How to import an XRP Ledger account from a hardware wallet

Importing an XRPL account created on a hardware wallet

Bringing your hardware wallet online

It is important to understand what this process does because it changes the access to the XRP Ledger (XRPL) account managed by a hardware wallet.

Hardware wallets are largely about long term storage of assets. A hardware wallet stores the private keys for an XRPL account on a device that is not connected to the internet. The hardware wallet can only sign transactions on an XRPL account if the hardware device is physically present. Storing your private keys offline limits some potential attack vectors on your account.

Xaman (formerly Xumm) is largely about enabling interaction with the XRP Ledger ecosystem. Xaman stores the private keys for an XRPL account on a mobile device, which is connected to the internet.

It allows you to sign transactions on your XRPL account on your phone. By storing your private keys on a device that is 'online', it exposes your account to other types of potential attack vectors.

By following these instructions, you will be able to access all of your XRPL assets stored in your hardware wallet using Xaman. This means that you will not exclusively need your hardware wallet to access your XRP. You will be able to access it with Xaman in addition to being able to access it with your hardware wallet.

We strongly recommend you read this article before continuing:

Should I import my XRP Ledger account into Xaman?

Importing your XRP Ledger account created on your hardware device

1) On your phone, create a new Full-Access XRP Ledger account in Xaman.

How to create an XRP Ledger account

The account will look like the image above when done.

1.1) It is not necessary to fund (activate) this account as all it will do is sign transactions.

2) Press the Show account QR button. You should see a screen that looks like this:

3) Get your hardware wallet, go to a computer and select this link to go to XRP Tool Kit.

4) Sign into XRPToolkit.com with your hardware wallet then choose the Account menu and select Signers.

5) In the Assign Regular Key section, press the QR code button in the Regular Key field, then scan the QR code from Xaman on your phone. (The one from Step 2 above.)

Alternatively, you can manually enter your Xaman r-address in the Regular key field.

7) Sign the transaction with your hardware wallet.

8) On your phone, import your XRPL account created on your hardware wallet into Xaman in read only mode.

...in Read Only mode

Importing your hardware wallet account into Xaman in read only mode does not require entering your mnemonic (private key) into Xaman. It only requires that you enter your r-address (public key).

How it works

If you successfully followed the above instructions, you are able to sign transactions on your hardware wallet account, using the new XRPL account created in Xaman.

This only works if both accounts are in Xaman. Xaman will see that the read-only account has a Regular Key assigned and offer the option to use the Regular Key to sign transactions for the read-only account if the Regular Key account is also in Xaman.

Since you imported the hardware wallet account into Xaman in read only mode, the private key was not brought 'online' and still remains on your hardware wallet.

If you are interested in learning more about how regular key pairs work on the XRP Ledger, please visit this site:

Assign a Regular Key Pairxrpl.org