Ledger® Login — Getting Started™

Step‑by‑step instructions to connect your Ledger device, sign in to Ledger services, troubleshoot login issues, and keep access secure.

Quick start — what you'll need

Before logging in or pairing, gather these items and checks for a smooth experience.

  • Your Ledger hardware device (Nano X, Nano S Plus, etc.) with charged battery if applicable.
  • USB cable or Bluetooth-enabled computer/phone for Nano X Bluetooth pairing.
  • Ledger Live app (Desktop or Mobile) installed from the official site: ledger.com/start.
  • Your device PIN and recovery seed stored securely — do not enter the seed into any app or website.
  • A modern browser (if using web integrations) and stable internet connection.
Verified source
Always download Ledger Live from ledger.com/start to avoid tampered installers.
Device ready
Ensure firmware is up to date and device is initialized (PIN + seed recorded).
Secure location
Perform login in a private, secure environment — public networks increase risk.

Ledger login flows — overview

Ledger login patterns vary depending on your goal: signing into Ledger Live, connecting to a web dApp via WebAuthn or WalletConnect, or using Ledger's cloud services. Below are common flows and step-by-step actions.

1) Ledger Live desktop login & device pairing

  1. Open Ledger Live on desktop.
  2. Connect your Ledger device with the USB cable (or pair via Bluetooth for Nano X using mobile/desktop steps).
  3. Enter your PIN on the physical device to unlock it.
  4. Ledger Live will detect the device and display the Manager and Accounts tabs. If device firmware is outdated, follow prompts to update via Manager (bookmarked release notes will show).

2) Ledger Live mobile pairing (Bluetooth Nano X)

  1. Install Ledger Live mobile from App Store/Google Play.
  2. Enable Bluetooth and location (Android may require location for BLE scanning).
  3. Open Ledger Live → Add device → Choose Nano X → Pair via Bluetooth.
  4. Confirm pairing code on the device screen and in the app; approve the connection on-device.

3) Web dApp connection (WalletConnect / WebAuthn)

When a website asks to connect, the flow will typically use WalletConnect or a Ledger-specific connector. Steps:

  1. Click "Connect Wallet" on the dApp and choose Ledger or WalletConnect.
  2. If using WalletConnect, scan the QR code with Ledger Live mobile or follow deep-link instructions.
  3. Approve the connection in Ledger Live and confirm account selection on the device when required.

4) Browser-based WebAuthn / Passkey flows

Some services support FIDO/WebAuthn with Ledger devices acting as a secure authenticator. During registration or login:

  1. Choose "Login with Ledger" or "Security Key" (depending on service integration).
  2. Follow the browser prompt to use a security key — select your Ledger device when it appears.
  3. Complete verification on-device (touch or button press) to authenticate.

Step-by-step: common sign-in scenarios

Signing a transaction in Ledger Live

  1. Prepare the transaction in Ledger Live or a connected wallet (amount, destination, fee).
  2. When prompted, connect and unlock your Ledger device with PIN.
  3. Verify transaction details on the device screen — amount, destination address, and fees.
  4. Confirm on-device to sign the transaction. The signed payload is returned to the app for broadcasting.

Using Ledger with MetaMask (example)

  1. In MetaMask, choose Connect Hardware Wallet → Ledger.
  2. Connect your Ledger device and open the Ethereum app on the device.
  3. MetaMask will detect derivation paths and accounts — choose an account to connect.
  4. Sign transactions by verifying on-device and approving when prompted.

Detailed troubleshooting — common login issues & fixes

Device not detected by Ledger Live

Symptoms: Ledger Live shows "No device detected" or device is stuck in bootloader mode.

  1. Try a different USB cable and USB port (prefer a direct port on your computer, not a hub).
  2. Ensure the device is unlocked with the correct PIN.
  3. Restart Ledger Live and your computer.
  4. If the device appears in bootloader mode, follow official recovery steps in Ledger Live Manager; do not power-cycle mid-firmware update.
  5. On Linux, check udev rules and that you have proper permissions. On macOS, confirm the app has necessary permissions if the OS blocks access.

Bluetooth pairing fails (Nano X)

  1. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices and that the Ledger device is charged and in pairing mode.
  2. Close other apps that may be using Bluetooth and restart the Ledger Live mobile app.
  3. Forget previous pairings on your phone and reattempt fresh pairing via Ledger Live.
  4. Check OS permissions (Location on Android) and ensure the app has BLE permissions.

Web dApp connection problems

If a website can't connect or signing requests fail:

  1. Ensure the correct blockchain app (e.g., Ethereum) is open on your Ledger device when connecting.
  2. Use Ledger Live bridge or the official connector as instructed by the dApp. Some integrations require Ledger Live to act as a bridge for browser connections.
  3. Clear browser cache, disable conflicting extensions (ad-blockers, privacy extensions), and try again in a fresh browser profile if necessary.

PIN or device unlock issues

If you repeatedly enter the wrong PIN, the device will reset after too many attempts. If that happens, you must restore from your recovery seed.

  1. Ensure you are entering the correct PIN; remember the PIN is entered on-device only.
  2. If you forget your PIN, reset the device (it will erase keys) and restore from your recovery phrase on the device or in Ledger Live.

Security: keeping your login flow safe

Ledger devices and Ledger Live are designed to keep private keys isolated. However, user behavior and environment matter. Follow these security practices:

Advanced security tips

  1. Use a dedicated machine for high-value operations when possible.
  2. Consider passphrase (25th word) protection for plausible deniability and extra security — understand the recovery implications before enabling.
  3. Implement multisig for institutional or shared wallets to reduce single-point-of-failure risk.

Best practices for seamless logins

  1. Keep Ledger Live and firmware updated, but only apply updates from official sources.
  2. Record multiple copies of your recovery seed and store them in separate, secure physical locations.
  3. Use a trusted browser and disable unnecessary extensions when interacting with dApps.
  4. Test small transactions first when interacting with new contracts or services.
  5. Use session controls in any enterprise or team tooling to limit connectivity and duration of access.

Appendix: useful commands & checks

# Verify installer checksum (macOS / Linux)
shasum -a 256 ledger-live-desktop-x.y.z.tar.gz

# Verify installer checksum (Windows PowerShell)
Get-FileHash .\ledger-live-desktop-x.y.z.exe -Algorithm SHA256

# Bluetooth troubleshooting (Android)
1. Toggle Bluetooth
2. Clear app cache for Ledger Live
3. Re-attempt pairing from app