Ledger Live for Desktop — Your Crypto, Your Rules
Manage digital assets the right way: privately, clearly, and with total ownership of your keys. Ledger Live brings buying, swapping, staking, and portfolio insights together in a crisp desktop app for Windows and macOS that puts security at the center of every click.
A Desktop Command Center for Self‑Custody
Crypto shouldn’t feel chaotic. Ledger Live organizes your assets, networks, and actions into a single, focused workspace. You get the convenience of a modern desktop app—keyboard shortcuts, stable performance, and roomy layouts—while all sensitive operations stay protected by your hardware wallet. It’s a familiar way to move value on‑chain without handing trust to a third party.
Self‑Custody by Design
Your keys live on your device, not on your computer and never on a server. Ledger Live acts as the secure cockpit that lets you review and approve before anything leaves your wallet.
Fast Native Experience
Snappy navigation, clear modals, and uncomplicated flows keep you moving—from adding accounts to confirming a swap—in seconds.
One App, Many Networks
Track, send, receive, and manage popular coins and tokens across multiple chains without juggling extensions or browser tabs.
Tools You’ll Use Every Day
- Buy crypto with integrated partners using card or bank methods.
- Swap, bridge, and stake supported assets without leaving the app.
- Real‑time portfolio view with performance over custom ranges.
- Clear fee controls, memos/labels, and address books for repeat actions.
- Add custom tokens and organize accounts by network or purpose.
- Optional alerts and privacy‑respecting analytics for insights, not noise.
Security That’s Visible at Every Step
Instead of hiding security behind jargon, Ledger Live shows you exactly what you’re signing. Transaction previews lay out destination, amount, and fees in plain language; your hardware wallet mirrors those details on its screen. If something looks off, you simply don’t approve. It’s that straightforward.
Approve sensitive actions physically on your hardware wallet so malware and fake prompts can’t trick you into sending funds.
Human‑friendly previews help you verify what will be published to the blockchain before you sign.
Accounts live on your machine; recovery is handled with your offline phrase. You decide what to export, when to delete, and how to back up.
Best Practices, Baked In
- PIN‑protected hardware, with optional passphrase (device dependent).
- Address verification on the device to defeat clipboard hijacking.
- Clear signing for supported dApps and networks.
- Granular permissions when connecting to third‑party services.
- Regular updates to improve protections and expand support.
Keep your recovery phrase offline and never share it. No support agent will ever ask for it—if they do, it’s a scam.
From Install to First Transaction in Five Steps
- Download Ledger Live for Windows or macOS from the official source and open the installer.
- Connect Your Ledger using USB (or Bluetooth where supported) and unlock it with your PIN.
- Add Accounts for the assets you hold. The app derives addresses from your device and syncs balances.
- Verify & Send: choose an account, enter the destination address, review on your Ledger screen, then approve to broadcast.
- Track & Grow with portfolio analytics, staking rewards (where available), and clean history exports.
Why Desktop Wins
More room to see what matters, fewer distractions, and reliable performance for large portfolios. Ledger Live on desktop reduces friction during critical actions like fee selection, address checks, and multi‑account management.
- Keyboard shortcuts to fly through routine tasks.
- Advanced settings available when you need them, hidden when you don’t.
- One place for networks, security, and updates.
- Stable even with many accounts and long histories.
Do More With Fewer Clicks
All balances, all networks, one view. Filter by chain, hide dust, and export CSVs when it’s time to reconcile.