Official Site® | Ledger.com/Start® — Getting started

A friendly, practical guide to set up your Ledger® hardware wallet safely and begin managing crypto securely.

Quick Start — Step by step

This guide assumes you are using the official start page at Ledger.com/Start and an authentic Ledger® device. Never follow setup instructions sent by unknown emails or messages.

  1. Unbox & inspect. Open your Ledger device packaging and check the tamper-evident seals and included accessories (USB cable, recovery sheet, instructions).
  2. Go to Ledger.com/Start® — using a browser on your computer, type the address yourself (do not click suspicious links). Click the official “Get started” flow and follow onscreen prompts to download Ledger Live if required.
  3. Connect your device. Plug in the Ledger device using the supplied cable. When prompted, choose Create new wallet or Restore from recovery phrase if you already have a seed.
  4. Set a PIN code. Choose a secure PIN (6+ digits is common). Memorize it — do not store the PIN in plain text or on cloud storage.
  5. Write down your recovery phrase. Your device will display a 24-word recovery phrase (sometimes 12 or 18 depending on device/version). Write it on the recovery sheet provided — in the exact order — and store it offline in at least one secure, fireproof place.
  6. Confirm your recovery phrase. The device will ask you to confirm words from the phrase to ensure you recorded them correctly.
  7. Install apps & add accounts. Open Ledger Live (desktop or mobile), install the specific crypto apps (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) from within Ledger Live, and add accounts to manage assets.
  8. Send & receive test transaction. Receive a small amount to verify the address on the device matches the address shown in Ledger Live. Then send a small test amount out, confirming transactions on the device screen each time.

Quick tips

  • Always verify addresses on the hardware device screen — never trust an address displayed only on your computer.
  • Keep firmware and Ledger Live updated, but verify update prompts originate from the official site/app.
  • Never share your recovery phrase with anyone — Ledger support will never ask for it.

Security checklist

  • ✔️ Buy devices only from the official store or authorized resellers.
  • ✔️ Use a strong PIN and consider a passphrase (advanced users) to create an extra hidden account.
  • ✔️ Store recovery phrase offline and consider splitting it across secure locations.
  • ✔️ Beware phishing: check the website TLS lock, domain name, and confirm URLs manually.
  • ✔️ If you suspect compromise, move funds to a new wallet with a freshly generated seed immediately.

Common troubleshooting

  • Device not detected: Try a different USB cable or port; make sure Ledger Live has permission to access the device.
  • Forgot PIN: Resetting the device clears credentials — you'll need your recovery phrase to restore.
  • Missing coins after restore: Check that you added the correct account type in Ledger Live (e.g., SegWit vs legacy) and installed the right app.