Get Started with Ledger Wallet

This technical onboarding guide walks engineers, IT teams and advanced users through initialization, architecture, integration patterns, and operational best practices for Ledger hardware wallets and Ledger Live. Learn how to securely initialize devices, add accounts, integrate signing flows, and harden deployments for production.

Start setup Developer docs Security model

What this guide contains

Concise, technical steps to initialize Ledger devices, add blockchain accounts, integrate signing into applications, and adopt operational controls for enterprise-grade key management.

Setup: Initialize a Ledger device (technical)

Follow these steps for a secure initial setup. The goal: create a device whose private keys never leave the Secure Element and can be recovered via the 24-word seed.

Download Ledger Live

Obtain the Ledger Live installer from the vendor's official site. Verify checksums if available. Use the native installer for your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux) or app store for mobile.

Unbox and inspect

Ensure packaging is intact and purchased from an authorized reseller. For enterprise procurement, track POR (proof-of-resale) and chain-of-custody.

Create or restore seed

Follow device prompts to create a new seed (recommended) or restore an existing 24-word seed. Write the seed on physical backup cards — never photograph or store the seed digitally.

Set a PIN & optional passphrase

Choose a PIN to protect device access. Optionally enable BIP-39 passphrase for hidden wallets — treat the passphrase as a separate secret.

Install chain apps

Use Ledger Live to add chain applications (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, etc.) to the device — these apps enable chain-specific key operations and signing.

Add accounts

In Ledger Live, add the accounts for chains you will manage. Ledger Live will scan derivation paths and display balances (read-only until you sign).

Operational tip: For teams, initialize devices in a secure room and record device serial numbers, firmware versions, and seed custody records in your asset management system.

Architecture & signing boundary

The security model relies on a strict signing boundary: the host (Ledger Live or third-party app) prepares transactions and presents readable summaries, and the Ledger device independently validates and performs cryptographic signing inside the Secure Element. Private key material never leaves the device.

Host responsibilities

Fetch blockchain data & fees
Build unsigned transactions
Present human-readable summaries
Broadcast signed transactions

Device responsibilities

Key generation in Secure Element
PIN enforcement & brute-force protection
On-screen address and payload verification
Return signatures only

Developer integrations — examples & best practices

Developers should respect the signing boundary and surface clear, auditable transaction information to end users. Use official SDKs and transports (WebHID, WebUSB, Node HID) and test against public testnets before mainnet deployments.

Minimal Node example (Ethereum message sign)

import TransportNodeHid from '@ledgerhq/hw-transport-node-hid';
import Eth from '@ledgerhq/hw-app-eth';

async function signMessage(msg) {
  const transport = await TransportNodeHid.create();
  const eth = new Eth(transport);
  const result = await eth.personalSign('0x' + Buffer.from(msg).toString('hex'), "44'/60'/0'/0/0");
  console.log(result);
}

Best practices

Present full transaction details in plain language before requesting signature.
Use testnets and small amounts for integration testing.
Implement transport reconnection and error handling (cable removal, permission changes).
Do not cache or log private keys or unsigned sensitive payloads in insecure logs.

Pro tip: For server-assisted flows, return a requestId to the client and let the client orchestrate the sign flow with the attached device — keeps the private keys in the user's control.

Operational guidance for teams

When using Ledger devices in organizational contexts, add operational controls and tooling: asset inventory, device registration, secure seed storage, and incident playbooks.

Procurement & Inventory — Buy from authorized resellers and record serials and firmware versions.
Device lifecycle — Rotate and retire devices periodically; maintain firmware update policies.
Seed custody — Use air-gapped secure storage (safes, split backups, or dedicated vaults) and document access controls.
Multisig patterns — Use multisig wallets for treasury protection; Ledger devices can act as cosigners in many multisig solutions.
Auditing — Log signed transactions and maintain corroborating evidence (who approved, when, and from which device).

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Device not detected: Check cable, port permissions (macOS), and that the device display is unlocked. Try another machine to rule out OS-level issues.
Firmware update failed: Do not interrupt power. Reconnect and retry via Ledger Live. If failure persists, contact vendor support and do not share your seed.
How do I recover a lost device?: Restore the 24-word recovery phrase on a new Ledger device or compatible wallet. If you used a passphrase, you must provide it to recover the exact accounts.
Can I use in CI/CD?: Physical device presence is required for on-device signing. For automated pipelines consider HSMs or multisig flows that incorporate manual approvals.

Next steps & resources

You are now ready to initialize Ledger devices, integrate signing workflows, and adopt operational controls. For deeper integration, consult official SDK docs and sample repos, test on public testnets, and plan an incident response policy for seed or device compromise.

Developer docs Enterprise checklist