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 Nova Wallet. 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

• What to know about migration
• Polkadot app
• Migration app

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.

‼️ IMPORTANT

Only Ledger Nano X is supported in Nova Wallet. Both your Ledger device and your smartphone with Nova Wallet installed need to support Bluetooth.

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.

⚠️ ATTENTION

You don’t need to migrate any assets from the Polkadot Relay Chain, as the new "generic" Polkadot app handles accounts created using older versions of the Polkadot app (i.e., versions earlier than 100.x).

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:

• Before moving your assets, ensure the network includes the "metadata hash" required by the Polkadot Migration app and the new Generic Polkadot app.

  
  

  ⛔ READ THIS FIRST! 
  
  Before sending any funds or assets to a parachain account managed by the Polkadot Ledger app, ensure that the network has been updated. Check if it shows a "Yes" in the "Has Metadata Hash" column at the following link:
  
  Parity Data Dashboard: Parachain Metadata

• Your funds and assets must be transferable, which means there should be no locks or reserves applied to them. You should remove all locks (e.g., from staking, OpenGov votes or delegations) or reserves (e.g., proxy, multisig, on-chain identity, etc.) before you attempt to transfer your assets. Below are some articles that can help you remove these locks:
  • Unbonding funds
    Staking Dashboard: How to Unbond Your Tokens
    Staking Dashboard: How to Unbond from a Nomination Pool

    
    

    ℹ️ INFO
    
    Funds in a nomination pool are technically bonded to the pool's account, not directly on your personal account. However, because the legacy account controls these funds, you must unbond them from it.

  • Clear on-chain identity
    How to Set Your On-chain Identity on Polkassembly
  • Cancel multisig call
    How to Create and Use a Multisig Account
  • How to remove and unlock expired votes, and how to undelegate
    Polkadot OpenGov: How to Participate
  • How to remove a proxy
    How to Create a Proxy Account

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

The steps below guide you through the process of connecting the new Generic Polkadot app to Nova Wallet so it can operate on any Substrate network.

1. Install Nova Wallet on your phone. Find below a brief overview of the wallet:

Nova Wallet: Overview

2. Install or update the Polkadot app to the latest version.

3. To connect your Ledger Nano X to Nova Wallet, go to "Settings" > "Wallets" > "Add wallet" > "Import existing" > "Hardware wallet."

Follow the article below for more detailed instructions and screenshots:

Nova Wallet: How to Connect Your Ledger

4. Tap on "Ledger Nano X (Generic app)."

5. From your Ledger device, open the Polkadot app (known as the "Generic" or "Universal" app). If prompted, allow Nova to access your location and nearby devices, enable Bluetooth, and select your Ledger device from the list of nearby devices.

6. Nova will display the addresses of your Ledger account on several networks. Tap "Continue."

7. Review and approve the account import on your Ledger Nano X, then enter a nickname for your Polkadot app account.

8. And that's it, now you can operate on any Substrate network using just one Polkadot Ledger app!

Migration app

The steps below guide you on how to connect the Migration app to Nova Wallet, enabling you to 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 and Polkadot Asset Hub 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 Nova Wallet on your phone. Find below a brief overview of the wallet:

Nova Wallet: Overview

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

3. To connect your Ledger to Nova Wallet, go to "Settings" > "Wallets" > "Add wallet" > "Import existing" > "Hardware wallet."

Follow the article below for more detailed instructions and screenshots:

Nova Wallet: How to Connect Your Ledger

4. Tap on "Ledger Nano X (Legacy)."

5. If prompted, allow Nova to access your location and nearby devices, enable Bluetooth, and select your Ledger device from the list of nearby devices.

6. Select the network on which you want to operate, and choose your Ledger device.

7. Depending on the selected network, Nova will request that you open either the Migration app or the corresponding network's Ledger app on your device.

8. Follow the instructions by opening the Migration or network Ledger app and tap the account you want to import.

In the example below, the Kusama account was imported, and Nova requested that the Migration app be opened on the Ledger Nano X to show its accounts.

8. Review and approve the account import on your Ledger Nano X, then enter a nickname for your Polkadot app account.

9. Now, you need to move all your assets on the selected network from your "legacy" account to the account controlled by the Generic Polkadot 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 by connecting your account to Kodadot or Singular to transfer them from the legacy account to the new Polkadot account.