Using Ledger, Trezor and other hardware wallets with Cake Wallet

Quick steps

1. Prepare the device. Update the hardware wallet with its maker's own app, set it up and, for Ledger or BitBox, open the coin's app on the device.
2. Open Restore Wallet. In Cake Wallet go to the Wallets tab, tap Restore Wallet and choose Hardware wallet.
3. Pick the maker and coin. Select Ledger, Trezor, BitBox or COLDCARD and then the coin. Only supported combinations are shown.
4. Connect. Allow Bluetooth or USB access when asked. For COLDCARD, scan the QR codes instead. Trezor Safe 7 shows a pairing code on first use.
5. Choose the account and name. Select the account to use, name the wallet and finish. The wallet opens as view-only, with an icon showing it is a hardware wallet.
6. Verify and sign on the device. When you send, check the address and amount on the device screen before approving. Test with a small amount first.

A hardware wallet keeps your private keys on a separate device that never exposes them to your phone. Cake Wallet then acts as the interface: it syncs, shows balances and builds transactions, and the device signs them. If your phone is compromised, an attacker still cannot spend without the device and its PIN.

What works with what (October 2026)

Source: Cake Wallet's hardware wallet documentation and the app's source code, October 2026. SeedSigner, Keystone and Foundation Passport appear in the app as "coming soon" and cannot be used yet. Linux support for hardware wallets is not documented. Windows releases are paused, so there is no current Windows option.

Note on Ledger models: iPhone, iPad and Mac connect only over Bluetooth, so a USB-only Ledger works with Cake Wallet only on Android. Check your model before buying.

How support grew

• Ledger: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Polygon from version 4.16 (May 2024), Litecoin from November 2024 and Monero from December 2024.
• Trezor: Bitcoin, Litecoin and EVM coins from version 5.5 (October 2025), Monero from 6.2 (June 2026), and native Bitcoin signing inside the app from 6.4.4 (September 2026), so Bitcoin no longer needs Trezor Suite or a bridge. Litecoin, Ethereum and Polygon still go through Trezor Connect, which opens outside the app.
• BitBox02: from version 5.5 (October 2025), Android only.

Dates are from Cake's release notes as compiled in our research; check the release notes in the app store listing for your exact version.

Ledger tips

• Install the coin's app on the Ledger with Ledger's own software first. Open it on the device before selecting the device in Cake Wallet; otherwise you get "Please make sure you opened the right app on your ledger".
• Enable Bluetooth on the phone and unlock the Ledger. "The Ledger is locked" means just that.
• If you reject a transaction on the device, Cake shows "Transaction rejected on device" and nothing is sent.
• Monero on a Ledger is slower than a software wallet, because the device takes part in building each transaction. Be patient and keep the device awake.

Trezor tips

• Bitcoin and Monero use Cake's built-in Trezor connection and need no coin app on the device.
• Before finishing setup, an "Almost Ready" screen offers an optional passphrase. You can type it in Cake Wallet or choose to enter it on the device. A different passphrase opens a different wallet.
• Trezor Safe 7 asks for a pairing code the first time; Cake remembers the pairing afterwards.
• When sending Bitcoin, the Trezor may ask you to confirm a locktime. The app explains that "This is a privacy feature and does not delay your payment."

COLDCARD and other QR signers

COLDCARD never connects by cable or Bluetooth. You import its wallet and sign by passing QR codes back and forth. The app asks you to choose a QR format: BCUR is described in the app as the industry standard and the right choice for most users, with BBQR as the alternative. Our Cupcake guide covers Cake's own air-gapped signer.

Sending with a hardware wallet

Sending works like any other wallet until the last step. You enter the address and amount in Cake Wallet, review the fee, and confirm. The app then asks the device to sign: the device screen shows the destination and amount, and you approve with its buttons or touchscreen. Always compare the address on the device with the one you intended, character by character at the start and end. Malware on a phone can change what the phone shows, but not what the device shows. If the device disconnects mid-send, nothing is broadcast; reconnect and try again.

What you give up

• Lightning is not available for hardware or watch-only wallets.
• Bitcoin accounts (the multi-account feature added in 6.5) are not available for hardware wallets.
• Payjoin and message signing are hidden on watch-only Bitcoin wallets because they need a private key.
• MWEB: since version 6.4, Litecoin hardware wallets no longer show the MWEB toggle.
• Swaps still work, but each outgoing payment must be approved on the device.

Backups with a hardware wallet

The recovery phrase belongs to the device, not to Cake Wallet. Back it up as the device maker instructs, and keep it off your phone. If you lose the phone, reinstall Cake Wallet and add the device again; if you lose the device, restore its phrase onto a new device of the same or a compatible brand. Typing a hardware wallet's phrase into a phone app turns it into an ordinary hot wallet and removes the protection you paid for.

Buy hardware only from the maker or an authorised reseller, and never use a device that arrives with a pre-written recovery phrase.

Frequently asked questions