Ledger Live Integrations – Ledger Developer Portal

Introduction: Why integrate with Ledger Live?

Ledger Live sits at the intersection of device-level security and mainstream crypto UX. Integrations let third-party apps, exchanges, custody providers, and dApps leverage Ledger’s hardware-backed signing, account management, and transaction flows — while providing users the familiar Ledger Live experience.

From onboarding a custody client to offering in-app swap flows, a proper Ledger Live integration gives you access to:

• Hardware-backed signing flows via USB/BLE/Bridge.
• Account discovery and management consistent with Ledger's standards.
• Transaction crafting and user-confirmation flows that match Ledger Live’s expectations.
• Shared UX conventions that reduce user friction and increase trust.

Who should read this?

This guide targets backend engineers, frontend devs, and product managers building integrations for exchanges, custodians, DeFi projects, and wallet teams who want native-like Ledger Live behavior. No prior Ledger integration experience required, but familiarity with BIP32/BIP44, basic cryptography, and REST APIs helps.

Key concepts and architecture

Before writing code, understand the high-level pieces and how they fit together.

Ledger device

The hardware device (Ledger Nano S/X/SE) securely stores private keys and performs signature operations. Integrations should never export private keys — interactions happen via APDUs or higher-level SDKs that forward signing prompts to the device for user confirmation.

Ledger Live client

Ledger Live is the desktop & mobile application users install. Integrations can be done at two levels: (1) embed flows within Ledger Live via official partner programs and plugins, or (2) implement compatible flows in your product that mirror Ledger Live’s behavior using Ledger SDKs and communication protocols.

Ledger Developer Portal

The portal hosts SDKs, API docs, code samples, and best practices. It’s the single source for specs on app protocols, supported currencies, transaction formats, and signing conventions.

Communication layer

Communication between app and device happens over USB/BLE or through Bridge. The standard stack includes:

• Transport — low-level layer (USB/BLE/Bridge) for APDU exchange.
• App protocol — currency-specific application running on the Ledger device (e.g., Bitcoin app, Ethereum app).
• High-level SDKs — JavaScript/Python/Go libraries that wrap transport + app protocol for ease of use.

Available SDKs & tools

Ledger maintains multiple SDKs. Familiar ones include:

• @ledgerhq/hw-transport-webusb / hw-transport-node-hid for transport.
• @ledgerhq/hw-app-eth, hw-app-btc etc. for app-level commands.
• Ledger’s RPC/bridge utilities for desktop flows.

Use the SDK that best matches your platform: use WebUSB for browser integrations, Node HID for desktop processes, and Web Bluetooth for mobile web experiments.

Designing the integration: UX & security checklist

Successful integrations balance developer ergonomics, UX consistency, and Ledger-grade security. Use this checklist:

UX

• Surface clear device prompts — what will the user sign and why.
• Keep transaction previews readable: human-friendly amounts, addresses, and memos.
• Provide recovery instructions: what to do if the device disconnects mid-flow.

Security

• Never ask for seed phrases or private keys.
• Verify addresses on-device whenever possible; show the same address in-app and on-device.
• Use deterministic derivation paths as per Ledger / BIP standards.

Regulatory and compliance notes

Depending on your product (custody, trading, KYC), check local regulatory rules. Ledger provides no legal cover — integrations must meet your jurisdiction’s compliance requirements. Keep logs, use enterprise-grade audit trails, and avoid storing private keys.

Example: Browser integration (Ethereum) — step-by-step

This example demonstrates a minimal web integration for signing an Ethereum transaction using ledgerjs packages. The code snippet is simplified for clarity.

// Example: connect + sign with Ledger in a web app (pseudocode)
import TransportWebUSB from "@ledgerhq/hw-transport-webusb";
import AppEth from "@ledgerhq/hw-app-eth";

async function signTx(derivationPath, rawTxHex) {
  const transport = await TransportWebUSB.create();
  const eth = new AppEth(transport);

  // get the address (show on device)
  const { address } = await eth.getAddress(derivationPath, true, false);

  // prepare and sign the transaction
  const resolution = null; // EIP1559 / chain specifics handled here
  const sig = await eth.signTransaction(derivationPath, rawTxHex, resolution);

  // combine signature with rawTx to produce final tx
  return assembleSignedTx(rawTxHex, sig);
}

Key points:

• Ask the user to open the Ethereum app on their Ledger device before connecting.
• Use getAddress with the confirmation flag to show the address on device for verification.
• Handle disconnects and errors gracefully — present actionable instructions.

