Ledger® Live Wallet – Getting Started™ Developer Portal

A developer-focused, step-by-step presentation for integrating with Ledger Live (Ledger Wallet) — setup, SDKs, security, testing, and publishing.

Overview

This document is a hands-on developer presentation for getting started with the Ledger Developer Portal and Ledger Live integrations. It explains account model basics, available SDKs & APIs, how to enable developer mode, recommended security best practices, testing workflows, and steps to publish an integration to be discoverable in Ledger Live (now evolving to Ledger Wallet). The official Ledger Developer Portal is the authoritative source for APIs, SDKs and submission guidelines. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Who this is for

Wallet engineers, dApp builders, blockchain integrators, and platform teams wanting to embed secure signing or Live Apps into Ledger Live. Whether you are building a native wallet integration or a Live App to appear inside Ledger Live, this guide lays out the typical end-to-end workflow.

Goals of this presentation

  1. Understand Ledger Live architecture and integration points.
  2. Set up local developer environment and enable developer mode.
  3. Use Ledger SDKs and Wallet API client to test signing flows.
  4. Follow security best practices and device UX guidelines.
  5. Submit and publish your integration to the Developer Portal for review.

Getting Started — Quick Setup

Step 1: Visit the Official Developer Portal

Start at the Ledger Developer Portal — it hosts the official docs, SDKs, examples, and the integration submission process. Bookmark it as your single source of truth. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Step 2: Install the tools

Typical local dev setup includes Node.js (LTS), Yarn or npm, Yarn workspaces (for mono-repos), and the Ledger Services Kit if you plan server-side helpers. Clone the official examples repo for reference and to accelerate onboarding. Official GitHub repos and docs link from the portal. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Step 3: Enable Developer Mode (Ledger Live)

For safe local testing, enable developer mode in Ledger Live (Discover → Developer Mode or follow the Portal guide). This unlocks features such as Local Live Apps testing, verbose logs, and simulated flows without publishing to production. Closely follow the Portal instructions when toggling experimental features to avoid exposing sensitive keys in unsafe ways. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Step 4: Connect a Ledger device

Use a hardware device (`Ledger Nano S Plus`, `Nano X`, etc.) for end-to-end signing tests. Always keep device firmware updated and ensure you never enter seed phrases into any app. Ledger support explicitly warns against downloading unofficial apps; always use the official sources. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Local test checklist
  • Node.js LTS + package manager
  • Clone `ledger-live` sample app or SDK examples
  • Enable developer mode in the app
  • Connect Ledger device, check firmware
  • Run example signing flow and confirm on device

Architecture & Integration Points

Ledger Live (now evolving to "Ledger Wallet") exposes several integration surfaces:

Account & Signing Model

Integrations typically interact with Ledger at two layers: account synchronization (read-only account data, balances, tokens) and on-device signing (transactions, messages). The wallet enforces that private keys never leave the signer hardware; interactions are mediated by RPC/SDK layers. The Developer Portal details the account section and general architecture diagrams. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Live Apps & Embedding

Live Apps are web-based experiences that run inside Ledger Live. They use a secure Wallet API client to request user actions and signing. If building a Live App, your manifest and API hooks must follow Portal guidelines for user consent, network requests, and resources. The Wallet API Client docs describe expected callbacks, message flows, and example code. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Server vs Client flows

Some integrations require a server (exchange rates, large datasets, remote signing helpers) while most signing flows remain client-driven with the device. Use the Ledger Services Kit and server handlers only when needed; keep the attack surface minimal.

Example: Basic Wallet API flow (snippet)

Below is a compact example showing how a Live App might request a signature from Ledger Wallet using the Wallet API Client (conceptual — adapt to the official SDK version you use).

// Example (conceptual) — use official SDK from Developer Portal
import { WalletApiClient } from '@ledger/wallet-api-client';

async function requestSignature(account, transactionPayload) {
  const client = new WalletApiClient({ appName: 'My Live App' });
  await client.connect();
  const request = {
    accountId: account.id,
    payload: transactionPayload,
    message: "Please verify and sign this transaction on your Ledger device"
  };
  const result = await client.signTransaction(request);
  if (result && result.signature) {
    return result.signature;
  }
  throw new Error('User cancelled or signing failed');
}

Notes

Use the Portal's client library that matches the version of Ledger Live you target. Example repos and versioned SDKs live on the Developers site and GitHub. Always run tests both with simulator (if available) and an actual device. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Security Best Practices

Security is the primary value proposition of Ledger's ecosystem: private keys remain inside the signer; user verification on-device is required for sensitive actions.

Never ask for seed phrases

A critical rule: never prompt users to share seed phrases with anything. Ledger and security advisories warn of fake apps asking for seed phrases; only download Ledger apps from ledger.com and the official Portal links. If an interface asks for a seed phrase, treat it as a scam. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Least privilege & user consent

Design your UX for minimal requested permissions. Show clear human-readable descriptions of what will be signed, and surface gas/amount details for financial transactions.

Secure CI/CD & code reviews

Protect SDK keys, CI secrets, and submission artifacts. Use reproducible builds where possible and maintain a public changelog for review during the submission process to the Developer Portal.

Testing & QA

Local testing

Use the Ledger Developer Mode and example apps to iterate quickly. Test on multiple OSes and with both hardware device models your users will have.

Automated tests

Add end-to-end tests that simulate the transaction lifecycle up to device confirmation. For UI flows, run accessibility checks and responsive design tests — Ledger Live users expect clear prompts and unambiguous confirmations.

Integration testing with Ledger Live

Ensure your manifest and Live App behave correctly in embedded mode. The Portal includes steps for importing your manifest and running local Live App testing before submitting for review. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Submission & Publishing

When you're ready to publish, follow the Developer Portal's submission process. Prepare:

Review & approval

Ledger runs a review that checks security, user experience, and compliance with rules. Expect feedback cycles; address reviewer concerns promptly. Once approved, your integration can become discoverable in Ledger Live's Discover section (or Live Apps directory).

Post-publish monitoring

After launch, monitor crash reports, user feedback, and any suspicious pattern (phishing attempts, social-engineering). Keep communication channels open with Ledger’s developer support for urgent issues.

Resources & Links

Below are the main official links you should use while developing. They are authoritative and updated by Ledger.

Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger Official Developer Portal — Ledger

Additional canonical pages:
Wallet API Client docs. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

FAQ — Common Questions

Q: Where do I download Ledger Live / Wallet?

A: Download official apps only from ledger.com or links provided on the Developer Portal and support pages. Ledger's support site provides installation steps. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Q: Can I simulate a device?

A: Some SDKs and examples offer simulators for faster iteration, but always validate UX and cryptographic flows on a physical signer device before production launch.

Q: Who reviews integrations?

A: Ledger’s developer team and security reviewers handle reviews to ensure that integrations meet security and UX standards before being listed publicly.

Closing & Next Steps

Building with Ledger means building with a security-first mindset. Start at the Ledger Developer Portal, enable developer mode for quick feedback, test on devices, and follow the Portal's publishing workflow to get your integration into Ledger Live’s ecosystem. Bookmark the Portal and the Wallet API docs — they’ll be your primary references. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Action plan (first 7 days)

  1. Read the Portal Getting Started and Wallet API docs. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
  2. Set up your local environment and clone example repos. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
  3. Enable developer mode, connect a device, run a sample signing flow. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
  4. Prepare manifest and security checklist for submission.
  5. Open communication with Ledger developer support if needed.