Connect a hardware wallet

With a hardware wallet, your keys stay on the device and you confirm every transaction on it. M5wallet shows your balances and prepares the transactions.

Where you use M5wallet	How the device connects
Browser extension and web app	USB
Desktop app	USB, or Bluetooth on macOS and Windows
Mobile app	Bluetooth

On the welcome screen, select Connect hardware wallet. To add one later, open the account picker and select + Wallet.
On Pick your device, select your model. For a Ledger, select Other Brands → Ledger.
Unlock the device and connect it:
- USB: plug the device in, select Start connection, then choose it in the browser’s pop-up.
- Bluetooth: turn Bluetooth on, keep the device nearby, and allow Bluetooth access when asked.
On Check & Update, select the Check my button. M5wallet runs a genuine check, a firmware check and a setup check. If a firmware update is offered, install it and confirm on the device.
If passphrase protection is on, choose Standard wallet (no passphrase) or Hidden wallet (you enter a passphrase).
When Your wallet is ready appears, select Enter wallet.

Hidden wallets and passphrases

A passphrase opens a separate, hidden wallet on the same device. Every different passphrase opens a different wallet, so a mistyped passphrase opens an empty one. M5wallet cannot recover a passphrase: write it down as carefully as the device’s recovery phrase.

To add a hidden wallet later, open the hardware wallet’s … menu in the account picker and select Add hidden wallet.

If it won’t connect

After 10 seconds without a connection, M5wallet shows Having trouble connecting your device? with self-troubleshooting steps. Also check that:

the device is unlocked and awake;
the USB cable carries data, not only power, or try another port;
no other wallet app is using the device at the same time;
M5wallet Bridge is installed, if M5wallet asks for it with Install M5wallet Bridge.