Overview — What Ledger Live Desktop does
Ledger Live Desktop provides a single, audited interface for account management, sending and receiving supported cryptos, staking select assets, and interacting with approved third-party services. The application maintains a local, read-only representation of your accounts while all cryptographic signing happens on your Ledger hardware device. This separation ensures private keys never leave the device. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Key features of Ledger Live Desktop
- Portfolio & real-time balances: consolidated portfolio view with live price updates and charts for supported assets. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Account & app management: install/uninstall device apps and create accounts for supported blockchains directly from the desktop app. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Secure transactions: transactions are constructed in Ledger Live and cryptographically signed on the connected Ledger hardware device for maximum security. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Buy, swap, stake integrations: Ledger Live integrates trusted third-party providers to buy, sell, swap, and stake assets without exposing private keys. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Sync across devices (optional): Ledger Sync is available to safely synchronize account metadata across Ledger Live instances when enabled. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
System requirements and compatibility
Ledger Live Desktop supports Windows, macOS, and major Linux distributions. Minimum display resolution and OS requirements are documented by Ledger; note that some desktop builds are not compatible with ARM-based machines — confirm current system requirements on Ledger’s support pages before installing. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Security practices and official guidance
Ledger publishes explicit security guidance: never disclose your recovery phrase, always download Ledger Live only from ledger.com, and verify application signatures when prompted. Users should treat unsolicited prompts or apps that request a seed phrase as fraudulent. Recent reporting highlights active campaigns distributing counterfeit Ledger Live installers targeting macOS users — a reminder to follow Ledger's official download and verification procedures. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Important: If any interface asks for your recovery phrase, it is a scam — Ledger will never request this information via the app. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Supported assets and third-party integrations
Ledger Live Desktop supports thousands of coins and tokens directly and via vetted third-party integrations; for less common assets, Ledger documents recommended external wallets that interoperate with the device. Check the official compatibility pages to confirm support for a specific token or service before attempting management or transfers. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}