A Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Accounts in Ledger

Professional, elegant instructions to add account on Ledger, manage Ledger accounts, and maintain Ledger security while expanding your portfolio.

How to Add Accounts in Ledger — Quick overview

Adding accounts in Ledger is the standard way to manage multiple cryptocurrencies and multiple addresses from a single Ledger hardware wallet. This guide covers adding account Ledger steps, best practices for Ledger accounts, and secure habits to keep your Ledger hardware wallet safe while you add account on Ledger and grow your portfolio.

Why add accounts in Ledger?

Ledger accounts let you organize assets, separate funds for different purposes, and keep an auditable history per account. When you add account Ledger entries, you create separate ledger accounts for Bitcoin, Ethereum and other supported blockchains while keeping private keys safe on your hardware device. Adding accounts in Ledger supports better crypto management and simplifies tax, accounting, and personal budgeting.

Before you begin — prerequisites

  • Latest Ledger Live desktop app installed (Windows / macOS / Linux).
  • Ledger hardware wallet (Nano S / Nano S Plus / Nano X) with updated firmware.
  • Your device PIN set and recovery phrase safely backed up offline.
  • Stable internet connection and up-to-date Ledger Live app.

Step-by-step: Add account on Ledger (concise)

  1. Open Ledger Live. Launch Ledger Live and unlock the app on your computer to prepare for device interaction.
  2. Connect your Ledger device. Use the supplied USB cable (or Bluetooth for Nano X) and unlock the device with your PIN.
  3. Go to Accounts → Add account. In Ledger Live, navigate to the Accounts tab and click “Add account.”
  4. Select the cryptocurrency. Choose the blockchain (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) you want to add an account for and click Continue.
  5. Open the corresponding app on the device. If prompted, open the coin’s app on your Ledger hardware (e.g., the Bitcoin app, the Ethereum app).
  6. Allow Ledger Live to view addresses. Ledger Live will scan for existing addresses on the device and index them as a new account.
  7. Name and confirm. After the scan, give the account a helpful name (for example, “Savings — BTC”) and confirm the account addition in Ledger Live.
  8. Repeat for additional coins. Add multiple Ledger accounts by repeating the process for each supported coin you want to manage.

Practical examples of Ledger accounts

You can add account Ledger entries for:

  • Multiple Bitcoin accounts (e.g., Savings, Trading, Cold Storage).
  • Ethereum main account and ERC-20 token accounts managed under the same Ethereum account in Ledger Live.
  • Altcoin accounts (LTC, DOT, ADA) — each as a separate Ledger account for clarity.

Managing Ledger accounts after adding

Once you add accounts in Ledger, you can view balances, receive addresses, and send transactions. Use the account-level settings to rename accounts, archive unused accounts (without deleting transaction history), and export public addresses for bookkeeping. Managing Ledger accounts properly keeps your Ledger hardware wallet organized and secure.

Security best practices while you add account on Ledger

Do:
  • Always download Ledger Live from the official Ledger domain.
  • Verify device firmware on the device screen and confirm prompts directly on the Ledger hardware.
  • Store recovery phrases offline on physical media (metal or paper stored securely).
  • Use a unique account name to clearly identify the Ledger account purpose.
Don’t:
  • Never share your recovery phrase or PIN with anyone.
  • Do not enter seed words into a computer, phone, or website.
  • Avoid connecting to unknown or untrusted third-party apps without review.

Troubleshooting common issues

Device not recognized: Ensure cable is data-capable and try a different USB port. Update Ledger Live and the device firmware if prompted. App not found: Install the coin’s app on your Ledger device via Ledger Live Manager before adding the account. Scan incomplete: Keep the device unlocked and the correct app open; Ledger Live will continue scanning addresses.

Advanced: multiple accounts & derivation paths

Ledger uses standard derivation paths for most coins so that adding accounts in Ledger will reliably discover addresses. Advanced users may opt to customize derivation or use third-party software for specialized setups (e.g., enterprise or multisig workflows). In such cases, always verify addresses on the device screen and document any custom setup to avoid confusion when restoring Ledger accounts.

Summary & final checklist

Adding accounts in Ledger is a secure, repeatable process that lets you expand your Ledger accounts and manage diverse assets with a single hardware wallet. Checklist: update Ledger Live, update firmware, back up recovery phrase offline, connect device and open relevant app, add account in Ledger Live, name account clearly, and verify transactions on-device.

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