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Connect a Ledger device to polkadot.js

This guide describes how to set up and use the polkadot.js app with your Ledger device to access your Ledger Polkadot (DOT) accounts and add a proxy which allows Figment to manage your DOT nominations.

In the following steps, we will illustrate how to use a Ledger to manage a proxy account.

Learn more about the difference between Controller and Stash keys on the Polkadot Wiki.

To learn how to add and remove staking proxies with the Staking API, refer to Add a Staking Proxy and Remove a Staking Proxy, respectively.

Prerequisites​

  • A supported Ledger device is required.
  • Complete any pending Metadata updates in the polkadot.js Settings.
  • Make sure you're using the most recent version of the Polkadot app on your Ledger device.
  • Ensure that you have the necessary amount of DOT when making the proxy.

Connect Your Device​

note

Make sure that Ledger Live is closed, as it can conflict with polkadot.js.

  1. Unlock your Ledger device and open the Polkadot app.
Polkadot App on Ledger Device

  1. Go to the polkadot.js apps Accounts page at https://polkadot.js.org/apps/#/accounts.

  2. Click the Polkadot logo in the top-left corner to open the side panel and make sure that you're connected to Polkadot mainnet via Parity.

Click Switch to connect to Polkadot if you are currently connected to a different network.

Polkadot.js Apps Explorer Page - Connection

  1. Close the panel by clicking on the (X) button next to Switch.

  2. Navigate to Settings, select manage hardware connections, then choose one of the following:

    • Attach Ledger via WebUSB if you are on Windows.
    • Attach Ledger via WebHID if you are on macOS or Linux.
Polkadot.js Apps - Settings
important

Ledger support is still experimental — Use caution and verify all addresses before performing any transactions.

polkadot.js apps does not currently support Ledger devices on Firefox. Please ensure you are using Chrome or Brave.

  1. Click Save.

Add Your First Ledger DOT Account​

  1. Go to the polkadot.js apps Accounts page at https://polkadot.js.org/apps/#/accounts.
  2. Click the Polkadot logo in the top-left corner to open the side panel and make sure that you're connected to Polkadot mainnet via Parity.
  3. Select Add via Ledger. Here, you can name the account and set the derivation path.
Polkadot.js Apps - Add via LedgerPolkadot.js Apps - Add via Ledger Modal Window
  1. Click Save. A pop-up window may appear if you have not already connected to your Ledger device.
  2. To confirm the connection with your Ledger device, select your device from the list, then click Connect.
  3. Your Ledger Polkadot account will appear in the polkadot.js list of accounts, with a type of ledger.
Polkadot.js Apps - Ledger Polkadot Account Added

Add Additional Ledger DOT Accounts​

If you need or already have multiple Polkadot accounts, follow the steps below to add them manually:

  1. Select Add via Ledger.
  2. In the Name field, choose a unique name for your account.
  3. In the Account type field, choose Account type 1. Leave the address index field on the default 0 value.
  4. Click Save.

Your second DOT account should now show up next to your first account in polkadot.js. For additional accounts, follow the same steps but increment the Account type value — using Account type 2, etc.

References​