The essential application to manage, grow, and secure your digital assets.
**Ledger Live** is the user interface designed to work seamlessly with your Ledger hardware wallet (Nano S, Nano X, etc.). It acts as the window into your crypto portfolio, displaying your balances and facilitating transactions without ever compromising your security. Crucially, Ledger Live is an **online application** that prepares and broadcasts transactions, but it **never holds your private keys**. Your keys remain locked down and isolated inside the secure chip of your physical Ledger device—a concept known as **cold storage**. This separation ensures that even if your computer is infected with malware or viruses, your assets are safe because the crucial signing step must be physically confirmed on the device itself after entering your PIN.
This model of security is the gold standard in crypto custody. When you use Ledger Live to send funds, the transaction data is sent to your device, where it is displayed for your review. Only after you physically press the buttons on your hardware wallet to confirm the address and amount is the transaction signed and returned to the app for broadcast. This mandatory physical interaction eliminates the threat of remote hacking, making Ledger Live the secure and convenient command center for thousands of assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and thousands of tokens across multiple blockchains.
Beyond basic management, Ledger Live provides a comprehensive ecosystem to interact with the world of Web3. The app allows you to track your entire portfolio's value in real-time, customize your transaction fees, and easily receive new funds.
The most critical security element is your **24-word recovery phrase**. This phrase is your master key—it is the only backup that can restore your funds if your physical Ledger device is lost or destroyed. **You must never, ever enter this phrase into the Ledger Live application or any digital device.** Ledger Live will never ask for it. Any software, email, or website that prompts you to input your 24 words is a scam designed to steal your crypto.
Only use Ledger Live downloaded from the official Ledger website, and always ensure your software and device firmware are up to date. By sticking to this rule and keeping your phrase offline and secured (perhaps even in a fireproof safe), you ensure that your funds benefit from the strongest security available in the digital asset space.