Ledger | Helium Documentation

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The Helium tokens have support for Ledger Hardware Wallets via the Solana blockchain. Ledger allows for:

At this time, Hotspot management actions such as onboarding or asserting location are not supported. You will need to perform these actions within the Helium Wallet App.

Helium HNT, MOBILE and IOT are Solana SPL tokens and are supported by the Solana App for Ledger but not directly in Ledger Live.

Installation instructions for the Solana App are on Ledger Solana support page. Remember to configure blind signing.

Basic Setup Guide Using Helium Black Wallet App and Ledger

  1. Turn on Ledger by pressing left button
  2. Using on screen Guide to Setup as new device
  3. Set the access PIN for the ledger
  4. Record the 24 word recovery phrase (don't share this, store in safe place)
  5. Install desktop version of Ledger Live App
  6. Connect Ledger to your computer with USB cable
  7. Open Ledger Live Desktop App
  8. Click on "My Ledger" at the bottom of the left menu stack
  9. Approve the connection on Ledger device by clicking both buttons
  10. Look for banner at the top of the desktop Ledger Live window for FW update notification
  11. Approve updates on the ledger device as needed
  12. In desktop Ledger Live window go to settings -> Developer Mode -> Enable
  13. In desktop Ledger Live window, find Solana App and click install
  14. On Ledger Device start Solana app by clicking both buttons
  15. On Ledger Device navigate to Settings in Solana App and enable "Allow Blind Signing"
  16. Open Helium Black Wallet App on smartphone
  17. In Black Wallet App navigate to Add/Import Wallet
  18. In Black Wallet App select Ledger from the options at the top
  19. In Black Wallet App select your Ledger device from the list (should be only one in most cases)
  20. In Black Wallet App select wallet to import (if more than one, import all for now)
  21. On Ledger Device approve the wallet import
  22. On Black Wallet App, you should now see your Helium friendly wallet with zero balance.
  23. On Black Wallet App, tap the pub key / address above the wallet balance to copy your pub key to clipboard
  24. Save your wallet pubkey somewhere handy, this is destination for transfers into your cold wallet.

Testing your Ledger Cold Wallet

Before making any significant transfers into your new Ledger wallet, it is best to make a series of test transfers in and out of your wallet.

  1. Open the Helium Black Wallet App on your smartphone
  2. Navigate to your Ledger Wallet from steps above
  3. Copy the pub key of your Ledger Wallet
  4. Make a test transfer of SOL into your new Ledger Wallet

Transfers out of your wallet will require SOL to pay fees, so start by adding a little SOL e.g. 0.1 SOL to your wallet.

  1. Copy the pub key of an external wallet (either Coinbase or other Black Wallet App native wallet)
  2. Make a test transfer of SOL out of your new Ledger Wallet

This will require your Ledger to be PIN unlocked and Solana App started and "ready" to complete.

  1. Review and Approve the transaction on your Ledger Device when prompted
  2. Repeat the Process with HNT or IOT again with small amounts
  3. After you have tested transfers in and out of your Ledger wallet, you are ready for safe cold storage using your Ledger Wallet.

Using Third Party Wallet Apps

Users may alternatively use Solflare or Phantom to access SOL/SPL tokens with Ledger.

Solflare, Phantom and other non-custodial wallets can import the private key from the Helium Wallet App. Follow the instructions on our using Third Party Wallets documentation.

Ledger Helium L1 to Solana Migration

If you have an unmigrated Ledger wallet that existed on the Helium L1 prior to the migration to Solana on April 18th, 2023, you will need to follow these instructions.

Video Walkthrough

Ledger Migration Helium to Solana - YouTube
Ledger Migration Helium to Solana

Installing the Helium-Solana App

Update your Ledger firmware to at least 2.1.0, preferably 2.4.x before you start.

As of now, we are still waiting on Ledger to release our app. Until then, to install you must follow these steps:

  1. Open Ledger Live.
  2. Go to Settings (top right corner)
  3. Click Experimental Features
  4. Enable Developer Mode
  5. Install the Helium-Solana Ledger App as you normally would.
  6. Close Ledger Live

Migrating

The following utility will migrate all tokens from the Helium derivation path 44'/904'/n'/0' to the Solana derivation path 44'/501'/n'/0'.

Ledger users will need to update their Helium Ledger App to a version that's pending release. This upcoming version will use the Solana private key derivation path that moves all your tokens and balances over to Solana. You may need to uninstall any Solana Ledger Apps during the Wallet migration process.

Migration Tool

Your public key will change on Solana, but the private key will remain the same. Note this app only works with Chrome, Brave, or other Chromium-based web browsers.

Before starting these steps, close the Ledger Live application or the transactions will fail.

  1. Connect Solana Ledger
    Open the Solana App on your ledger. Be sure to enable blind signing in the Ledger Settings. Select the account number you would like to migrate. Then click the button below.

Account Number

  1. Connect Helium-Solana Ledger
    Open the Helium-Solana App on your ledger. Be sure to enable blind signing in the Ledger Settings. Then click the button below.

  2. Keep Helium-Solana Ledger Connected and Seed Wallet on Solana
    Seed your tokens and hotspots into your Solana wallet

  3. Sign Transactions with Helium-Solana
    Sign transactions to migrate from the Helium derivation path to the Solana derivation path.

  4. Sign Transactions with Solana
    Open the Solana Ledger app. Sign transactions to migrate from the Helium derivation path to the Solana derivation path.

  5. Send Migration Transactions
    I attest that both the source and destination wallets are owned and controlled by the same individual or entity, and that I have legal authority to perform this transaction on behalf of that individual or entity.

Derivation Paths and your new Public Key

The Helium Ledger App uses ED25519 keys, similarly to Solana, but at a different derivation path.

This means that, while seed phrases are the same, private keys are different on Solana.

In order to get around this, when you run the migration, the migration application will ask you to use the old derivation path to approve sending all of your Hotspots, tokens, etc. to the new derivation path.

More information on Derivation paths: Derivation Paths Explained a Youtube video from solandy.sol