Official Site® | Ledger Live Desktop®

Getting started — mirror box layout • sky blue theme

Getting started

Welcome to the Ledger Live Desktop quickstart. This page is designed to guide new and returning users through the essentials of installing Ledger Live Desktop, creating or restoring a wallet, and securing your crypto assets. Each step below contains clear substeps that are intentionally verbose so you can read and follow along comfortably without needing other resources.

1. Download Ledger Live Desktop

Visit the Official Site® and choose the Ledger Live Desktop installer for your operating system. We recommend downloading from the official domain only. Once saved, locate the installer in your downloads folder and proceed to step 2.

2. Install and open

Run the installer and follow on-screen prompts. On first launch, Ledger Live will request permission to access necessary system resources (USB / secure device access). Grant permissions according to the OS dialog.

3. Create or restore a wallet

Choose to create a new wallet or restore an existing one using your recovery phrase. If creating a new wallet, write your recovery phrase on paper and store it in a secure place — never save it in plain text.

4. Add accounts

Inside Ledger Live, select the accounts tab to add supported cryptocurrencies. Ledger Live will automatically detect account types for your device and prompt you to open corresponding apps on your hardware wallet.

Tip: Before sending funds, always verify the receiving address on your hardware device's display. This prevents malware from substituting addresses.

Quick reference

This mirrored panel presents a compact reference and policy information about using Ledger Live Desktop. Visual mirroring is purely aesthetic — the text inside remains readable thanks to the double-flip technique.

Security best practices

- Keep firmware updated on your hardware device.
- Use strong, unique passwords for your device and system accounts.
- Store your recovery phrase offline in a secure physical location.

Supported platforms

Ledger Live Desktop supports Windows, macOS, and major Linux distributions. Minimum system requirements include a modern CPU, 4GB RAM, and a stable internet connection for synchronizing account data.

Troubleshooting

If your device is not recognized, try a different USB cable or port. Check that the appropriate app on the hardware device is open. Consult the Support hub for step-by-step diagnostics.

Note: This panel mirrors its left sibling to create a pleasant balanced layout. It is ideal for presentation pages, onboarding flows, or user guides where rhythm and symmetry improve readability.

Detailed guide and explanations

Ledger Live Desktop is the official companion application for Ledger hardware wallets. It provides a unified interface to manage assets, check balances across multiple blockchains, initiate transfers, and install apps on the hardware device. Management includes adding or removing accounts, reviewing transaction histories, and exporting account reports. The desktop application communicates with your Ledger device via USB (or Bluetooth for specific models), and transactions must be signed on the physical device to complete on-chain operations.

A strong emphasis is placed on user safety and privacy. Ledger Live does not ask for your recovery phrase — ever. If any app or message requests your recovery phrase, treat it as a phishing attempt and stop immediately. Your recovery phrase is the single most critical secret; anyone with it can take full control of your funds.

The installation flow typically prompts users to opt in to anonymous telemetry and crash reporting. These options are optional and help improve software stability when enabled. If you prefer a minimized data footprint, skip enabling telemetry during setup. For enterprise or security-conscious environments, Ledger provides documentation about running Ledger Live in restricted or offline modes for auditing purposes.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How do I update Ledger Live? A: The app will notify you when an update is available. You can also download the latest installer from the Official Site®.

Q: Can I use Ledger Live on multiple computers? A: Yes. When you open Ledger Live on a second machine, you can restore your accounts using the same hardware device. Your accounts are derived from your recovery phrase, not from the desktop installation itself.

Q: What if I lose my hardware wallet? A: Use your recovery phrase to restore access to your accounts on a new hardware wallet. This is why storing the recovery phrase safely is vital.

Accessibility and keyboard navigation

The layout uses semantic HTML landmarks, headings, and ARIA labels where appropriate. Keyboard navigation is supported: tab to interactive items and use Enter/Space to activate links. Contrast choices were considered to ensure readability against the sky-blue panels.

Design notes

The mirrored boxes leverage CSS transforms to achieve a reflective appearance while preserving legibility. This approach separates decorative flipping from content so assistive technologies and copy-paste remain unaffected. If you prefer a pure CSS reflection (visual-only) effect, we can switch to a pseudo-element reflection technique which simulates a glass-like mirror rather than flipping the container.

Finally, this document is intentionally verbose to give you a ready-to-publish getting-started page. You can adapt copy for localization, shorten the paragraphs for a minimal quickstart, or expand specific steps with screenshots or videos embedded into the panels.