# Understand Lightning support in the Blockstream app

Source URL: https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/understand-lightning-support-in-the-blockstream-app
Updated: 2026-06-02T15:07:36.000Z
Category: Blockstream App
Section: Use Lightning Bitcoin

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Lightning support in the Blockstream app lets you send and receive bitcoin payments quickly using the Lightning Network. Lightning works inside the same wallet as your on-chain Bitcoin and Liquid balances.

Lightning is currently in beta. Your underlying funds remain secure, but you may experience occasional payment failures or temporary delays when accessing your Lightning balance during network updates. We recommend only keeping funds on Lightning that you don't need immediate, urgent access to.

## Where Lightning Is Available

You enable Lightning one wallet at a time, and the first step differs by platform. On iOS, you turn on **Experimental Features** in App Settings before Lightning appears in your wallet's settings. On Android, you turn on the Lightning toggle directly in your wallet's settings. See [Enable Lightning](https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/articles/46687226665497-Enable-Lightning) for the full walkthrough on both platforms.

## What You Can Do With Lightning

- In a wallet with Lightning enabled, you receive payments by sharing a Lightning invoice and send payments by paying someone else's invoice. See [Receive and send Lightning bitcoin](https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/articles/47010141141273) for how this works.
- You can also [receive LBTC via Lightning and pay Lightning invoices with LBTC](https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/articles/52967603674265) to move value between Lightning and Liquid Bitcoin, and [transfer your Lightning balance to on-chain](https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/articles/53373520222105) when you want those funds held on-chain instead.

## Receive Capacity and Funding Fees

How much you can receive over Lightning at any moment depends on your Instant Lightning account's receive capacity, and the first inbound payment may include a one-time funding fee. See [Understand receive capacity and funding fees on your Instant Lightning account](https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/articles/18788499177753) for the details.

## If a Payment Fails or Stalls

Because Lightning is in beta, a payment can occasionally fail or take longer than expected, especially during network updates. Your funds stay secure when this happens. Retry the payment, or wait a short while and try again. If the problem persists, [contact our support team online](https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket%5Fform%5Fid=8613) or through the app.

Navigation: Blockstream Help Center > Blockstream App > Understand Lightning support in the Blockstream app

## Related Articles in This Section
- [Understand Lightning support in the Blockstream app](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/understand-lightning-support-in-the-blockstream-app) (current)
- [Enable Lightning](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/enable-lightning)
- [Receive and send Lightning bitcoin](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/receive-and-send-lightning-bitcoin)
- [Receive LBTC via Lightning and pay Lightning invoice with LBTC](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/receive-lbtc-via-lightning-and-pay-lightning-invoice-with-lbtc)
- [Transfer Lightning balance to on-chain](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/transfer-lightning-balance-to-on-chain)
- [Understand receive capacity and funding fees on your Instant Lightning account](https://help.blockstream.com/blockstream-app/use-lightning-bitcoin/understand-receive-capacity-and-funding-fees-on-your-instant-lightning-account)