Overview

Ledger Live is the flagship desktop and mobile app from Ledger that lets users manage their crypto assets securely. For developers, the Ledger Developer Portal provides documentation, SDKs, and integration patterns that let third-party apps, services, custodians, and exchanges integrate with Ledger Live. This guide explains the integration surface, practical patterns, security considerations, and real-world examples to help you design and ship tight, user-friendly integrations.

Why integrations matter

Integrations with Ledger Live increase user trust and retention. By integrating with the desktop and mobile apps, developers can offload device interactions (like signing) to Ledger hardware devices while keeping the onboarding, trading, or portfolio experience inside their own service. Proper integrations also reduce user error, remove friction around private key handling, and increase overall safety for end users.

Who should integrate?

Third-party wallet front-ends, exchanges, custodial services, DeFi dashboards, analytics platforms, and hardware accessory makers — anyone who benefits from strong cryptographic signing, account discovery, or transaction flows that involve private keys stored on Ledger devices.

Getting started

Before you build, make sure you:

  1. Create a Ledger developer account and register your app on the Developer Portal.
  2. Read the Ledger integration guidelines, UX expectations, and security checklist.
  3. Decide which integration types you need: account discovery, transaction signing, swap/trade, portfolio syncing, or deep linking.

Integration types

Account Discovery

Discovering accounts on a user’s Ledger device lets your service show the user which addresses and assets they have available without ever reading private keys. Typically this is done via the ledger-live-bridge or direct use of the Ledger protocols in your desktop app.

Transaction Signing

Use the Ledger device to sign transactions: construct a transaction in your app, send it to Ledger for the user to verify on-device, and then broadcast the signed transaction. This preserves the security benefits of the hardware wallet while allowing your user to interact with your application.

Swap/Trade Integration

Many integrations combine swap providers with Ledger Live so users can exchange assets while maintaining custody through their Ledger device. Be mindful of UX—clearly indicate fees, slippage, and the point at which the transaction will require on-device confirmation.

APIs & SDKs

Ledger provides SDKs and libraries to simplify integrating with Ledger Live. Typical stacks include:

  • LedgerJS: a collection of JS libraries for communicating with Ledger devices over HID, WebUSB, or U2F.
  • Hardware transport layers: @ledgerhq/hw-transport-node-hid, @ledgerhq/hw-transport-webusb, and others.
  • Platform-specific helper libraries and bindings for mobile and desktop.

Example: Basic flow for web integration

// high-level pseudo-code
const transport = await TransportWebUSB.create();
const app = new App(transport);
const publicKey = await app.getPublicKey(path);
// show user accounts using the publicKey
// build transaction
const signature = await app.signTransaction(path, rawTx);
// broadcast signature

Best practices when using SDKs

  • Keep the transport layer isolated; provide clear fallbacks for users who cannot access WebUSB or HID.
  • Gracefully handle device detaches, timeouts, and user cancellations.
  • Do not attempt to cache or store private keys or raw signing material.

UX patterns for delightful integrations

Clear call-to-action and state

When a user must interact with their Ledger device, display clear instructions and a progress indicator. Use friendly microcopy such as “Connect your Ledger and open the Ethereum app” and show animated connection states so users know when to look at the device.

On-device verification

Show the transaction summary in your app before sending it to the device for signing. On-device confirmation should be the final guardrail; ensure your UI matches the on-device details (amount, destination, fees).

Errors & recovery

Common errors include device lock, incompatible app version, or mismatched derivation paths. Provide clear remediation steps and links to your support or the Ledger help center.

Security considerations

Security is the primary reason people choose Ledger. Any integration must preserve the guarantee that private keys never leave the secure element on the device.

Do not rely on the host for secrecy

Treat the client (browser or mobile app) as an untrusted environment. Use asymmetric flows where the device holds the private key and only signs preapproved transactions.

Transport-level security

Use secure transport libraries and ensure updates to the transport are tracked. Warn users about browser compatibility and permissions required for WebUSB or native HID features.

Firmware & app version checks

Before initiating a critical flow, check device firmware and app versions — some features require newer firmware or recent Ledger app builds to be secure and compatible.

Real-world examples & case studies

Below are condensed case studies that illustrate common integration scenarios and trade-offs.

Non-custodial exchange integration

A non-custodial exchange integrated account discovery and transaction signing so users could trade without surrendering custody. Key wins: trust signal (hardware signing), reduced regulatory complexity, and better user retention.

Portfolio tracker

A portfolio app integrated account discovery via Ledger Live protocols to pull balances and transaction history. The app avoided signing flows, reducing risk, and focused on UX for visibility and alerts.

Testing, staging, and CI

Hardware-in-the-loop testing is essential. Automate as much as you can with mocked transports; but include manual test runs with physical devices to validate edge cases like device locking and user cancellation.

Automated mock transports

Use mocks during unit and integration tests to simulate device responses. This helps CI run quickly while still letting you assert proper handling of expected and unexpected results.

Manual QA with devices

During release testing, use a matrix of device firmware versions and OS/browser combinations. Document and share the matrix with your team so support can reproduce reported issues quickly.

Developer checklist

  • Register your application on the Ledger Developer Portal.
  • Decide on supported transports (WebUSB, HID, Native bridge).
  • Implement robust error handling and user guidance flows.
  • Provide clear UX for transaction review and on-device confirmation.
  • Add telemetry (opt-in) to measure integration success and failures.
  • Perform regular security reviews and dependency updates.

Troubleshooting

Device not detected

Common causes: wrong cable (power-only), device locked, USB permissions. Tell users to use a data cable, unlock device, and open the correct coin app.

Signatures failing

Check app versions, transaction format compatibility, and derivation paths. Log errors locally and provide users a safe way to copy error details for support.

FAQ

Will Ledger ever expose private keys?

No — Ledger devices are designed so private keys never leave the secure element. Integrations must keep that guarantee intact.

Can I run signing flows on mobile?

Yes. Mobile integrations typically use Bluetooth transport and a native SDK or a bridging layer. Expect extra development effort to support mobile reliably.

Conclusion

Integrating with Ledger Live and the Ledger ecosystem lets developers build trustworthy, secure experiences that put users in control of their keys. By following the patterns, UX guidance, and security checklist in this guide, you can deliver integrations that are both safe and delightful.

Next steps

  1. Sign up on the Ledger Developer Portal and review the API docs.
  2. Prototype a simple account discovery flow and a signature roundtrip.
  3. Iterate on UX and test across devices.