{"id":7556,"date":"2022-12-14T17:04:01","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T17:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/?p=7556"},"modified":"2022-12-14T17:11:32","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T17:11:32","slug":"how-long-do-ledger-wallets-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/how-long-do-ledger-wallets-last\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Do Ledger Wallets Last? (What Happens When It Fails)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re contemplating buying a Ledger hardware wallet or you already own one, you might be wondering how long it lasts. Not only did I do extensive research, but I also asked other users about the longevity of owning their Ledger device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below you’ll learn how long Ledger wallets last, why they fail, what to do when it fails, and how to increase the lifespan of your wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Do Ledger Wallets Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Twitter poll I took<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to the manufacturer, the Ledger Nano X battery is made to last 5 years. Also, the Ledger Stax will likely last the same amount of time since lithium-ion batteries generally last 2 to 5 years. The Ledger Nano S and S Plus don\u2019t use batteries, so it\u2019s possible they’ll last longer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is how long each Ledger wallet might last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ledger Wallet Model<\/th>Potential Lifespan<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Ledger Nano S<\/strong><\/td>5+ years<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Ledger Nano S Plus<\/strong><\/td>5+ years<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Ledger Nano X<\/strong><\/td>Up to 5 years<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Ledger Stax<\/strong><\/td>2 to 5 years (similar to an iPhone)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Ledger wallets lifespan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, it can be difficult to determine how long these hardware wallets will last, especially since they\u2019re all still fairly new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I asked my fellow Twitter friends how long they had owned their Ledger wallets and the results were as expected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

44.4% of people said they owned their device for less than 6 months, 27.8% for more than 1 year, 22.2% for 2 years, and only 5.6% for over 3 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t a telltale sign of Ledger\u2019s longevity, but it gives you an idea of how long current users have used their wallets without issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of everyone that voted, only one user claimed to have a potential issue that wasn\u2019t related to the battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this problem wasn\u2019t confirmed, and it sounded like a simple update could cure it since it had to do with Ledger Live and not necessarily the device itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, we can look at similar technological devices to get a good idea of how long Ledger wallets might last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Ledger Wallets Fail?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common thing to fail in hardware wallets and similar devices is the battery. Ledger wallets that use batteries (the Ledger Nano X and the Stax), both use a type of rechargeable lithium-ion battery that have a lifespan of 2 to 5 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ledger has previously stated that the battery in the Nano X<\/a> will last up to 5 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And since the battery used in the Stax is twice as powerful as the Nano X, we can assume it will probably last the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem with the Nano X is that the battery can\u2019t be replaced. So, once it\u2019s dead, your wallet becomes completely useless (unless you decide to use it as a Christmas tree ornament).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the Stax, it\u2019s hard to say if Ledger will offer a battery replacement or not. It\u2019s not so much a question of if the battery can be replaced, but rather if Ledger will provide a service or the parts needed to allow users to replace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, the Ledger Stax was created by the same man<\/a> who co-created the iPod and iPhone for Apple. So if the Stax is anything like the iPhone, it\u2019s possible that Ledger will offer a service for replacing the battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or what\u2019s even more likely to happen is that Ledger will continue to produce new hardware wallets every 2 to 5 years in hopes that users will move from the old models to the new model, similar to how Apple operates. Of course, this is just speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides the battery, Ledger devices are pretty simple in terms of hardware. The Nano X, for example, is really only made up of only 5 pieces excluding its shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has two buttons, one screen, a battery, the Bolos operating system, and the CC EAL5+ secure chip. All of these pieces are rather durable, as there are no moving parts besides the button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, it\u2019s likely that all the pieces will outlast the battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, the Ledger Stax is made up of the first of its kind E Ink touch screen, a secure element chip (ST33K1M5) along with the CC EAL5+, Ledger\u2019s proprietary os, and a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 200 mah, all wrapped in an aluminum case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, the battery is likely the first thing that will go on this device. So, which Ledger wallet lasts the longest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for the longest-lasting Ledger device, your best bet is to get a Ledger Nano S Plus since it doesn\u2019t have a battery. Instead, it\u2019s powered by a USB connection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Happens If Your Ledger Wallet Dies?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your Ledger wallet fails, you will have to get a new hardware wallet. As long as you know your secret recovery phrase, all of your assets remain secure though. Upon getting a new wallet you can easily regain access to your assets by importing your wallet using your recovery phrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having said that, you don\u2019t necessarily need to purchase another Ledger wallet if you don\u2019t want to. You just need to get a device that supports the same standard, such as a Trezor wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is possible because wallets don\u2019t actually store your digital assets, they store your private key and recovery phrase, which act as a key to access your address (account) that lives on the blockchain indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this might infuriate some, it\u2019s really no different than having to buy a new phone every 3 to 5 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, if the battery on your Ledger device becomes inoperable, you can still use it by plugging it into a power source using the USB cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately for us consumers, technology doesn\u2019t last forever. However, there are things you can do to make your Ledger device last longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Make Your Ledger Wallet Last Longer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several best practices that will help your Ledger wallet last longer. Let’s take a look at some of these recommended solutions below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy your Ledger device from a trusted source<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first and arguably the most important method to ensure your hardware wallet lasts a long time is to buy it from a trusted reseller<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know what you\u2019re thinking, duh! But, you\u2019d be surprised how often someone buys a Ledger device from a non-approved seller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you buy a hardware wallet from a non-approved reseller, you risk buying a fake, damaged, or compromised wallet. This ensures a short wallet life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either because it shows up non-functional or because you destroy it out of anger because you bought a fake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, it\u2019s not good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charge the device fully once every few months<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Ledger, the best way to maximize your wallet\u2019s battery life is by fully charging it once every few months, before turning it off to store it again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even Panasonic says lithium-ion batteries should be stored with at least a 30-50% charge for best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensure your device remains up-to-date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even if you don\u2019t use your hardware wallet often, it\u2019s a good practice to keep it up-to-date by installing the latest firmware. This ensures it remains at an optimal security level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, new versions of applications you might have on your device are only available on the latest firmware versions, so it\u2019s best to update everything at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how often should you update your Ledger device? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you use it often, update it whenever a new version of the firmware becomes available. If you rarely use it, update it every time you charge the battery (assuming you charge it every 2-3 months).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Store the device with the power off in a cool, dry place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you go to store your device, it should always be stored in a cool, moisture-free place with the power off. Hence, don\u2019t store it in your bathroom in a toilet paper roll (I don\u2019t know if anyone actually does this).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in a part of the world with high humidity, your best and the most reasonable option is to use a couple of desiccant packs to keep moisture at a low. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you store your Ledger in a safe, throw in a couple of these packs and you should be good to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your wallet in a protective storage case<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An easy solution to ensure your wallet remains safe in even the harshest conditions, especially if you travel with it, is to keep it in a storage case. Fortunately, for only $39, Ledger offers a storage pod<\/a> for the Nano X and Nano S Plus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pod will help to keep your wallet safe and is worth the investment if you\u2019re trying to keep your device in the best condition possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m assuming the Ledger Stax will also have numerous protective cases available, similar to the iPhone. I\u2019ll make sure to update this post once they\u2019re available.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How long do Ledger wallets last? Learn about the lifespan of a Ledger wallet and what to do when it reaches its end-of-life in this comprehensive guide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7562,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[353],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-web3","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7556"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7568,"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7556\/revisions\/7568"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cyberscrilla.com\/staging\/4768\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}