Install guide / desktop + mobile
Download Ledger Live
Ledger Live is the free companion application that connects a Ledger hardware wallet to the networks your coins live on. This page covers one narrow job: getting a genuine copy of Ledger Live onto your computer or phone, confirming that the file is the real build, and installing it without handing an attacker an opening.
The download itself is short. The discipline around it matters more. Because Ledger Live is the interface people use to check balances, send funds, and update firmware, it is one of the most heavily imitated pieces of software in crypto. Fake installers, paid search results, and lookalike mobile apps all target people at exactly the moment they are searching for Ledger Live for the first time.
Read the verification section before you run anything. Everything else here, platform requirements, install steps for each operating system, update behavior, and fixes for the handful of errors that come up often, follows from that first decision about where your copy of Ledger Live came from.
- Price
- FREE
- Builds
- 5 PLATFORMS
- Keys stored
- NONE
- Arch
- 64-BIT ONLY
01 / Payload
What the Ledger Live download actually contains
The Ledger Live package is a single desktop application, not a bundle of drivers, browser extensions, and background services you have to manage separately. Once installed, Ledger Live handles device communication over USB or Bluetooth, keeps a local copy of your account history, talks to blockchain nodes and third-party providers on your behalf, and installs or removes the small coin apps that live on the device itself.
What the download does not contain is anything resembling a key. Ledger Live never generates, stores, or transmits your private keys or your 24-word recovery phrase. Those are created inside the Secure Element chip of the hardware wallet and never leave it. Ledger Live builds an unsigned transaction, sends it to the device for you to approve on the device screen, and broadcasts the signed result. That is why installing Ledger Live on a new machine is a low-stakes operation: the app is a viewer and a courier, not a vault. The general model is the same one described in public references on cryptocurrency wallets.
That architecture also explains the install size and the permissions. Ledger Live asks for ordinary application privileges, network access to sync balances and prices, and on Linux a udev rule so the operating system lets a non-root user talk to the USB device. It does not need administrator rights for day-to-day use, and it does not need access to your files beyond its own data directory.
Much of the Ledger Live codebase is published openly, which is part of why the desktop builds can be checked against published hashes rather than taken on faith. The mechanics of that check are further down this page.
Included in the build
- Portfolio and account views with local transaction history
- Send and receive flows, with on-device address confirmation
- Device manager for installing and removing coin apps
- Firmware update delivery to the connected hardware wallet
- Access to partner services for buying, selling, swapping, and staking
Not included, ever
- Private keys or seed material of any kind
- A recovery phrase entry field for normal use
- Remote access tooling or a support screen-share agent
- Bundled third-party software or browser toolbars
[SECURE_ELEMENT_OK] [KEYS_NEVER_LEAVE_DEVICE]
02 / Build matrix
Platforms, packages, and system requirements for Ledger Live
Ledger Live ships as five distinct builds: a Windows installer, a macOS disk image, a Linux AppImage, an iOS app, and an Android app. All of them are free. The desktop builds are 64-bit only, there is no 32-bit desktop version of Ledger Live, and there is no supported build that runs inside a browser tab.
Pick the package that matches your operating system rather than the one that downloads fastest. On macOS the same disk image covers Apple silicon and Intel machines. On Linux, the AppImage is a self-contained file that you make executable and run, which is why Ledger Live on Linux does not appear in your distribution's package manager and is not installed with apt or dnf.
Exact minimum operating system versions move with each release, and the official download page always lists the current floor. As a rule, Ledger Live supports the operating system versions that Microsoft, Apple, and the major distributions still support themselves. Once a release is retired upstream, Ledger Live tends to follow within a version or two, so a machine several major versions behind will usually install but misbehave in small ways rather than refuse outright.
| Platform | Package | Source | Device connection | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | .exe installer | Official website | USB | 64-bit only; installer is code-signed |
| macOS | .dmg disk image | Official website | USB | Runs on Apple silicon and Intel; drag to Applications |
| Linux | .AppImage | Official website | USB | Needs chmod +x and udev rules for device access |
| iOS / iPadOS | App Store app | Apple App Store | Bluetooth | Requires a Bluetooth-capable hardware wallet |
| Android | Play Store app | Google Play | Bluetooth or USB | USB needs an OTG-capable cable or adapter |
[MATRIX_REF] Confirm current minimum OS versions on the official download page before installing.
03 / Provenance
Where to download Ledger Live from
There is one safe habit: type the address of the official Ledger website into the address bar yourself, or use a bookmark you created earlier, and take the Ledger Live download from there. Do not click a search advertisement. Do not follow a link from an email, a chat message, a support forum reply, a QR code on a leaflet, or a video description.