Testing & CI: how to validate your integration

Robust testing reduces user incidents. Recommended testing layers:

Unit tests

Mock transport layers (stub APDU responses) to test logic that prepares transactions and handles signatures.

Integration tests

Run end-to-end tests with a physical device or an approved simulator where possible. Include scenarios: device disconnects, wrong app open, user rejects transaction.

Fuzzing & security checks

Fuzz inputs fed to the signing functions to ensure you never pass malformed APDUs to the device and that address derivation remains deterministic.

Advanced topics

Batch signing & UX considerations

When batching transactions, keep user trust by:

• Showing an aggregated summary first (total cost, number of operations).
• Allowing the user to inspect individual operations on demand.
• Warning about irreversible operations (smart contract approvals, large transfers).

Support for new coins and custom app development

If you support a niche chain, you may need a Ledger app on the device itself. Ledger’s developer portal explains the process for building and submitting an app. Plan for:

• Device resource constraints (APDU size, memory limits).
• Security review and code audits.
• Coordination with Ledger for app validation and distribution.

Performance: transport optimizations

Minimize round trips and keep APDU payloads compact. Use chunking wisely for large payloads (e.g., complex smart contract payloads) and prefer batched signature requests when the protocol supports it.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Teams integrating with Ledger frequently encounter a few recurring issues. Here’s how to avoid them:

1. Mismatched derivation path assumptions

Always explicitly declare and store the derivation path for each account. Don't assume vendor defaults — document them in your code and UI.

2. Poor error messaging around device state

Provide clear messages if the user has the wrong app open, the device is locked, or Bluetooth permission is denied. Example: “Open the Ethereum app on your Ledger device and unlock your device.”

3. Ignoring firmware/app versioning

Ledger app behaviors can change across firmware/app versions. Include graceful fallbacks, and show recommended firmware/app versions in your support docs.

Case study: wallet + swap integration (illustrative)

Suppose you run a non-custodial wallet app that offers on-ramp swaps and also supports Ledger devices. Key considerations:

• When a swap requires multiple transactions (approval + swap), offer a grouped UX and explain each step clearly on-device.
• Use the device to verify token approvals: show contract address and allowance amounts on the device when possible.
• Fail safe: if the device declines the approval, do not proceed to the swap step automatically.

Publishing & partnership

If you plan to publish an integration visible inside Ledger Live (partner integrations), you’ll engage Ledger’s partnership and review process. This typically involves:

• Security review and code audit.
• Integration testing with Ledger QA.
• Marketing coordination and release planning.

Developer checklist: pre-launch

1. Follow Ledger’s SDK usage patterns — use official packages wherever possible.
2. Implement address-on-device verification for critical flows.
3. Test on physical devices across firmware versions.
4. Prepare user-facing help copy for common device issues.
5. Confirm your legal/compliance posture for custody or exchange-related features.

Sample README snippet (for your repo)

# Ledger Live Integration - README (excerpt)

Prerequisites:
- Node 18+
- Ledger device with required app (e.g., Ethereum) installed
- Chrome (for WebUSB)

Quick start:
1. npm install @ledgerhq/hw-transport-webusb @ledgerhq/hw-app-eth
2. Run demo: npm start
3. Open the app on your Ledger device, unlock it, and click "Connect with Ledger".

Support & community

Use the 10 links above to access code examples and official docs. If you need help, Ledger’s developer support and community channels are the fastest way to resolve integration-specific issues. When filing a support request, include:

• Device model and firmware version.
• Ledger app name & version (e.g., Ethereum v1.10.3).
• Transport used (WebUSB / HID / Bridge).
• Repro steps and logs (redact sensitive values).

Future directions

Ledger continues to evolve its ecosystem — cross-device UX improvements, deeper DeFi integrations, and new wallet/bridge primitives are likely. Design your integration to be modular so upgrading to new transport or app protocols is straightforward.

Conclusion

Ledger Live integrations unlock powerful, hardware-backed capabilities while preserving user trust and security. Prioritize clear device prompts, deterministic derivation, and graceful error handling. Use Ledger’s SDKs and the Developer Portal resources, test on multiple devices and firmware versions, and follow the checklist above before launch.

Call to action

Ready to start? Clone the ledgerjs examples repo, pick your transport layer, and prototype a single transaction flow today. Use the links in this article to jump straight to SDK docs, examples, and support.