Using Ledger Live’s “Hide Balance” Feature for Privacy

in #tech • 26 days ago

Ledger Live does not currently offer a dedicated “Hide Balance” feature as a distinct toggle or button within its interface to mask your cryptocurrency balances for privacy. 

However, it provides alternative mechanisms that can achieve similar privacy goals, such as the Discreet Mode and manual account management options. These tools allow you to obscure sensitive financial information when using the app in public or sharing your screen. 

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 how to use Ledger Live’s existing features to enhance privacy by effectively “hiding” your balance, why this matters, and how to implement it as of February 21, 2025.

Why Use a “Hide Balance” Feature?

  • Privacy Protection: Displaying your crypto balances openly (e.g., in a café or during a screen share) risks exposing your wealth to onlookers, potentially making you a target for theft or scams.
  • Financial Discretion: You might want to show someone your Ledger Live setup (e.g., for troubleshooting or trading) without revealing your full holdings.
  • Security Mindset: Limiting visible data aligns with the crypto ethos of self-sovereignty and minimizing trust in external environments.

While Ledger Live’s security is rooted in offline private key storage via your Ledger hardware wallet (Nano S Plus, Nano X, Flex, or Stax), privacy at the app level depends on how you manage its display.

Using Discrete Mode to Hide Balances

Ledger Live introduced Discreet Mode as a privacy feature to mask balance details. Here’s how it works and how to use it:

What It Does

  • Replaces numerical balances (e.g., “0.5 BTC” or “2.34 ETH”) with asterisks (e.g., “*** BTC”) across the app’s interface—Portfolio, Accounts, and transaction screens.
  • Keeps asset names visible (e.g., “Bitcoin,” “Ethereum”) but obscures the amounts.

How to Enable Discreet Mode

  1. Open Ledger Live:
    • Launch the app on your desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) or mobile (iOS, Android).
  2. Navigate to Settings:
    • Desktop: Click the gear icon in the top-right corner or sidebar.
    • Mobile: Tap the gear icon (usually bottom-right).
  3. Find Discreet Mode:
    • Scroll to the General tab.
    • Look for “Discreet Mode” (sometimes labeled “Enable Discreet Mode” or near “Display” options).
  4. Activate It:
    • Toggle the switch to “On” or click the eye icon (if present) in the Portfolio view—this varies by version (e.g., 2.81.0 desktop, 3.6.0 mobile).
    • Balances instantly change to asterisks (e.g., “*** BTC”).
  5. Test Visibility:
    • Check Portfolio and Accounts—amounts should be hidden, but you can still navigate and initiate transactions.

When to Use It

  • In public settings (e.g., coffee shops, airports).
  • During screen sharing (e.g., Zoom calls, tutorials).
  • When onboarding someone to Ledger Live without revealing your holdings.

Limitations

  • Not persistent: You may need to re-enable it per session depending on your settings or app updates.
  • Doesn’t hide transaction history details—specific amounts in past operations remain visible unless obscured manually.

Alternative: Manually Hide Balances

If Discreet Mode isn’t sufficient or you want more control, you can remove accounts from Ledger Live’s view without affecting your funds on the blockchain.

How to Remove Accounts

  1. Go to Accounts:
    • In Ledger Live, click Accounts in the sidebar.
  2. Select an Account:
    • Choose the account to hide (e.g., “Bitcoin 1”).
  3. Edit Account:
    • Click the wrench icon (top-right of the account details) or right-click > Edit.
  4. Remove from Portfolio:
    • Select Remove from Portfolio (red button)—this deletes it from Ledger Live’s display, not your Ledger device.
  5. Repeat as Needed:
    • Hide additional accounts (e.g., ETH, SOL) to show only what’s necessary.

Restoring Hidden Accounts

  • Re-add them anytime:
    • Accounts > Add Account, select the crypto (e.g., Bitcoin), connect your Ledger, and sync—it retrieves the balance from the blockchain.

Why It Works

  • Funds stay safe on your Ledger (tied to your seed phrase)—removing accounts only affects Ledger Live’s local view.
  • Ideal for showing a minimal setup (e.g., one small account) while keeping larger holdings private.

Use Case

  • Trading in person: Show a single account with 0.01 BTC for a deal, hiding your 2 BTC stash.

Additional Privacy Tips in Ledger Live

  • Enable Password Lock: Settings > General > Password Lock—requires a password to open Ledger Live, adding a layer if someone accesses your device.
  • Use a Passphrase: Set a 25th word (Settings > Advanced > Passphrase on your Ledger) for a hidden wallet—funds are invisible without it, even if someone has your 24 words.
  • Avoid Public Devices: Run Ledger Live only on trusted, malware-free personal devices—public computers risk keyloggers capturing inputs.
  • Verify Addresses: Always confirm send/receive addresses on your Ledger’s screen (see “Verifying Transactions”)—bypasses clipboard hijacking.

Why No Dedicated “Hide Balance” Button?

  • Design Choice: Ledger prioritizes hardware security (offline keys) over software obfuscation—Discreet Mode and account removal suffice for most privacy needs.
  • Community Feedback: Users on platforms like Reddit (e.g., r/ledgerwallet) have requested a toggle to hide balances selectively (e.g., per currency), but Ledger hasn’t implemented it yet—possibly due to development focus on security over UI tweaks.
  • Workaround Sufficiency: Existing features cover basic privacy, though they’re less granular than some competitors (e.g., Trezor’s account management).

Conclusion

While Ledger Live lacks a literal “Hide Balance” button, Discreet Mode effectively masks your balances with asterisks, and removing accounts from the Portfolio offers manual control—both enhancing privacy without compromising security. Activate Discreet Mode for quick obfuscation in public, or remove accounts for a tailored view. Combined with a passphrase and secure practices, these keep your portfolio discreet. For more selective hiding (e.g., specific coins), consider third-party wallets like Electrum with your Ledger—though you’d lose Ledger Live’s all-in-one features.

26 days ago in #tech by
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