Until recently, Polkadot, Kusama, and all parachains required an independent Ledger app that created separate accounts for each network. However, with the runtime upgrade to version 1.2.5 on both Polkadot and Kusama, a significant improvement was introduced. This upgrade enabled the development of a "Generic" Polkadot Ledger app, capable of operating seamlessly across Polkadot, Kusama, and all their parachains. This new Generic Polkadot app now offers a user experience similar to non-Ledger accounts: one app controlling a single account that holds all funds across all Substrate chains.


This article explains the migration process with the Polkadot Migration app to the new Generic Polkadot app using Subwallet. It guides you on how to move your assets from your legacy account to the single account generated by the new Generic Polkadot app, allowing you to operate on Polkadot, Kusama, or any of their parachains from just that one app.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

The process involves two main steps: First, connect the Polkadot app. Next, connect and use the Migration app to transfer all your funds to this account on the selected network.


Review the first section before starting the migration. It covers the reasons behind the migration, the conditions, and possible difficulties in moving assets.

What to know about migration


For users with multiple accounts managed by different Ledger apps, Zondax, the team behind the development of the Polkadot Ledger apps, has released the "Polkadot Migration" app. This app facilitates the process of moving your assets from the legacy accounts to the single account in the new Generic app, by being able to sign transactions across all chains.


To "migrate" all your assets from the old parachain or Kusama account to the new one generated by the Generic Polkadot app, two conditions must be met:


Once all your funds have been migrated to the new account generated by the Generic app you can resume any activity that had a lock or reserve.

Polkadot app


1. Install Subwallet on your browser. Find here a brief overview of the wallet: Subwallet: Overview

2. Install or update the Polkadot app.


3. To connect your Ledger, click "All accounts" drop-down menu on the top of the screen. Then, click the bottom-right icon to "Attach account" and "Connect Ledger account" in the following screen.


Check the following article if you find any issues finding the above options: Subwallet: How to Import a Ledger Account



4. On the drop-down menu select the network "Polkadot (new)". Make sure that your Ledger is unlocked and connected to your PC, there's no other app connected to it, and the Polkadot app is open. Click "Connect Ledger device."



5. Select the first account on the list. The account address will start with "5" in its Substrate format, which is the generic format for your account. Once imported, it will be named "Ledger Polkadot new 1" by default. You can change the name later.



6. The account will be imported, and you will be able to operate on any Substrate network from the Generic Polkadot app!

Migration app


The steps below guide you on how to connect the Migration app to Subwallet so you can then transfer your assets from legacy accounts to a single account in the new Polkadot Generic app.


⛔ READ THIS FIRST!

Use the Migration app only if you have a Kusama or parachain account managed by Ledger. If you have only the Polkadot or Polkadot Asset Hub Ledger apps, you don’t need the Migration app: the Generic Polkadot app will automatically work with your existing Polkadot and Polkadot Asset Hub, as well as the other Polkadot system chains.


1. Install Subwallet on your browser. Find below a brief overview of the wallet:

Subwallet: Overview


2. Install the Polkadot Migration app in your Ledger using Ledger Live.


If the Ledger account of the network where you want to move the funds to is already imported into Subwallet, skip to step 7.



3. To connect your Ledger, click "All accounts" drop-down menu on the top of the screen. Then, click the bottom-right icon to "Attach account" and "Connect Ledger account" in the following screen.

Check the following article if you find any issues finding the above options: Subwallet: How to Import a Ledger Account



4. On the drop-down menu, select the network from which you want to transfer funds (in the example below, Kusama). Make sure that your Ledger is unlocked and connected to your PC, that there's no other app connected to it, and that the Ledger app for the selected network is open. Click "Connect Ledger device."



5. Select the first account on the list.



7. Now, you need to move all your assets on the origin network from your "Ledger [name of the network] 1" to the new "Ledger Polkadot new 1." Remember, you must sign any transaction using the Polkadot Migration app.
‼️ IMPORTANT

Check your account's full balance and its state before considering the migration finished.


A non-exhaustive list of possible assets you might own on different networks:

  • Native tokens (e.g., KSM, ACA, HDX, BNC, etc.).
  • Non-native tokens. For Kusama, check Kusama Asset Hub (e.g., USDt, BILL, etc.). For parachains, check the balance in their respective dApps (e.g., lcDOT, USDc, iBTC, etc.).
  • Funds on other Kusama system parachains,  like People parachain (on-chain identity reserve).
  • NFTs.

If you have non-transferable funds, check the links at the beginning of the article to learn how to remove these locks and reserves.


If you have NFTs, you must transfer them from the legacy account to the new Polkadot account by following Subwallet instructions or connecting your account to Kodadot or Singular.


Follow the article below in case you need help sending funds between accounts:

Subwallet: How to Transfer Funds