Ledger® Live: Login | Getting started™ with Ledger®

Concise, secure beginner's guide and single-page presentation to set up Ledger Live, connect a Ledger device, and follow best security practices.

What is Ledger Live?

Ledger Live is the official companion app for Ledger hardware wallets that lets you manage, view and transact cryptocurrencies while keeping private keys offline on your device. You don’t “log in” with an email/password to access private keys — access is controlled by your hardware device and PIN. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Download & Install

Always download Ledger Live only from Ledger's official pages (do not trust third-party mirrors). Choose the installer that matches your operating system and verify the binary signatures when possible. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Tip: Verify the SHA512 signature available on Ledger’s download page after downloading to confirm file integrity. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Setting up your Ledger device (quick steps)

  1. Open Ledger Live and select Get started → choose your device model.
  2. Follow the interactive instructions in Ledger Live to initialize the device: set a PIN and write down your 24-word recovery phrase on the official recovery sheet. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
  3. Install app(s) for the currencies you want using the Manager inside Ledger Live.
  4. Use the Recovery Check app on the device to confirm you recorded the recovery phrase correctly. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Opening Ledger Live / "Login"

Ledger Live itself does not use a traditional username/password login for private keys — you open the app and connect your Ledger device; the device + PIN authorize operations. If Ledger Live asks for your 24-word phrase or any external service asks for it, it is a scam. Always plug your hardware wallet in to confirm transactions on the device screen. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Restore, passphrase, and lost recovery

If you need to restore accounts, use the official recovery/restore flow in Ledger Live together with your Ledger device and your 24-word recovery phrase. Ledger also documents advanced passphrase usage — a passphrase is an optional extra word used to create additional hidden accounts, but it must be handled with care. If you lose the recovery phrase, funds are irretrievable unless you have a backup. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Security best practices (must-read)