Paid placements above organic search results have repeatedly been used to push counterfeit wallet software, and the counterfeits are convincing. Same wordmark, same screenshots, same orange, and a download button that hands you an installer that quietly asks for your recovery phrase on first launch. The genuine Ledger Live will never do that.
Mirrors are the second trap. Software aggregation portals that repackage installers, torrent copies, and forum attachments all add a step where a file can be modified between the publisher and you. If a page is offering Ledger Live but you did not navigate there yourself from the official domain, close the tab and start over.
[VERIFY_SOURCE]
Ledger Live is distributed by Ledger through its own website and through the Apple App Store and Google Play. Nowhere else. Any other origin, including a helpful stranger sending you a file because your download failed, should be treated as hostile until proven otherwise.
04 / Integrity
Verifying the Ledger Live installer before you run it
Downloading from the right place solves most of the problem. Verification closes the rest, because a hostile network, a poisoned cache, or a partially completed transfer can all produce a file that came from the right address and is still wrong. Three mechanisms cover the desktop builds of Ledger Live.
Layer 01
Code signature
Windows and macOS builds of Ledger Live are code-signed. On Windows the User Account Control prompt names the publisher; if it shows an unknown publisher, delete the file. On macOS, notarization means the app opens without a hard refusal from Gatekeeper.
Layer 02
Published hash
Ledger publishes a digest for each desktop release. Compute the hash of your downloaded file locally and compare it with the published value, character by character, not by glancing at the first six.
Layer 03
Detached GPG signature
The Linux release is published with a signature file. Verifying it with GPG proves the build was signed with Ledger's key, which is stronger than matching a hash printed on a page an attacker might also control.
The hash command differs by platform, but the idea is identical: your copy of Ledger Live must produce the same digest as the release you intended to download. Substitute the actual file name you downloaded for the placeholders below.
# Windows (PowerShell)
Get-FileHash .\ledger-live-desktop-installer.exe -Algorithm SHA512
# macOS (Terminal)
shasum -a 512 ~/Downloads/ledger-live-desktop.dmg
# Linux (shell)
sha512sum ./ledger-live-desktop.AppImage
# Linux, detached signature check
gpg --verify ledger-live-desktop.AppImage.sig ledger-live-desktop.AppImage[FILENAMES_ILLUSTRATIVE] Use the exact name of the file on disk.
[HASH_MISMATCH_PROTOCOL]
One mismatched character is enough. Do not run the file, do not scan it and hope, and do not simply retry on the same connection. Delete it, change network if you can, and download Ledger Live again starting from an address you typed yourself.
05 / Sequence
Installing Ledger Live step by step
The sequence is the same on every desktop platform, with one platform-specific step in the middle. Budget about ten minutes for a first install of Ledger Live, most of which is the app fetching its initial data once a device is connected.
-
Step 01
Get the file from the official page
Navigate to the official download page yourself and choose the build for your operating system. Save it somewhere you can find it, such as the Downloads folder, rather than launching it straight from the browser.
-
Step 02
Check the file before opening it
Run the hash command for your platform and compare the result with the published digest. On Linux, verify the signature too. Only then is the installer allowed to run.
-
Step 03
Install for your operating system
Follow the platform notes below. This is the only step where Windows, macOS, and Linux genuinely diverge, and where Ledger Live needs anything from you beyond clicking through.
-
Step 04
Launch and complete first-run setup
Open Ledger Live, accept or decline the optional analytics settings, and choose whether you are setting up a new device, restoring one, or connecting a device you already use.
-
Step 05
Connect the device and sync
Plug in and unlock the hardware wallet with its PIN, approve the connection on the device screen, then let Ledger Live run its genuine-device check and add your accounts. First sync takes longer than later ones because the app is building its local history from scratch.
Windows
Double-click the installer and follow the prompts. On a very recent release Windows may show a SmartScreen notice; check the publisher name before choosing to continue, and abandon the install if that name is blank or unfamiliar. When it finishes, Ledger Live appears in the Start menu.
macOS
Open the disk image and drag the Ledger Live icon into the Applications folder, then eject the image. Launching Ledger Live from Applications rather than from the mounted volume avoids a class of odd behavior where the app runs from temporary storage and cannot write its data properly.
Linux
The AppImage needs the executable bit before it will start, so apply chmod +x and then run the file. If Ledger Live opens but reports that it cannot see your device, install the udev rules; without them the kernel will not grant your user account access to the USB interface.
