If you are currently in the process of buying a Ledger hardware wallet you might see that Ledger recommends pairing your wallet purchase with a Ledger OTG Kit. But what is this OTG Kit and do you actually need it? The short answer is:
Ledger OTG Kit is a set of three USB cables to help you connect the Ledger wallet to your PC or Android device. You only need the OTG Kit when the cable that is included in the Ledger wallet package does not match the ports available on your PC (or phone) that you will be connecting to.
Let does next look at the topic in more detail to help you better understand what the OTG Kit is, whether you personally need it and if there are any suitable alternatives that you could use.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
What is The Ledger OTG Kit?
Ledger OTG (On The Go) Kit is a set of USB cables that can help you to connect your Ledger hardware wallet to your PC, laptop, or Android phone. The kit includes three separate cables, each with different connectors:
- Micro-USB to USB Type-C cable
- Micro-USB to USB Type-A cable,
- USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable
As you can see, two of the three cables have a micro-USB port on one end (which used to be standard). The original Ledger Nano S also had a micro-USB port, which was probably also the go-to product that the OTG Kit was aimed at.
However, now that most devices have switched to USB Type-C ports (including all the Ledger wallets currently on sale), you might have a hard time finding utility for the Micro-USB cables.
Do You Need the Ledger OTG Kit?
Each Ledger hardware wallet comes with a USB cable included in the package. The type of cable included depends on the specific model of Ledger device you have.
Here is a table of the different Ledger devices, the type of USB port they have, and the type of cable included in the box:
| Device | USB Port | Included Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Ledger Nano S | Micro-USB | Micro-USB to USB Type-A |
| Ledger Nano S Plus | USB Type-C | USB Type-C to USB Type-A |
| Ledger Nano X | USB Type-C | USB Type-C to USB Type-A |
| Ledger Stax | USB Type-C | USB Type-C to USB Type-C |
If you are planning on connecting your Ledger device to a PC, laptop, or Android phone, you should first check the ports that are available on the device. If the included cable has matching connectors, you don’t need the Ledger OTG Kit.
However, if the connectors don’t match, you might consider purchasing the OTG Kit.
For example, let’s say you are thinking of buying the Ledger Nano S Plus that comes with a USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable. Let’s say your end goal is to connect the wallet to your Android phone with a USB-C port. In this case, the USB-C to USB-C cable in the OTG Kit would suit your needs.
Note! If you are an iPhone user looking to connect to your Ledger device using an OTG USB Cable Kit, you won’t be able to do it. iPhones do not allow data transfer with Ledger devices, so even if you have the correct cable, you won’t be able to connect and manage your wallet successfully.
However, if a USB-C to USB-C cable is all you need, is the Ledger OTG KIT really worth purchasing? Let’s look at the alternative options.
Can you Use Alternative Cables?
While the Ledger OTG Kit might be a convenient and safe option, you can essentially use any cable with matching connectors as long as it supports data transfer (which most cables do).
For example, my personal Ledger Nano S Plus came with a USB-C to USB-A cable. Instead, I tend to use my phone charging cable (USB-C to USB-C) that is always on my table and works flawlessly.
So Before you go out and purchase the Ledger OTG Kit, it’s worth checking to see if you have any suitable cables lying around that you could use. If not, you can go to your local electronics store to get the cable rather than ordering from Ledger and waiting for the shipment.
In conclusion, the Ledger OTG Kit is essentially just three different types of USB cables bundled into a package. Since two of the three cables included have a micro-USB connector (which is getting outdated), it would be wise to consider purchasing a separate suitable cable (if the one included in the package does not suit you) instead of buying the whole OTG Kit.