Your Journey to Crypto Security Starts Now

Welcome to the official Ledger start guide. We'll walk you through every step to securely set up your new Ledger hardware wallet.

Why a Ledger Hardware Wallet?

In the world of digital assets, you may hear the phrase: "Not your keys, not your coins." This highlights a fundamental risk of keeping your cryptocurrency on an exchange or in a software wallet. If that platform is compromised, your assets are at risk. A Ledger hardware wallet solves this problem. It's a physical device that stores your private keys offline, completely isolated from the internet and potential online threats. This method, often called "cold storage," provides the highest level of security for your crypto.

Your Ledger device acts as a digital vault. Every transaction must be physically verified and confirmed by you, using the buttons on the device. This means even if your computer were infected with malware, hackers could not access your funds. By setting up your Ledger, you are taking full ownership and control of your digital assets, ensuring they are truly yours and accessible only by you. This guide will ensure your setup process is smooth, secure, and successful.

1

Unboxing and Verifying Your Ledger

Your security journey begins the moment you receive your device. It is crucial to ensure your Ledger device is genuine and has not been tampered with. Here's what to check:

  • Check the Packaging: Ensure the box is wrapped in its original plastic shrink-wrap. Look for any signs of damage, re-sealing, or tampering. The packaging is designed to be secure.
  • Recovery Sheet Condition: Inside the box, you will find a set of recovery sheets. These must be completely blank. If they have any words, numbers, or characters pre-written on them, stop immediately and contact Ledger Support. A genuine Ledger device will always generate a new, unique recovery phrase during setup.
  • Device State: When you power on your Ledger device for the very first time, it should display a "Welcome" message. If it asks for a PIN code immediately upon the first boot, it may have been pre-configured. Do not use it and contact support.

This initial check is your first line of defense. Taking these few minutes to verify the integrity of your Ledger product ensures you are starting from a secure foundation.

2

Install the Ledger Live Application

Ledger Live is your all-in-one companion app for managing your crypto assets securely with your Ledger device. It allows you to check your balance, send and receive funds, and install applications on your device.

To ensure your security, it is absolutely critical to download Ledger Live only from the official source. Phishing websites often mimic the official site to trick users into downloading malicious software.

Official Download Source:

https://www.ledger.com/start

Navigate to this URL, select the correct version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux), and follow the installation instructions. Once installed, Ledger Live will guide you through the next steps, including the all-important device setup and genuine check.

3

The Most Critical Step: Your 24-Word Recovery Phrase

This is the single most important part of securing your crypto. Your Ledger device will now generate a unique 24-word recovery phrase. This phrase is the master key to all your crypto assets.

WARNING: Your Security is Your Responsibility

Anyone who gets access to your 24-word recovery phrase can access your funds. Ledger will never ask you for your recovery phrase. Never share it with anyone, and never enter it into any website, software, or mobile app.

Follow these instructions precisely:

  1. Prepare a Pen and Your Recovery Sheet: Connect your Ledger device to your computer and follow the on-screen instructions. Choose "Set up as new device."
  2. Choose a PIN Code: Select a secure PIN code (4 to 8 digits). This PIN is used to unlock your device for daily use. Confirm it.
  3. Write Down the Words: Your Ledger device will now display 24 words, one by one. Write each word down clearly and in the correct order on your recovery sheet. Double-check the spelling of each word.
  4. Verify Your Phrase: The device will then ask you to confirm some of the words to ensure you have written them down correctly.
  5. Secure Your Recovery Sheet: Store your physical recovery sheet in a safe, private, and durable location (e.g., a home safe, a safe deposit box). Do not make a digital copy. Do not take a photo of it. Do not store it in a password manager or on a cloud service. Physical is safest.

This recovery phrase is your only backup. If your Ledger device is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can use these 24 words to restore full access to your crypto on a new Ledger device.

4

Performing the Genuine Check

After setting up your device, Ledger Live will perform a genuine check. This is a crucial security feature that verifies the integrity of your Ledger hardware.

