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Using Ledger Nano S, S Plus or X with the Radix Wallet

Important note: If you are a Ledger user and are seeing the error “Blind signing must be enabled in Settings”, please read “Verbose Mode and Blind Signing” below for more information on how to resolve this.

For information on migrating Ledger accounts from Olympia, see Migrating Accounts from the Radix Olympia Desktop Wallet.

‍Introduction

The Radix Wallet for Babylon provides a convenient way to hold and transact any token or NFT issued on the Radix Public Network – including its native XRD token – as well as log into and use dApps on Radix. To control their accounts, some users prefer the additional security provided by a hardware wallet.

Note: The process described here will change once multi-factor account control and recovery is implemented in the Radix Wallet. Until then, this article describes how to create accounts using a Ledger device in traditional single-factor mode.

The Radix Wallet can connect to a Ledger Nano S, S Plus, or X hardware wallet and create a special hardware wallet account. This account is protected by the Ledger Nano – even if the Wallet or the PC it is running on is untrusted or compromised in some way. For this account, all transactions must be approved and signed on the Ledger device while connected to a PC that is linked to the Radix Wallet via the Radix Connector browser extension.

This page will help you get your Ledger Nano S or X connected to your Radix Desktop Wallet to send and receive tokens using the Ledger device-linked hardware wallet address. If you encounter any difficulties with these instructions, please visit the Radix Discord server and the #support channel there where the Radix team or community members can help out. Radix team members or moderators will only ever communicate with you in public channels. If you receive a private message, it is likely a scammer. Be vigilant.

Before you Begin

Make sure that you have done the following setup steps first with your Ledger device:

Now install the Radix Wallet, which you will use with your Ledger device to perform transactions, install the Radix Connector browser extension, and link your Wallet to the extension. You can find the latest downloads and assistance with installation and setup on our wallet download page.

In the Wallet app, you will be prompted to create your first account. You will be given the option to either create a software-based account here and add a Ledger-based account later – or you can immediately choose to create a Ledger-based account if you complete the other steps below first.

Install the Radix app on the Ledger Nano Device

Before connecting the Ledger Nano to the Radix Desktop Wallet, you need to install a small Radix app on the Ledger device itself using Ledger Live. In its initial release, the Radix app can only be installed using Ledger Live’s “developer mode”.

Note: Apps running in developer mode are experimental, have not yet been audited by Ledger, and are used at the user’s own risk. This is why the app will display a warning on the Ledger device screen when launched. The Radix team will be working to complete this audit as soon as possible so that the Radix Babylon app can move out of developer mode.

The instructions below to enable developer mode are specifically for Ledger Live for desktop. If you are using Ledger Live for mobile to load apps onto your Ledger device, you may also have to go into the "Developer" settings and "Allow experimental apps".

Start by enabling this mode:

  1. Launch the Ledger Live app and click the settings icon in the upper right corner.
  2. Click the “Experimental features” tab.
  3. Ensure that “Developer mode” is turned on.

Now you can install the Radix app on your Ledger device:

  1. Click Manager in the Ledger Live menu (the wrench icon in the left-side menu).
  2. Connect your Ledger Nano and unlock it with your PIN.
  3. Your Ledger device may request permission for the manager to run. Click both buttons on the Allow Ledger Manager screen on your device to proceed.
  4. In the Ledger Live manager, find the Radix Babylon (XRD) app in the App catalog and click Install. (You may also see the original Radix (XRD) app. This was the app for the original Radix Olympia network and can no longer be used.)
  5. Installation will now proceed. You can track progress in Ledger Live and on the device screen.
  6. When complete, you will see Installed in Ledger Live.

On your Ledger device, you should now be able to browse through your installed apps and find the Radix Babylon app. You can launch it by clicking both buttons on the device.

Connect the Ledger Nano to the Radix Desktop Wallet

The Radix Wallet provides an easy guided experience for connecting and creating an account using a Ledger Nano device. The following video will walk you through the process:


Receive Tokens at your Hardware Wallet Account

To receive tokens, you only need to provide the Radix account address to the sender for them to use. This address is shown in abbreviated form in the Wallet’s account list.

When copying the address, you may wish to verify the correctness of the address on your Ledger device. To do so, first connect the Ledger device to your PC where it is configured via Radix Connect browser extension. Then tap and hold on the account address in the Radix Wallet and select Verify Address with Ledger.

This will cause the Ledger device to display the address, so you may verify it yourself.

It is very important that you verify the match before providing the address to others to send you tokens.

Verbose Mode and Blind Signing

The Radix Babylon Ledger app includes two settings that you can enable on your Ledger device. Both are disabled by default.

Verbose Mode

By default, your Ledger device will attempt to provide a simple summary of transactions that are simple transfers of one type of resource from one account to another. For any transaction more complex, it will show a hash of the transaction. Turning Verbose Mode on means that instead you will always see the full text of the transaction manifest line by line.

Blind Signing

By default, your Ledger device will not allow signing of hashes (as described above, when signing a complex transaction with Verbose Mode is disabled). These transactions will show the error “Blind signing must be enabled in Settings”. Blind Signing allows your Ledger device to sign these transactions.

Note: Because Verbose Mode will not attempt to show you a hash for any transaction, enabling this setting will also avoid the “Blind signing must be enabled in Settings” error.

To change either of these settings, launch the Radix Babylon app on your Ledger device, use the buttons to find and select “Settings” and then use the buttons to move between the Verbose Mode and Blind Signing options. Pushing both buttons on either option will allow you to change its current state.


Get Support

If you encounter any difficulties with these instructions, the best place to go is the Radix Discord server and the support channel there where Radix or community members can help out.

You can also connect on the Radix Telegram Channel, or on Twitter