A clear, practical walkthrough for developers building secure Live Apps, integrations and wallet experiences with Ledger Wallet (formerly Ledger Live).
When you build with Ledger’s developer platform your core responsibility is protecting users' private keys and transaction intent. "Trust" is earned through transparent UX, device-confirmed operations, and predictable fallback behaviors. Ledger Wallet acts as the secure control plane: private keys remain offline on a Ledger signer (hardware device) while apps and dApps interact with that device via well-defined APIs and the Discover layer.
Download and install Ledger Wallet on your target platform (desktop or mobile) and pair your hardware Ledger signer. Ledger provides step-by-step start guides and downloads on the official site and the app stores. Once paired, confirm the device firmware is up to date and that you have a verified recovery phrase safely stored.
Developer mode unlocks extra features in Ledger Wallet for testing Live Apps and API integrations. In Developer Mode you can load local manifests and test Wallet API flows without submitting to Discover. Follow the Developer Portal instructions to enable it—this is commonly controlled through the Wallet settings and requires the desktop app for some features.
Ledger’s platform supports multiple developer routes depending on your target:
Live Apps are web applications packaged with a manifest and optimized for the Ledger Wallet environment. They should be deterministic, stateless where possible, and provide concise permission prompts so users understand exactly what will be approved on their Ledger signer.
Test under Developer Mode with multiple device models and firmware versions. When you are ready to publish, prepare the deliverables: clear documentation, installation steps, and security rationale. Submit the app through the Developer Portal review flow so it can be listed in Discover.
Request the smallest necessary set of permissions from the wallet. Prefer confirmation-based flows where the Ledger signer verifies transaction details. Avoid automatically signing or batching operations unless the user explicitly opts in.
Show the user the exact amount, recipient, fee, and any metadata that affects value. The clearer the in-app message, the less likely a user is to be tricked by phishing or UI confusion.
Gracefully handle network errors and device disconnects. Provide a recommended next step, and never request the recovery phrase. If you detect suspicious behavior (unexpected network or redirect), halt the operation and prompt the user to verify the origin.
Below are the most useful official resources you will want bookmarked while building. They are authoritative and maintained by Ledger and Trust Wallet where applicable.
(Ten official links are included above for quick access to docs, downloads and support.)
Use the Wallet API client libraries to open a session and request a device signature. This pseudo-code illustrates the flow; consult the official Wallet API docs for exact method names.
// PSEUDO-CODE
const client = await WalletAPI.connect({ origin: window.location.origin });
const session = await client.openSession({ protocol: 'ethereum' });
const tx = { to: '0x1234...', value: '0x2386f26fc10000' };
const request = await session.requestSignTransaction(tx);
// On the physical Ledger signer the user will confirm amount, recipient and fee
const signature = await request.waitForSignature();
console.log('Signature', signature);
Build friction where it matters: confirmations for high-value changes, clear alerts for network or account mismatches, and an unmistakable brand presence so users know they’re dealing with your official app inside Ledger Wallet.
The crypto landscape evolves fast. Use the Ledger Developer Portal and official support pages to stay current with new APIs, Discover policies, and recommended security practices. Encourage your users to always update firmware and to only download the Ledger Wallet app from official sources.