The check works by sending a cryptographic challenge to your device. Only a genuine Ledger device, containing a secure element that was provisioned at the Ledger factory, can correctly answer this challenge. This process uses your device's private attestation key to prove its authenticity.

Simply follow the on-screen prompts in Ledger Live. You will be asked to connect your device and unlock it with your PIN. Then, you'll need to press both buttons on your device to "Allow Ledger manager". The software will handle the rest. A successful check confirms that your hardware wallet is authentic and safe to use. If the check fails for any reason, do not proceed to send funds and contact Ledger support immediately.

5

Install Crypto Apps on Your Ledger

Your Ledger device requires specific apps to manage different cryptocurrencies. For example, to manage Bitcoin, you need the Bitcoin app. To manage Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens, you need the Ethereum app.

You can install and uninstall these apps at any time without losing your funds. Your crypto is tied to your 24-word recovery phrase, not the apps on the device.

  1. Open the "Manager" tab in Ledger Live.
  2. Connect and unlock your Ledger device. Allow the Ledger manager on your device when prompted.
  3. In the App catalog, find the cryptocurrency app you wish to install (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano).
  4. Click the "Install" button next to the app.

The device has limited storage, so you may only be able to install a few apps at once, depending on their size. You can safely uninstall an app to make space and reinstall it later without affecting your assets.

6

Add Your First Accounts in Ledger Live

Once an app is installed on your device, you can add a corresponding account in Ledger Live. This allows the software to read your public address from the blockchain and display your balance.

  1. Go to the "Accounts" tab in Ledger Live.
  2. Click the "+ Add account" button.
  3. Choose the crypto asset from the drop-down list. Ensure the corresponding app is open on your Ledger device.
  4. Ledger Live will synchronize with the blockchain to find your address.
  5. Give your account a name and click "Add account".

Congratulations! You can now see your account on the dashboard. You are ready to receive your first crypto assets securely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I lose my Ledger device?
Your crypto is safe! Your assets are not stored on the Ledger device itself, but on the blockchain. The device only holds the private keys that grant access. As long as you have your 24-word recovery phrase, you can buy a new Ledger device (or another compatible wallet) and restore full access to all your funds. This is why protecting your recovery phrase is the most important step.
Can my Ledger be hacked?
Ledger devices are designed with industry-leading security. They use a special chip called a Secure Element (SE), similar to those used in passports and high-end credit cards. This chip is certified and hardened against sophisticated attacks. It ensures your private keys never leave the device, even when connected to an infected computer. While no system is 100% un-hackable, a hardware wallet like a Ledger provides a level of security that is orders of magnitude greater than a software wallet or exchange. The most significant risk comes from social engineering (tricking you into revealing your recovery phrase), not from a direct hack of the device itself.
Why can't I just store my recovery phrase online?
Storing your recovery phrase online—whether by taking a photo, emailing it to yourself, or saving it in a cloud drive or password manager—completely defeats the purpose of a hardware wallet. The entire security model of a Ledger is based on keeping your keys offline. As soon as your recovery phrase touches an internet-connected device, it becomes vulnerable to hackers, malware, and data breaches. You must keep it offline and physically secure at all times.
Can I use my Ledger with other wallet apps?
Yes. While Ledger Live is the official and recommended application, your Ledger device is compatible with many third-party software wallets like MetaMask, Electrum, MyEtherWallet, and more. This allows you to interact with DeFi applications, NFTs, and other web3 services while still keeping your private keys secure on your Ledger device. Transactions initiated on these third-party platforms will still require physical confirmation on your hardware wallet.
What's the difference between the PIN and the recovery phrase?
This is a vital distinction.

• The PIN code is for daily use to unlock your physical Ledger device. It protects against someone who has physical access to your device from using it. If the wrong PIN is entered three times, the device resets itself to factory settings as a security measure.

• The 24-word recovery phrase is your master backup for all your crypto assets. It is only used once during the initial setup and then again if you need to restore your accounts on a new device. You should never need to enter your recovery phrase unless you are performing a restoration.

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