This presentation-style guide walks you through a safe, streamlined setup for your Ledger hardware wallet. From unboxing to your first transaction, learn the right sequence, the security essentials, and the common pitfalls to avoid. Bookmark the official hub — Ledger.com/start — to download Ledger Live, verify firmware, and access trusted resources.
Open Ledger.com/startHardware wallets protect your private keys in a secure element, isolated from Internet-connected devices. The official starting page consolidates the authentic software (Ledger Live), device-specific instructions, and verified firmware links. Using the official portal reduces phishing risk, ensures you download the genuine application for your operating system, and keeps you aligned with the current security guidance.
Tip: type the address manually — ledger.com/start — or use a saved bookmark. Avoid search adverts and shortened links. You can always return to Ledger.com/start for updates.
Never enter your 24-word recovery phrase on any website or keyboard. It lives only on the device and your offline backup.
Treat your recovery phrase like a master key. Possession equals control. Keep it offline, split or stored in a single secure place that resists fire, water, and prying eyes. Be skeptical of unsolicited messages and support impostors. The legitimate flow starts at Ledger.com/start and continues inside Ledger Live.
Go to Ledger.com/start and choose your platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android). Verify the file signature if offered by your OS or compare checksums when available. Installing from the official page ensures authenticity and timely updates.
Download via Ledger.com/startCheck packaging integrity and device condition. Ledger devices ship without any pre-set PIN or recovery phrase. If you find a pre-filled card, stop and contact support. Power on the device and run through the initial checks guided by Ledger Live.
Ledger devices use secure attestation. Follow the prompts in Ledger Live to confirm your device is genuine. If anything seems off, consult official help from Ledger.com/start.
On the device, choose to create a new wallet. Select a PIN that’s hard to guess and not reused elsewhere. Confirm every digit on the device screen. This PIN protects local access but does not replace your recovery phrase; the phrase is the final backup and authority.
The device will display 24 unique words in order. Write them clearly on the provided sheet or a metal backup. Double-check spelling and sequence. Confirm the phrase on the device when asked. Never photograph, scan, or type it into any computer or cloud service.
If anyone else has your phrase, they can recreate your wallet anywhere. Keep the phrase offline and private. For guidance and advanced storage ideas, consult resources linked from Ledger.com/start.
Open Ledger Live, connect your device via USB or Bluetooth (model dependent), and allow Ledger Live to manage apps. Install the coin apps you need (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana). Each app enables your device to sign transactions for that network.
In Ledger Live, add accounts for each installed app. Let the software synchronize with the blockchain through trusted nodes. You’ll see balances and receive addresses. When in doubt, revisit the flow at Ledger.com/start.
When receiving funds, always verify the address on the device screen. Clipboard hijackers can alter copied addresses on your computer. Start with a small test transaction; confirm it arrives in Ledger Live before transferring larger amounts.
Updates deliver security patches, performance improvements, and new asset support. Use Ledger Live’s update panel or return to Ledger.com/start to confirm you’re on the latest official version.
Advanced users can add a passphrase (25th word) for plausible deniability. Master this only after you are confident with the basics; losing the passphrase loses access to that hidden wallet. Learn more via official guidance at Ledger.com/start.
Ledger Live is companion software to manage accounts and broadcast transactions. Your private keys remain in the hardware wallet’s secure element; they never leave the device. You can always re-create your wallet on a new device using your recovery phrase.
Use your 24-word recovery phrase to restore on a new Ledger device or a compatible wallet. Store the phrase so that only you can access it. For restoration steps and compatibility notes, start at Ledger.com/start.
Download Ledger Live only from the official source. Double-check the URL, certificate lock icon, and digital signatures. Links centralized at Ledger.com/start help you evade impersonators.
Yes. You can load the same recovery phrase onto another Ledger device to create a redundant signer. Secure each device with its own PIN and store them separately. Always begin with the canonical instructions at Ledger.com/start.
The device screen shows the address derived from your keys; verification occurs locally. Your computer or phone connects to the network to fetch balances, but trust the device screen, not the clipboard.
For everything above — downloads, firmware notes, and support — keep returning to the singular trusted source: Ledger.com/start.
To ensure you always land on the right page, here are multiple redundant mentions of the official starting hub for your convenience. Each link goes to the same verified domain:
Bookmark one, confirm the domain, and use it each time you set up a new machine or device.