How to Send Bitcoin from Ledger: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Sending Bitcoin from your Ledger is straightforward once you've done it once, but the first time can feel intimidating. This guide walks through every step clearly — from opening Ledger Live to confirming the transaction on your device.
What You'll Need
- Your Ledger hardware wallet (any model)
- Ledger Live installed and up to date
- Your PIN and access to your device
- The recipient's Bitcoin address
- USB cable to connect your Ledger
Step 1: Open Ledger Live and Connect Your Device
Launch Ledger Live on your computer or phone. Connect your Ledger device via USB (or Bluetooth on Ledger Nano X). Enter your PIN on the device to unlock it. Ledger Live will detect it and show your accounts.
Step 2: Open Your Bitcoin Account
In the left sidebar of Ledger Live, click on your Bitcoin account. You'll see your balance and transaction history. If you have multiple Bitcoin accounts, select the correct one. Click the Send button.
Step 3: Enter the Recipient Address
In the "Recipient address" field, paste the Bitcoin address you want to send to. Do not type it manually — copy and paste to avoid errors. After pasting, double-check the first and last few characters of the address to verify it wasn't replaced by malware. This is critical.
Step 4: Enter the Amount
Enter the amount of Bitcoin you want to send. You can toggle between BTC and your local currency. If you want to send your entire balance, click "Send Max" — this calculates the exact amount minus transaction fees so you don't have a tiny leftover.
Step 5: Choose Your Transaction Fee
Ledger Live offers fee presets: Slow, Standard, and Fast. These correspond to different transaction confirmation times:
- Slow: May take hours but lowest fee — fine for non-urgent transfers
- Standard: Usually confirms within 30-60 minutes
- Fast: Targets next block (~10 minutes), highest fee
You can also set a custom fee if you know what you're doing. For most transfers, Standard is fine.
Step 6: Review the Transaction
Ledger Live shows a summary: amount, recipient address, and fee. Review everything carefully. Once you confirm on your Ledger device, this transaction cannot be reversed. Bitcoin transactions are final.
Step 7: Confirm on Your Ledger Device
This is the critical step — and the whole reason you have a hardware wallet. Your Ledger device will display the transaction details on its screen. Read carefully:
- The recipient address shown on your device must match what you entered in Ledger Live
- The amount must be correct
- The fee should be what you selected
Only press the button to confirm if everything matches. If the address on your device doesn't match what you expect, cancel immediately and investigate. This protects you from address substitution malware that could change the address in Ledger Live without you knowing.
Step 8: Transaction Broadcast
After confirming on the device, Ledger Live broadcasts the transaction to the Bitcoin network. You'll see a transaction ID (txid) and a "Pending" status. You can track the transaction on a block explorer like mempool.space using the txid.
Common Issues
"Device not recognized" — Try a different USB port or cable. Make sure the Bitcoin app is open on your Ledger (not just the device unlocked).
"Insufficient balance" — Your balance includes all UTXOs but the "available" balance subtracts pending transactions and accounts for minimum dust amounts.
Transaction stuck — If the network is congested and you used a low fee, your transaction may take longer than expected. Most will eventually confirm; use Replace-by-Fee (RBF) in Ledger Live to bump the fee if it's been more than 24 hours.
Security Reminder
The Ledger's physical confirmation step is what makes hardware wallets worth using. Always verify the address on the device screen — not just in Ledger Live. No software compromise can forge what's shown on your hardware wallet's display.
Our Recommended Hardware Wallets
- Trezor Safe 5 — Best for most Bitcoiners
- Trezor Safe 3 — Best budget option
- Ledger — Best for multi-coin holders