Ledger Wallet Support

Customizing Network Settings for Altcoins in Ledger Live

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Ledger Live does not provide a native interface for directly customizing network settings—such as RPC (Remote Procedure Call) endpoints, chain IDs, or gas parameters—for alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) within the app itself. 

Customizing Network Settings for Altcoins in Ledger Live

Ledger Live is designed primarily as a secure, user-friendly companion for managing assets on supported blockchains with your Ledger hardware wallet (Nano S Plus, Nano X, Flex, or Stax), focusing on simplicity and default configurations for mainstream networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and select altcoins (e.g., Solana, Cardano). 

However, you can indirectly customize network settings for altcoins by leveraging your Ledger with third-party wallets or dApps that allow such adjustments, while still using Ledger Live to manage and secure your assets.

Please download the last update of Ledger Live Application:

1. Ledger Live for Windows 10/11

2. Ledger Live for MAC

3. Ledger Live for Android

Below, I’ll explain what’s possible within Ledger Live, how to customize altcoin network settings externally, and how to integrate this with Ledger Live for a seamless experience.

Why Customize Network Settings for Altcoins?

Customizing network settings is often necessary for:

  • Alternative RPC Endpoints: Using faster or more reliable nodes than the defaults (e.g., custom Ethereum RPC for faster syncing).
  • Layer 2 or Sidechains: Connecting to networks like Arbitrum, Polygon, or Binance Smart Chain (BSC) with specific chain IDs and endpoints.
  • Fee Optimization: Adjusting gas prices or limits for cost efficiency on Ethereum-compatible altcoins.
  • Testnets: Accessing test networks (e.g., Ethereum Sepolia) for development or experimentation.
  • Unsupported Altcoins: Managing altcoins not natively supported in Ledger Live by adjusting network parameters in external tools.

Ledger Live’s default settings are preconfigured for supported coins, but altcoin enthusiasts often need flexibility beyond these defaults.

Native Capabilities in Ledger Live

Ledger Live supports over 5,500 coins and tokens, but its network settings are largely fixed for user simplicity and security:

  • Supported Altcoins: For coins like Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), and Tezos (XTZ), Ledger Live uses pre-set RPC endpoints managed by Ledger or its partners (e.g., Lido for ETH staking). You can’t edit these directly.
  • Ethereum-Based Altcoins: ERC-20 tokens (e.g., USDT, UNI) use Ethereum’s network—Ledger Live connects to Ethereum nodes automatically, with no user-facing RPC customization.
  • Experimental Features: Previously, Ledger Live offered an “Experimental” settings tab (e.g., for Bitcoin node connections via SatStack), but there’s no equivalent for altcoin network customization in current versions (e.g., 2.81.0).
  • Limitations: No UI exists to input custom RPC URLs, chain IDs, or gas settings within Ledger Live—changes must be made externally.

Customizing Network Settings with Third-Party Tools

To customize altcoin network settings while still using your Ledger for security, connect it to a third-party wallet or dApp that supports configurable network parameters. Here’s how:

Step 1: Set Up Your Ledger in Ledger Live

  1. Install Ledger Live:
    • Download from ledger.com/ledger-live, update to the latest version (e.g., 2.81.0).
    • Connect your Ledger via USB or Bluetooth (Nano X), unlock with your PIN.
  2. Add Altcoin Account:
    • Go to Accounts > Add Account, select your altcoin (e.g., “Polygon” for POL, “Ethereum” for ERC-20s).
    • Install the corresponding app on your Ledger via My Ledger (e.g., Polygon app)—approve on-device.
    • Sync—if the altcoin isn’t natively supported, you’ll manage it externally.
  3. Fund It: Send altcoin assets to your Ledger address (Receive, verify on Ledger)—e.g., 100 POL.

Step 2: Choose a Third-Party Wallet

  • MetaMask (Ethereum-Compatible Altcoins):
    • Ideal for Ethereum, Polygon, BSC, Arbitrum, Optimism, etc.
    • Install from metamask.io (browser extension).
  • Solflare (Solana):
    • For Solana-based altcoins—download from solflare.com.
  • Keplr (Cosmos Ecosystem):
    • For Cosmos (ATOM) and related chains—get from keplr.app.
  • Other Options: MyEtherWallet (MEW) for Ethereum altcoins, Phantom for Solana, or wallet-specific apps for unsupported altcoins.

