Portfolio tracking
Balances, allocation and performance charts across every account, with historical value references you can read at a glance.
Desktop companion software
Ledger Live Desktop
your calm dashboard for digital assets
A practical, plain-language guide to starting up your device, tracking a portfolio, verifying every transaction on the hardware screen, and keeping your recovery phrase offline — on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Total portfolio
+2.4% today
$24,180.65
- BitcoinAccount 1 0.1842 BTC
- EthereumAccount 1 2.915 ETH
- SolanaAccount 1 18.40 SOL
Confirm transaction
bc1q…7f4d · 0.0125 BTC
Verified on device screen
Illustrative interface mockup — balances and addresses shown are examples, not real data.
Windows
Signed installer, standard user permissions, no admin required for everyday use.
macOS
Native build for Apple silicon and Intel, with USB-only device pairing.
Linux
AppImage and package builds for the most common desktop distributions.
Device-first
Every outgoing transaction is approved on the hardware screen, never in software.
What it does
One desktop window for the boring parts of self-custody
Ledger Live Desktop is a dashboard and a coordinator. It organises accounts, keeps an eye on value, and prepares transactions — while the private keys stay on the device.
Hardware wallet connectivity
Connect by USB or Bluetooth, unlock with the device PIN, and let the app read addresses from the device instead of trusting typed input.
Transaction verification
Address, amount and network fee are shown on the device screen before signing. If the screen and the window disagree, stop.
Security practices built in
PIN-gated access, on-screen confirmation, and clear warnings before a risky address or a contract interaction is approved.
Privacy awareness
Point the app at your own node or RPC endpoint, keep portfolio data local, and opt in — not out — of any analytics.
Accounts and assets
Separate accounts per network and purpose, installable coin apps on the device, and firmware updates handled from one place.
Starting up your device
Four steps, in this order
Setup is deliberately slow. Every check exists so that a mistake on your computer cannot move funds on its own.
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01
Install from the official source
Type the vendor's address yourself, download the desktop build, and check that the file is signed. Skip sponsored results, mirror sites and links sent in chat.
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02
Set up the device, write down the phrase
Choose a PIN on the device and write the recovery phrase on paper, offline. It is never typed into the desktop app, a website or a form.
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03
Connect and add accounts
Plug in the device, unlock it, then add the accounts you actually use. Addresses are read from the device, so nothing needs to be entered by hand.
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04
Verify, then send
For the first transfer, send a small test amount. Compare the address on the device screen character by character before you approve it.
Security & privacy
Habits that protect the portfolio
Software can warn you; it cannot fix a decision made in a hurry. These are the habits worth keeping.
Keep doing
- Read the address on the device screen before every approval.
- Keep the desktop app and firmware up to date from official sources.
- Use a dedicated account for large holdings and a separate one for experiments.
- Test with a small amount whenever you use a new address.
- Store the recovery phrase offline, in two separate locations.
Stop doing
- Typing the recovery phrase into any app, page or form.
- Approving a transaction you cannot fully read on the device.
- Downloading the app from ads, mirrors or links from strangers.
- Sharing screenshots that reveal balances, addresses or account labels.
- Signing unknown contracts just to "claim" or "verify" something.
Test it once: visit the app in a new browser tab and look at the address bar. If a page asks for your recovery phrase, close it — that single rule prevents most losses.
Blog
About Ledger Live Desktop
Ledger Live Desktop is the companion application many cryptocurrency holders use to manage digital assets from a Windows, macOS or Linux computer. Installed locally, it reads the balance of each account linked to a hardware wallet, shows portfolio performance and prepares transactions for approval.
Its real job is coordination, not custody. The app builds a transaction and sends it to the connected device, where the destination address, amount and network fee appear on the device's own trusted screen. Nothing is signed until the owner physically confirms it there — which is why "verify on device" matters more than any toggle inside the software.
The desktop app also handles account setup, firmware and coin-app installation for supported assets, price charts, and simple buy, sell or swap partners where available. Privacy controls let users point the software at their own node or RPC provider, and portfolio data stays local unless analytics are opted into.
Habits matter more than features. Install only from the official source, keep the recovery phrase offline, never type it into a website or a support chat, and confirm every address on the device screen. Used carefully, Ledger Live Desktop is a practical dashboard for responsible digital asset ownership.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is Ledger Live Desktop used for?
Viewing balances, organising accounts, tracking portfolio performance and preparing transactions that the connected hardware wallet must confirm on its own screen.
Does the desktop app hold my crypto?
No. Assets live on the blockchain. The application is a dashboard and coordinator — the private keys remain inside the hardware wallet.
Where should I download it from?
Only from the vendor's official website. Check the domain spelling and the installer signature, and avoid downloads offered through ads, mirrors or chat messages.
Should I ever type my recovery phrase into the app?
No. A recovery phrase is entered on the hardware device itself. Desktop software, websites, emails and support chats never need it.
Is this page an official Ledger site?
No. It is an independent educational guide about desktop crypto management and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by Ledger SAS. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Ready to start up your device?
Work through the four setup steps, then keep the checklist beside your desk.