Ledger Live Integrations – Ledger Developer Portal

Overview

Ledger Live integrations enable your app or service to leverage Ledger hardware and the Ledger Live ecosystem for secure user key management and transaction signing. Integrations range from simple account discovery and read-only views to fully interactive signing flows for token transfers, smart contract calls, and off-chain message approvals. This guide focuses on practical engineering patterns to build resilient, user-friendly, and secure Ledger Live integrations that work across desktop and mobile platforms.

Integration topologies

Choose an integration topology that matches your threat model and UX goals. Common topologies include:

• Pure client-side signing: The client composes transactions and the Ledger device signs directly (recommended for non-custodial apps).
• Coordinator + device signing: Backend services coordinate nonce, fee estimation, and broadcasts while the user signs on-device.
• WalletConnect-mediated: Mobile wallets use WalletConnect as a session layer between dApps and the mobile Ledger-enabled wallet.

Each topology has trade-offs in usability and server complexity; client-side signing maximizes user control but may require more robust UX for recovery and retries.

// Example simplified flow:
discoverDevice() → openTransport();
getPublicKey() → displayAccount();
buildUnsignedTx();
device.sign(tx) → signature;
verify(signature) → broadcast();

Recommended SDKs & resources

Prefer official and actively maintained libraries when possible. Useful starting points:

• ledgerjs (LedgerHQ on GitHub)
• LedgerHQ organization (GitHub)
• Ledger Developer Docs
• WalletConnect
• MDN Web Docs (web APIs & transports)

These resources help with device transports (WebUSB, HID, BLE), signing helpers, and integration examples. Keep dependencies minimal and monitor repositories for maintenance signals and security advisories.

Transport & device considerations

Supported transports differ by platform: WebUSB and HID are common for desktop browsers, while BLE is used for certain mobile flows. Each transport has quirks: permission dialogs, keepalive strategies, and OS-specific restrictions. Implement robust reconnect logic, user-friendly permission prompts, and clear guidance for firmware updates.

• Handle disconnects gracefully and allow safe retries.
• Detect firmware versions and adapt UX for known limitations.
• Provide fallbacks or alternate instructions if a transport is unavailable.

Security fundamentals

Security is the core reason for using Ledger devices. Follow these must-have practices:

• Never collect, request, or store seed phrases/private keys on your servers or in your app storage.
• Use the device as the authoritative signer; present identical information in your app and on-device for final user confirmation.
• Enforce strong transport security (TLS/HSTS) for any server communications and validate signatures server-side before broadcasts.
• Use anti-replay protections: validate chain IDs, nonces, and sequence numbers to prevent replay attacks.

For high-value or custodial flows, consider multi-signature designs where hardware keys are one piece of a larger approval chain, and ensure thorough threat modeling and third-party audits.

UX & confirmation patterns

Good UX reduces user errors and increases trust. Minimize surprises by showing clear, human-readable summaries before prompting device confirmation. For smart contract interactions, show intent and allow users to expand raw parameters. Make error messages actionable and provide easy steps to retry or cancel.

• Display amount, token symbol, destination address, and fees prominently.
• Make the device confirmation the immutable final step — avoid overriding on-device content.
• Provide troubleshooting links (firmware, permissions) and a contact path to support resources.

Testing & QA checklist

Test on real hardware across firmware versions and multiple OSes. Emulators are helpful during development but cannot replace device tests that reveal transport interruptions, display layout issues, and user behavior differences. Include unit tests for signature verification and integration tests that simulate network broadcasts and error flows.

• Automate signature verification tests.
• Manually test interrupted transports and firmware-update flows.
• Verify broadcasting and confirmations using explorers (e.g., Etherscan).

Release & support guidance

When you publish an integration, include a clear onboarding guide, a troubleshooting knowledge base, and links to official Ledger support channels (for example, Ledger Support and Ledger Academy). Maintain a changelog, communicate breaking changes early, and provide recommended firmware minimums for supported devices.

Quick start & official links: Get started • Ledger Live • Developer Docs

Ready to begin? Clone starter repos, validate flows on devices, and iterate on UX and security before releasing to users.