Step 3: Connect Ledger to the Third-Party Wallet

  • MetaMask Example (Ethereum-Compatible):
    1. Open MetaMask, click Connect Hardware Wallet > Ledger.
    2. Connect your Ledger, unlock, open the Ethereum app (or Polygon app for POL).
    3. Select your address (e.g., 0x123…)—matches Ledger Live’s Ethereum/Polygon account.
  • Solflare Example:
    1. Go to solflare.com, select Access Wallet > Ledger.
    2. Connect your Ledger, open the Solana app, approve—select your SOL address.

Step 4: Customize Network Settings

  • MetaMask:
    1. Click the network dropdown (top center, e.g., “Ethereum Mainnet”).
    2. Select Add Network > Add Network Manually.
    3. Input details:
      • Network Name: e.g., “Polygon Custom”.
      • RPC URL: e.g., https://rpc-mainnet.maticvigil.com (find reliable endpoints on chainlist.org or network docs).
      • Chain ID: e.g., 137 for Polygon.
      • Symbol: e.g., POL.
      • Block Explorer: e.g., https://polygonscan.com.
    4. Save—MetaMask now uses your custom RPC for Polygon transactions.
    5. Adjust gas: During a transaction (e.g., sending 50 POL), click Edit Gas > Advanced, set custom gas price/limit (e.g., 50 Gwei, 50,000 limit).
  • Solflare:
    1. Go to Settings > Network.
    2. Add a custom RPC (e.g., https://solana-mainnet.rpc.extrnode.com)—testnet options like https://api.testnet.solana.com also available.
    3. Save—Solflare connects via your chosen node.

Step 5: Perform Transactions

  • Send/receive altcoins or interact with dApps (e.g., QuickSwap on Polygon):
    • In MetaMask/Solflare, initiate the action—e.g., “Send 50 POL”.
    • Sign on your Ledger—verify details (e.g., “Send 50 POL to 0x456…”)—approve on-device.
  • Funds update in Ledger Live (Accounts > [Coin] > History) if natively supported, or track via the third-party wallet/explorer (e.g., polygonscan.com).

Step 6: Monitor and Sync with Ledger Live

  • Supported Altcoins: Balances (e.g., POL, ETH) sync automatically in Ledger Live.
  • Unsupported Altcoins: Use the third-party wallet or blockchain explorer with your Ledger’s public address—Ledger Live won’t display these directly.

Security Best Practices

  • Verify RPC Sources: Use trusted endpoints (e.g., official network docs, chainlist.org)—malicious RPCs can misreport data.
  • Never Share Seed: Your 24-word phrase stays on your Ledger—don’t enter it anywhere (see “Why Never Share Your Seed”).
  • Check Transactions: Confirm addresses/amounts on your Ledger’s screen—prevents malware swaps (see “Verifying Transactions”).
  • Update Software: Keep Ledger Live, coin apps, and firmware current (My Ledger > Firmware).
  • Avoid Phishing: Download wallets from official sites (e.g., metamask.io) and verify dApp URLs (see “Avoiding Phishing Scams”).

Example: Customizing Polygon Settings

  • Goal: Use a custom Polygon RPC for faster transactions.
  • Steps:
    1. In Ledger Live, add a Polygon account—send 100 POL.
    2. In MetaMask, connect your Ledger (Polygon app), add a custom network:
      • RPC: https://rpc.ankr.com/polygon.
      • Chain ID: 137.
    3. Send 50 POL to another address—sign on Ledger, use custom gas (40 Gwei).
    4. Check Ledger Live (Accounts > Polygon)—balance updates to 50 POL.

Limitations

  • No Native Customization: Ledger Live locks network settings for security and simplicity—external tools are required.
  • Coin Support: Only natively supported altcoins (e.g., SOL, POL) sync in Ledger Live—others need manual tracking.
  • Complexity: Requires familiarity with RPCs, chain IDs—less beginner-friendly.

Conclusion

Customizing network settings for altcoins in Ledger Live isn’t possible directly—you’ll need MetaMask, Solflare, or similar wallets paired with your Ledger to tweak RPCs, gas, or connect to altcoin networks. Set up your altcoin account in Ledger Live, integrate with a third-party tool, and adjust settings there—your Ledger ensures every transaction stays secure. This hybrid approach blends Ledger’s safety with altcoin flexibility.