Ledger Live Desktop® — Starting Up Your Device
Ledger Live Desktop is the familiar name for Ledger's desktop crypto-management application. Ledger is transitioning the product branding to Ledger Wallet, so current users may encounter both names in Ledger documentation.
The Google Sites URL you provided is not an official ledger.com address. Although the page title uses Ledger branding, the hosting domain is sites.google.com. For security-sensitive wallet setup, use Ledger's official website rather than an independently hosted page.
Begin With Official Ledger Software
For desktop setup, download Ledger's current software only from an official Ledger source.
Ledger's software provides the interface for managing supported accounts, while the physical Ledger device protects the private keys and provides transaction authorization.
Avoid downloading wallet software from third-party websites, unofficial Google Sites pages, advertisements, or links received through unsolicited messages.
Connect Your Ledger Device
After installing the official application:
Connect your Ledger hardware wallet.
Unlock it with the device PIN.
Open Ledger Wallet/Ledger Live.
Follow the instructions displayed by the application.
Follow the instructions shown directly on the Ledger device.
The physical device should be treated as an important security interface. Never blindly approve a request on your computer without checking what the hardware device displays.
Set Up a New Device
If your Ledger is new, the initialization process normally involves creating a PIN and generating a Secret Recovery Phrase.
The device itself should generate the recovery information.
Never use a recovery phrase supplied by a seller, website, email, or another person.
If a supposedly new Ledger already contains a PIN or recovery phrase, stop the setup and contact Ledger through its official support resources.
Protect Your Secret Recovery Phrase
Your Secret Recovery Phrase is the backup that can be used to restore access to the wallet.
Write it down exactly as shown by the physical Ledger device and store it securely offline.
Never:
Enter it into a website.
Save it in Google Drive or another cloud service.
Photograph it.
Email it.
Send it through a chat application.
Give it to “Ledger Support.”
Type it into a computer because a webpage requests verification.
A legitimate Ledger representative should never ask you for the complete recovery phrase.
Install the Required Cryptocurrency Apps
Once the device is initialized, use the official Ledger software to install the applications required for the cryptocurrencies you want to manage.
The available applications depend on the Ledger model and supported blockchain networks.
For example, Bitcoin requires the appropriate Bitcoin application before you create and manage a Bitcoin account.
Add Cryptocurrency Accounts
After installing the relevant application, you can add an account through Ledger Wallet.
Your cryptocurrency is recorded on its respective blockchain. The Ledger device does not physically contain coins; instead, it protects the private keys used to authorize transactions involving your blockchain accounts.
This distinction is useful when learning how hardware wallets work.
Verify Receiving Addresses
When receiving crypto, generate the address through the wallet application and verify it on the hardware device when supported.
Check that:
The address is correct.
The cryptocurrency is correct.
The network is correct.
The transaction destination is what you intended.
Never assume that a copied address is safe simply because it looks familiar.
Approve Transactions Carefully
When sending crypto, Ledger Wallet prepares the transaction, while the physical Ledger provides the signing authorization.
Before confirming, review the details shown on the device.
Pay attention to:
Recipient address
Amount
Network
Fees
Smart-contract information
If the hardware device displays information that differs from what you expected, reject the transaction.
Ledger Live vs. Ledger Wallet
The term Ledger Live continues to appear in older tutorials, search results, and documentation. Ledger has been transitioning the application toward the Ledger Wallet name as the product has expanded beyond basic account management.
Therefore, a guide mentioning Ledger Live is not automatically describing a separate wallet. However, the interface and terminology may differ from current versions.
For current instructions, prioritize the official Ledger documentation and the instructions displayed inside the current application.
Be Careful With the Google Sites Page
The URL you supplied points to:
sites.google.com
rather than:
ledger.com
That distinction is important.
A third-party page can use Ledger's name, logo, colors, and phrases such as “official,” “desktop,” or “starting up” without actually being operated by Ledger.
For that reason, do not describe the Google Sites page as an official Ledger resource.
Use the official Ledger domain for downloads and security guidance:
Desktop Setup Checklist
Before using the wallet with significant funds:
Download the official Ledger application.
Connect your genuine Ledger hardware device.
Initialize a new device yourself.
Create a private PIN.
Record the recovery phrase directly from the device.
Store the recovery backup securely offline.
Install the required cryptocurrency applications.
Add your supported accounts.
Verify receiving addresses.
Review every transaction on the hardware before signing.
Final Thoughts
Ledger Live Desktop provides the desktop interface for managing supported cryptocurrency accounts with a Ledger hardware device. The product is now transitioning toward the Ledger Wallet name, but Ledger Live remains a common term in older resources.
The most important part of setup is maintaining control over your security credentials. Never share your recovery phrase, never enter it into a website, and never approve a transaction without checking the information displayed on your physical Ledger.
And for the specific Google Sites URL you provided: it is a third-party hosted page, not an official Ledger domain. Use Ledger's genuine ledger.com resources when setting up or downloading wallet software.