**Ledger Live Login** is a state-of-the-art secure authentication mechanism designed to let users access their cryptocurrency portfolios, balances, and operations without relying solely on passwords. Instead, it uses your hardware wallet to sign challenge tokens, ensuring strong cryptographic authenticity.
Whether via **Ledger Live Desktop** or **Ledger Live App** (mobile), the Ledger Live Login system can seamlessly integrate with dApps, exchanges, or internal services, offering a streamlined and highly secure login experience.
Password-based logins are subject to phishing, reuse, leaks, and brute-force attacks. **Ledger Live Login** elevates security by:
- **Ledger.com/start**: the official start page to download Ledger Live and related utilities.
- **Ledger Live**: the main wallet interface (desktop + mobile).
- **Ledger Live Login / Ledger Login**: the cryptographic login mechanism.
- **Ledger Live Desktop**: the desktop version of Ledger Live.
- **Ledger Live App**: the mobile version (iOS / Android).
1. **Zero secret exposure** — no private keys or passwords are ever sent.
2. **Challenge-response** — login relies on signing a nonce or challenge.
3. **User confirmation** — every request must be confirmed on hardware.
4. **Origin binding** — login tokens are bound to specific domains or apps.
5. **Revocability & expiry** — tokens expire, and sessions can be revoked.
Here is a typical sequence when a user logs in via **Ledger Live Login**:
In this variant, a browser extension or JS library communicates with **Ledger Live Desktop** via a local API. The desktop app handles the signing and forwards the result.
In mobile contexts, **Ledger Live App** can act as the login agent. The authentication flow may use secure channels (Bluetooth / USB) from the dApp to the app, which then relays the challenge to the hardware wallet.
• After successful login, a signed JWT or session token is issued.
• The token is bound to the origin (domain) and cannot be reused elsewhere.
• Tokens have a limited lifetime (e.g. 5–15 minutes) and must be refreshed.
• Users may revoke sessions manually in Ledger Live settings.
{
"action": "login",
"domain": "mydapp.example.com",
"nonce": "a1b2c3d4e5f6",
"timestamp": 1699990000000
}
All signing operations occur inside the hardware wallet. The key never leaves the device, and the host or app never sees it. **Ledger Live Login** ensures that no secrets are exposed during authentication.
The signed challenge includes the requesting domain or origin. This prevents replay attacks across different services or domains.
- Nonces are unique per login request.
- Timestamps prevent old challenges from being reused.
- Tokens have short expiry windows.
- Users may optionally set maximum session durations.
When signing, the hardware device shows relevant context (domain name, action, timestamp) so users can verify before approving. This prevents malicious screen overlays or phishing manipulation.
If your computer or phone is compromised:
- Users must verify the correct domain on device
- Device is physically secure (no one else can press buttons)
- Firmware and Ledger Live software must be genuine and updated
- Phishing sites posing as services may trick users into approving false actions
1. Go to Ledger.com/start to download **Ledger Live Desktop** or **Ledger Live App**.
2. Install and initialize with your hardware device.
3. In settings, enable **Ledger Live Login / Ledger Login** feature.
4. Link your desired services or dApps to use this login method.
5. When logging in via a service, select “Login with Ledger” and proceed.
When you open **Ledger Live Desktop**, you may be asked to use **Ledger Live Login** to authenticate your session instead of entering a local password. The process is similar: Live signs a challenge using your hardware device, verifying your identity before granting access to balances and operations.
The mobile app can receive a login request from a nearby dApp (via deep link, QR code, or Bluetooth). The app relays it to your hardware for signing, then returns the result to the service. Users thus enjoy seamless login on mobile.
- If device is not found, prompt user to connect or unlock.
- If origin is not allowed, display a clear “Origin not approved” message.
- If signature times out, allow retry.
- On firmware mismatch or outdated app, ask the user to update.
- Provide fallback or manual login for first-time or unsupported browsers.
• Always show the domain URL in the UI and on device for confirmation.
• Use canonical serialization to avoid ambiguity.
• Limit scope of login: do not request more permissions than needed.
• Revoke sessions periodically and offer users ability to see active logins.
• Log login events (time, domain) locally for auditing.
If you uninstall **Ledger Live Desktop** or **Ledger Live App**, you lose the interface that performs **Ledger Live Login** and interacts with your device. However, your device and keys are unaffected. You can reinstall via Ledger.com/start and re-enable login functionality.
Only for services and apps that adopt the **Ledger Login** protocol. Traditional systems using usernames/passwords remain independent unless they implement the Ledger-based flow.
Yes. Both **Ledger Live Desktop** and **Ledger Live App** can handle login flows, provided the service supports it and the app or desktop is connected to your hardware device at the time of login.
Physical possession alone is insufficient — the attacker would also need your PIN, and they cannot exploit **Ledger Live Login** unless they can confirm operations on-device. Additionally, firmware security and recovery protections limit unauthorized use.
Yes — because each login request includes a domain that must be shown and confirmed on the hardware. A phishing site at a different domain cannot reuse a signature or trick the device into approving another domain. Always verify the domain shown on your device.