Ledger has designed some incredible hardware wallets over the years. Among these, the Ledger Nano S stands out as one of the most popular hardware wallets, even years after its discontinuation and replacement with a newer model.
Ledger does have a strong reputation for reliability. So, despite its age, it can still be shocking to plug in your Nano S wallet only for it to fail to turn on. This is, unfortunately, something some users experience with their units.
What does it indicate, and is there anything you can do to remedy the situation? Let’s dive in.
How the Ledger Nano S Works
Ledger Nano S is Ledger’s entry-level package. It’s a small device, the size of a thumb drive, with a plastic body and stainless steel cover. It is designed to isolate your private keys in cold storage, providing maximum protection from malware and online hackers.
Like all Ledger wallets, Ledger Nano S works with the Ledger Live app, through which you manage your apps (up to 3) and firmware updates. This can be on your phone or computer.
The device itself has no battery; it uses USB for connection, drawing juice from the connected phone or computer. This is the only supported means of connection. To minimize the attack surface, there is no Bluetooth or NFC.
Ledger Nano S also has a small monochrome OLED display as well as two physical side buttons. During a transaction, the device displays the necessary details on the screen for you to approve via the two buttons.
So, Your Ledger Nano S is Not Turning On
As soon as a Ledger Nano S gets power, the OLED display lights up, briefly shows Ledger’s ‘L’ logo, and then prompts you to enter your PIN. You do this using the side buttons. But in some cases, you may connect your Ledger wallet and get no response.
Potential Causes
Common causes of this issue include:
- Faulty or incompatible USB cable: Ledger Nano S is powered via USB. So if there’s an issue with the connecting cable, the device won’t work. Many power-only cables don’t work well with it, and so, you’re advised to use a data-capable cable.
- Damaged USB port (on device or computer): Any issues with the USB ports will also cause your unit not to turn on when connected. So, make sure to check for visible damage and test on another USB port/device. If the issue is with your Ledger’s USB port, you may need a new hardware wallet.
- Physical damage: It could also be that your wallet suffered fatal physical damage. Water exposure and drips can internally damage the device, causing it not to turn on.
- Corrupted firmware: This is rare, typically caused by a failed update or power interruption during flashing. In such cases, the device doesn’t turn on all the way. Once connected, it powers into and is stuck in Bootloader mode (screen reads “Bootloader”).
Above are a few reasons why your Ledger Nano S might not turn on. Sometimes, however, the wallet appears off after connection despite it being on. To check this, listen for the Windows/Mac USB connection sound or check your OS device manager.
If there is a sound, your wallet is recognized by the computer. You can even check Ledger Live to confirm that it is on and connected. So why would the device appear off?
Well, it could be the screen.
Ledger Nano S Screen Issues
Issues with your Ledger Nano’s screen can falsely lead you to believe that your wallet is not turning on. There could be several things behind this: display failure, a burned-out display, dead pixels, or a loose ribbon cable due to drops or stress.
Some Ledger Nano S owners also report the OLED display gradually losing brightness until it is very hard to read or nearly black. This is an issue that typically crops up on older Nano S units (2-4+ years old).
In such cases, it is hard to use the screen in normal light as the text is barely visible and becomes less so with time; so much so that eventually, only in a pitch-dark room or with the help of a camera can you read the menu.
So, what is the cause of this dimming?
Although some users report that this problem occurs when they plug in their unit after a long idle period, in most cases, it is caused by an aging OLED panel. OLED, or organic light-emitting diode, is a display technology that uses organic material as a light-emitting layer.
The organic material degrades with time and/or use. High brightness settings, long on-times, and UV-exposers accelerate this wear. Past a certain level, the wear is so much that the display begins dimming until it is eventually too dim to use.
Now that we’ve explored potential issues, let’s look at the solutions.
Ledger Nano S Not Turning On Solutions
Let’s start with a precaution: if your Nano S looks like it’s not turning on, avoid pushing buttons until you confirm it’s actually off. This is because if it’s a screen problem and the device is actually on, you could accidentally get three wrong pin tries and reset the wallet, which is a problem if you don’t have the seed phrase.
So confirm that your Ledger is not powering on at all. If that’s the case, begin troubleshooting by checking the USB cable and port.
Try connecting to different USB ports to see if anything changes, and as a tip, avoid using USB hubs — connect directly to the computer’s USB port and make sure you’re using a data-capable USB cable.
If you’re stuck in Bootloader mode, you can use the companion app to repair your Nano’s firmware. Open Ledger Live, navigate to Settings → Help → Repair your Ledger device, and follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall the firmware.
If you’re dealing with display issues, you’ll have to replace the screen before you can continue using your Nano S unit. This means purchasing a new 0.91” panel, opening the wallet, and swapping out the display.
Note that Ledger devices come with a one-year warranty that covers hardware defects and includes replacement coverage. However, the Nano S was discontinued in 2022, meaning no unit exists with an active warranty.
If you want to fix your wallet, you’ll have to do it yourself or with the help of a wallet recovery expert.
Professional Crypto Recovery for Hardware Wallets
Hardware wallets like the Ledger Nano S are a powerful tool designed to keep your keys locked away, safe from prying eyes on the internet. But in case of an issue, it can be daunting to diagnose and fix the problem by yourself. This is where Professional Crypto Recovery comes in.
We are a crypto wallet recovery company with more than two decades of experience in IT. Over the years, we have helped recover many crypto wallets, including hardware wallets like the Nano S Plus. So if you’re experiencing display issues, suspect corrupt firmware, or want to recover your keys, contact us today to book a recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my screen so dim?
The OLED panel on the Nano S degrades over time, causing uniform dimming and making text unreadable. You can remedy this by raising the brightness, but if that doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace the panel or migrate to a new device.
Is my crypto safe when the hardware fails?
Yes. All your private keys remain safe even after the device is broken. And as long as you have your recovery phrase, you can always restore your wallet on a new device.
What happens when I plug in the Nano S?
The device’s 0.91” OLED immediately lights up, showing the Ledger logo before prompting you to enter your PIN. You’ll also hear a connect chime depending on your OS.