A practical, developer-focused walkthrough to integrate, test, and build secure applications using Ledger Live Wallet. Includes setup, API notes, security guidance, example flows and resources.
Introduction
Ledger Live is the desktop and mobile interface that allows users to manage crypto assets with hardware-backed keys. For developers, Ledger Live exposes integration points and a trusted UX to improve onboarding, transaction signing, and account management using devices like Ledger Nano S and Nano X. This guide walks you through key concepts, developer workflows, and practical code samples to help you get started fast.
Who is this for?
This article is written for software engineers and product builders who want to: connect to Ledger Live, implement transaction signing, test flows in a secure way, and follow security best practices when handling cryptographic assets on behalf of users.
What you'll learn
How to install and configure Ledger Live for development.
How to connect to Ledger devices and request signatures.
Best practices for UX, security and testing.
Where to find official APIs, SDKs, and sample code.
Setup: Install & Configure
Before diving into integrations, install Ledger Live and the Ledger device firmware. For development, use the latest stable Ledger Live build and the Ledger Live Developer features (if available). Make sure you have:
Pre-requisites
A Ledger hardware device (Nano family)
Ledger Live desktop app (stable build)
Node.js (for many SDKs and samples)
Access to a testnet or sandbox environment
Recommended local setup
Install Node.js LTS and clone official SDK repositories when available. Use a separate test wallet on your Ledger device for development to avoid exposing recovery phrases for production assets.
Connect: App to Ledger Live
Ledger Live exposes transport layers and protocols for connecting apps to a Ledger device. The typical flow for desktop apps is to use ledgerjs libraries which communicate over USB or WebHID, mediated by Ledger Live when necessary.
Transport options
USB (node-hid / WebUSB) — direct device transport for desktop.
WebHID / WebUSB — browser-based transport (permissions required).
Ledger Live Bridge — application-layer bridge used in some flows.
Permissions & UX
Always explain to users why you need to connect their Ledger device. Keep permission prompts clear, and never ask for recovery phrases or private keys. Use progressive disclosure: ask for the minimum scope required to perform the action.
Transaction Signing Flow
The core of Ledger developer work is building a robust, secure signing flow. The typical steps are:
Discover accounts and balances from the device public keys.
Construct a transaction payload on the client/server.
Send the payload to Ledger for review and signature.
Collect the signature and broadcast to the network.
Key UX tips during signing
Show a clear, human-readable transaction summary (amount, fee, destination).
Require explicit device confirmation for sensitive fields.
Timebox signature requests and handle device disconnects gracefully.
Handling multi-step transactions
For multi-step transactions (smart contract interactions, multi-sig setups), split the signing into digestible confirmations so the user can verify each operation on the device.
Security Best Practices
Security is non-negotiable. When integrating with Ledger Live and hardware wallets, follow these practices:
Never ask for secrets
Do not request, log, store, or transmit seed phrases, private keys, or PINs. Ledger devices are secure because secrets never leave the device.
Use signature verification
Always verify signatures client-side or server-side against known public keys before broadcasting. This prevents malformed or malicious transactions from being relayed.
Secure transport
Use TLS for all server-client communication, validate websockets, and ensure your dependencies are up to date. Audit third-party libraries and pin versions where possible.
Principle of least privilege
Request only the permissions you need. For example, if your app only needs to read account balances, don't request signing access initially.
Code Examples
Below are compact examples showing a typical discovery and signing flow using ledgerjs. These snippets are illustrative — always reference official SDKs for production usage.
Discover accounts (Node.js)
const TransportNodeHid = require('@ledgerhq/hw-transport-node-hid').default;
const AppEth = require('@ledgerhq/hw-app-eth').default;
async function discover(){
const transport = await TransportNodeHid.create();
const eth = new AppEth(transport);
const result = await eth.getAddress("44'/60'/0'/0/0", false, true);
console.log('address', result.address);
await transport.close();
}
discover();
Request a signature (example)
// Construct payload server-side, send to client, then to device:
const txHex = '...serialized-transaction-hex...';
const signature = await eth.signTransaction("44'/60'/0'/0/0", txHex);
// Verify signature then broadcast to network
Important: verify user-visible fields on the device
Always double-check that the Ledger device is presenting the expected amounts and addresses. Mismatches are a red flag.
Testing & QA
Comprehensive testing is vital. Use deterministic fixtures, mocked transports, and hardware-in-the-loop tests.
Test strategies
Unit tests: mock transport layer and assert your payload construction code.
Integration tests: run with an actual Ledger device on a CI runner or local environment.
End-to-end: perform full flows on a testnet environment to validate broadcast and confirmations.
Continuous integration tips
Keep sensitive materials out of CI. Use hardware device farms or dedicated runners for tests that require a physical Ledger. When full hardware tests are impractical, use well-maintained mock libraries with parity checks.
Resources & Links
Below are links to key resources, SDKs and community channels. (Ten curated links to help you explore further.)
Ledger devices are meant to keep private keys on the device. You can prepare transactions server-side, but final signing must be approved on the user's device. Do not attempt to move signing to a remote server that stores keys.
How do I handle disconnected devices?
Implement robust retry logic, clear UI messages, and preserve unsigned transaction state so the user can resume where they left off. Timeouts and explicit cancel buttons reduce confusion.
Where can I find SDK docs?
Official SDKs and docs live on the Ledger developer portal and the Ledger GitHub org. The links above point to the primary sources for sample apps and libraries.
Developer Checklist
Use official Ledger SDKs (ledgerjs) where possible.
Never store or transmit recovery phrases or private keys.
Provide clear transaction summaries for user verification.