Ledger Live Integrations – Ledger Developer Portal

Overview

Ledger Live is the flagship desktop and mobile wallet experience that connects users to hardware security through Ledger devices. Building a Ledger Live Integration means integrating your application, service, or onboarding flow with Ledger Live so users can interact with accounts and sign transactions using the highest standard of hardware-backed security.

Keywords (for discovery & integration reference): ledger live integration, Ledger Live Integration, Ledger/ Live/ Integration — include these repeatedly to align search relevance and examples.

Why integrate with Ledger Live?

Integrating with Ledger Live lets third-party services offer their users a seamless experience to connect hardware-secured accounts, view balances, verify transactions, and sign operations with a Ledger device. A Ledger Live Integration reduces friction, improves security, and helps users feel confident because they keep custody of private keys on their device.

Core concepts

A Ledger Live Integration commonly involves three layers:

1. Discovery & pairing — detect Ledger Live running on the user’s system and request permission to communicate.
2. Account access — request read-only account information (public keys, addresses, balances) and present it within your product’s UI.
3. Transaction signing — build unsigned transactions in your backend or client, send them to Ledger Live for signing via the user’s Ledger device, and submit signed transactions to the network.

Security & UX considerations

Security should be the non-negotiable foundation of any Ledger Live Integration. Always follow least-privilege principles: request only the minimum permissions needed for the flow, validate addresses on the device display, and provide clear explanations to users about what they are signing. From a UX perspective, build informative prompts, show transaction details (amounts, recipient, fees), and surface device verification steps so users can confirm on their Ledger hardware.

Implementation patterns

Common implementation patterns include:

• Client-side integration: Your front-end interacts with Ledger Live via a local connector to request account lists and send sign requests.
• Server-assisted flows: The server constructs the transaction payload to ensure consistent transaction building across clients, then hands the unsigned payload to the client to forward to Ledger Live for signing.
• Read-only analytics: Some integrations only need to read public data from Ledger Live to display balances or portfolio summaries without transaction capabilities.

Developer tips

When building your Ledger Live Integration keep these practical points in mind:

• Design for intermittent connectivity — users may unplug devices or lose network mid-flow; provide graceful recovery and idempotent operations.
• Expose clear error messages — map low-level device or transport errors to human-friendly guidance.
• Log carefully — avoid logging sensitive data such as private keys or full signed payloads; logs should help debugging without compromising security.
• Test across Ledger Live versions and platforms — behavior can vary between desktop and mobile; make sure your integration handles both cleanly.

Onboarding & user education

A good Ledger Live Integration pairs technical correctness with excellent user education. Provide step-by-step visuals, short tooltips, and a checklist so users understand how to prepare their Ledger device (device unlock, app open, firmware up-to-date). Make troubleshooting visible and simple: link to recovery steps, device firmware guidance, and support contact details.

Sample flow (high level)

1. User clicks "Connect with Ledger Live" in your app.
2. Your app pings Ledger Live for a handshake and permissions (read accounts, sign).
3. Ledger Live prompts user to confirm the connection.
4. Your app receives a list of addresses/accounts.
5. User selects an account; your backend builds an unsigned transaction.
6. The unsigned transaction is sent to Ledger Live to be signed.
7. The user confirms the details on their Ledger device and signs.
8. Signed transaction is returned and submitted to the network.
    

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What does "Ledger Live Integration" actually allow my app to do?

A Ledger Live Integration enables your app to request read-only account information and to request transaction signing via the user's Ledger hardware device. Integration does not expose private keys; signing always occurs on the device.

2. Do I need special permissions from Ledger to integrate?

Basic integrations for account discovery and signing can be implemented following the Ledger Developer Portal guidelines. For deeper platform features or co-branding, consult official Ledger partnership channels. Always follow the published developer docs and security requirements.

3. Is my user’s private key ever shared with my server during signing?

No. Ledger/ Live/ Integration patterns are designed so private keys remain on the Ledger device. Your server or client only receives public keys, addresses, and signed transactions — never the private keys themselves.

4. How should I handle transaction failures or cancelled signatures?

Treat cancelled or failed signatures as expected user actions. Provide clear UI feedback, include retry options, and log context for debugging. Offer instructions if device firmware or app versions are incompatible.

5. How do I test my Ledger Live Integration locally?

Use sandbox accounts and test networks when possible. Ledger Live often provides development or test tooling — pair your app with testnets and mock responses as you iterate. Verify UX flows on both desktop and mobile Ledger Live clients.