06 / Mobile
Downloading Ledger Live on iPhone and Android
On mobile, the app store is the distribution channel. Ledger Live is published on the Apple App Store and on Google Play, and those are the only two places to get it. Search inside the store app itself rather than tapping a link from elsewhere, then read the developer name on the listing before installing. The publisher field, not the app title or the icon, is what counterfeiters find hardest to fake convincingly.
Sideloading is the specific risk on Android. An APK from a forum, a file-sharing link, or a third-party store can install cleanly and look exactly like Ledger Live while recording everything you type. If you use a phone without Google Play, treat that as a reason to stick to the desktop version of Ledger Live rather than a reason to hunt for a package file.
Connection behavior differs by phone platform. On iOS, Ledger Live pairs with Bluetooth-capable hardware wallets over Bluetooth. On Android, Ledger Live can connect over Bluetooth or over a cable with a suitable USB adapter, so USB-only devices work there. In both cases pairing happens after installation, during first-run setup, not as part of the download.
Mobile builds of Ledger Live update through the store like any other app. Leave automatic updates enabled, or check manually every few weeks, because a stale copy of Ledger Live on a phone is one of the more common reasons a device that worked yesterday suddenly refuses to connect.
07 / Comparison
Ledger Live on desktop compared with Ledger Live on mobile
Neither build is a stripped-down version of the other in any meaningful sense, but they are not identical, and the differences are worth knowing before you decide which copy of Ledger Live to install first.
| Criterion | Desktop build | Mobile build |
|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Official website, hash-verifiable | App Store or Google Play, store-signed |
| Connection | USB cable | Bluetooth, plus USB on Android |
| Best for first-time setup | Yes, larger screen and full device manager | Possible with a Bluetooth device |
| Firmware updates | Supported for connected devices | Depends on device model and app version |
| Everyday checking | Fine, but tied to the desk | Better, portfolio in a pocket |
| Update channel | In-app updater, or a new AppImage on Linux | Store updates |
Most people end up running both. Ledger Live on the desktop handles setup, firmware work, and any long session of account management, while Ledger Live on the phone answers the question of what a portfolio is doing away from the desk. Installing both changes nothing about your keys, because neither copy holds them.
08 / Maintenance
How Ledger Live updates itself after installation
Desktop Ledger Live checks for new releases when it launches and offers to install them. Accept them. Releases carry protocol changes, provider fixes, and security patches, and an out-of-date copy of Ledger Live is the single most common reason an account stops syncing or a coin app refuses to open.
An update replaces the application, not your data. Account names, settings, and cached history sit in a local data folder that survives the upgrade. On Linux the AppImage model means an update is simply a new file: download the current AppImage, make it executable, and replace the old one. The Ledger Live data folder is left alone.
There is a second kind of update that people routinely confuse with this one. Firmware updates run on the hardware wallet itself and are delivered through Ledger Live, but they are not updates to Ledger Live. The app makes clear which of the two it is offering. Firmware is also the moment to be strictest about authenticity, because a counterfeit copy of Ledger Live is exactly the tool an attacker would use to walk someone through a fake firmware flow.
Before any major firmware update, confirm that you still have your recovery phrase written down and readable. Ledger Live will remind you, and the reminder is not a formality; it is the one scenario where those words are the only path back to your funds.
09 / Diagnostics
Common Ledger Live download and installation problems
The failures below account for most of what goes wrong between clicking download and seeing a synced portfolio. None of them require reaching out to a stranger for help, and none of them are ever solved by typing a recovery phrase.
Windows SmartScreen blocks the installer
Very fresh releases sometimes carry little reputation data, so Windows warns before running them. Verify the publisher name and the file hash first. If both check out, choose the option to run anyway. If the publisher field is blank or unfamiliar, the file is not Ledger Live and should be deleted.
macOS says the app cannot be opened
A refusal from Gatekeeper usually means the copy is damaged, incomplete, or unsigned. Delete it, empty the trash, and download Ledger Live again rather than searching for a way to force it open.
The device is not detected
Try another cable first, since a large share of these reports come down to charge-only cables. Then try a port directly on the machine instead of a hub. On Linux, install the udev rules. On Windows, close any other wallet software holding the USB interface open, then restart Ledger Live.
Antivirus quarantines the file
Some endpoint suites flag desktop applications built on Electron generically. Confirm the hash, then add a targeted exception for Ledger Live rather than switching protection off across the whole machine.
The download stalls or arrives corrupt
A truncated file fails its hash check, which is precisely the point of running the check. Clear the partial download, turn off any download accelerator or aggressive proxy, and pull the Ledger Live installer again over a stable connection.
