/hw-transport-webusb'
import AppEth from '@ledgerhq/hw-app-eth'
const transport = await TransportWebUSB.create()
const eth = new AppEth(transport)
const result = await eth.getAddress("44'/60'/0'/0/0")
console.log(result.address)
Notes on signatures and UX
Design your UI to show the transaction digest or human-readable summary before prompting the device. Ledger asks users to confirm details on the device screen — this step should be the UX hand-off in your flow.
Security best practices
Do not request the seed
Never ask users for their recovery phrase. If a user loses their seed, guide them to the official recovery workflow and emphasize backing up offline.
Secure transport decisions
Prefer browser-native transports (WebUSB) when possible. Beware of fallbacks to insecure transports in untrusted contexts. For mobile, Bluetooth may be appropriate but adds an additional attack surface you must account for in threat models.
Firmware and app updates
Keep firmware and Ledger Live up to date; older versions may lack important security fixes. If your product integrates with Ledger, test updates in a staging environment before advising users to upgrade.
Auditing
Have your integration audited by qualified security auditors. Ledger publishes specifications you can use to scope and execute audits efficiently.
Developer examples & patterns
1 — Read-only address discovery
Use the device to obtain public addresses for users without ever requesting signatures. This is useful for onboarding where you just need to display a receive address.
2 — Signing transactions
Request the device to sign a serialized transaction. Always construct the transaction in a canonical format and include a digest the device can display for user confirmation.
3 — Multi-app interactions
Some users will have multiple blockchain apps installed on their Ledger device (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum). Your integration should detect and instruct the user which app to open before signing.
Example: prompting to open the right app (UX copy)
"Please open the Ethereum app on your Ledger device and confirm the transaction that appears on the device screen."
Common pitfalls & troubleshooting
Device not detected
Check USB cables, browser permissions, and that Ledger Live isn't blocking the connection. On macOS, Gatekeeper or security prompts may require additional permissions.
App mismatch
If the user tries signing an Ethereum TX while the Bitcoin app is open on the device, the device will refuse. Provide clear instructions to users on which app to open.
Firmware mismatch
Newer Ledger Live versions sometimes require newer firmware; when possible, surface this requirement early in your integration to reduce friction.
Production deployment checklist
- Smoke-test across supported OSes (Windows/macOS/Linux) and browser versions.
- Test with both Ledger Nano S and Nano X (Bluetooth behavior differs).
- Document error codes and map them to human-friendly messages in your UI.
- Provide clear recovery guidance and links to official support.
- Run third-party security audits and pentests.
Official resources (10 links)
Below are ten official or authoritative resources to bookmark while building with Ledger devices. Always prefer the official sites for downloads and documentation.
Tip: Keep a short internal doc that maps these links to your team's responsibilities — for example, who triages support URLs and who monitors firmware announcements.
Closing thoughts
Integrating Ledger support elevates the security posture of your application and increases trust with power users. Start simple: implement read-only flows and address discovery first, then add signing and more advanced features. Above all, respect the user's security model and never attempt to work around the hardware safeguards Ledger provides.
Next steps
Clone example repos, write integration tests that exercise transport code paths, and schedule a user-test session with a real Ledger device. If you're building an open-source integration, keep the community updated and welcome contributions — Ledger's ecosystem benefits when teams share patterns and libraries.