A corporate network or VPN breaks syncing
Ledger Live installs normally but cannot reach the services it needs for balances and rates. Test without the VPN, and ask whether a proxy is intercepting TLS on the network. Ledger Live can be pointed at a proxy, but a heavily filtered network will still break parts of the app.
10 / Lifecycle
Reinstalling, moving, or removing Ledger Live
Reinstalling is safe and is a reasonable first move for stubborn problems. Because Ledger Live holds no keys, removing it and putting it back cannot cost you funds. The worst outcome is that you re-add your accounts, which takes a few minutes with the device connected.
Setting up a new computer works the same way. Install Ledger Live, connect the device, and let the app rediscover accounts from the blockchain. Nothing has to be exported for your funds to survive the move. If you want to carry over account names, notes, and preferences, Ledger Live can export and import that data, but it is a convenience rather than a requirement.
A genuinely clean reinstall means deleting the application and then the Ledger Live data folder, which sits in the standard per-user application data location on each platform. Removing the app alone leaves the old folder behind, so a corrupted cache survives the reinstall and the same symptom comes straight back.
Uninstalling Ledger Live entirely leaves your crypto exactly where it was. The blockchain has no idea which application you use to look at it, and it is the hardware wallet plus your recovery phrase, never the software, that controls the funds.
11 / Standing orders
Security rules that survive the download
The install is the start of a longer habit. A genuine copy of Ledger Live will never ask you to type your 24-word recovery phrase into a screen, a form, a chat window, or a support ticket. Not during setup, not during an update, not while recovering the app itself. If any screen that looks like Ledger Live asks for those words, either the machine is compromised or the software is counterfeit.
Ledger Live also never asks for a phrase to validate an account, never contacts you first by phone call or direct message, and never sends firmware as an email attachment. Support impersonation follows those patterns almost every time, and it often begins within hours of someone posting publicly that they are having trouble with Ledger Live.
Confirm every transaction on the device screen rather than the computer screen. Ledger Live shows you what it intends to send; the hardware wallet shows you what it is actually about to sign. When the two disagree, the device is right and something between you and Ledger Live is lying.
Finally, keep the path you verified. Bookmark the official download page after your first successful install, so any future download of Ledger Live starts from a link you created while everything was known good.
[NEVER_DISCLOSE_SEED]
- Rule 01The 24 words stay offline, on paper or metal, and are never photographed or typed into any device.
- Rule 02The PIN is entered on the hardware wallet only, never on a computer or phone keyboard.
- Rule 03Receiving addresses are checked on the device display before use.
- Rule 04No one legitimate ever needs remote access to your machine to fix a wallet problem.
12 / Questions
Ledger Live download FAQ
Is Ledger Live free to download?
Yes. Ledger Live is free on every platform, with no subscription and no paid tier for core wallet features. Any page charging you for the installer is a scam. Third-party services reachable inside the app, such as buying or swapping, carry their own provider fees, which is a separate matter from the download.
Do I need a Ledger device before installing?
You can install and open Ledger Live without one, but the app is built around a hardware wallet and the setup flow will ask you to connect a device. Adding accounts and signing anything requires the device, so Ledger Live without one is little more than a preview of the interface.
Which file should I download for Linux?
The AppImage. It is a single self-contained file: make it executable, then run it. There is no distribution package to install, and Ledger Live on Linux also needs udev rules in place before the operating system will let the app talk to a connected device.
Can I install Ledger Live on more than one machine?
Yes, on as many computers and phones as you like. Each copy of Ledger Live is just an interface, so several installations can look at the same accounts as long as the device is connected to whichever one you are using at the time.
Does reinstalling put my crypto at risk?
No. Keys live in the Secure Element of the hardware wallet, not in the software, so deleting and reinstalling Ledger Live cannot move or erase funds. You may need to re-add accounts afterward, which the app does automatically once the device is connected.
Why does my operating system warn me about the installer?
New releases often have limited reputation history, which triggers a generic caution on Windows in particular. Check the publisher on the prompt and compare the hash. When both match, the warning is noise; when the publisher is unknown, the file is not Ledger Live.
Will Ledger Live ever ask for my recovery phrase?
Never on a computer or phone screen. The 24 words are entered on the hardware wallet only, when you restore a device. Any prompt inside something claiming to be Ledger Live that asks you to type them is theft in progress, and the correct response is to disconnect and stop.
Does the app need an internet connection?
Yes, for anything involving the network. Ledger Live fetches balances, prices, and transaction history from remote services and broadcasts signed transactions, so an offline machine will show stale data. Signing itself still happens on the device, but a permanently offline copy of Ledger Live is not a practical setup.