Get Started with Ledger | Ledger.com/start^

A friendly, hands-on guide to unpacking, setting up, and securing your Ledger hardware wallet. This walkthrough is designed for users of any technical level who want strong control over their crypto private keys.

What is a Ledger wallet?

Ledger is a family of hardware wallets that store the private keys which control your cryptocurrency. Unlike an exchange or a mobile wallet, a hardware wallet keeps keys isolated in a secure chip so your keys never touch an internet-connected device. That isolation dramatically reduces exposure to remote attacks.

Hardware wallets are recommended for long-term holdings, frequent traders with significant balances, and anyone who wants maximum control and ownership of their assets. This page summarizes the practical steps to go from box to secure operation.

Unboxing & initial checks

When your Ledger arrives, inspect the package carefully. Ledger devices ship in tamper-evident packaging with a sealed inner box and a recovery sheet. Do not use the device if the packaging appears opened or altered, and contact the seller or Ledger Support immediately.

  • Confirm box seal intact and device matches the model ordered.
  • Locate the USB cable, recovery (seed) sheets, and quick-start guide.
  • Do not use any recovery words, seeds, or pre-configured PINs included in shipment — Ledger devices never arrive pre-initialized with your secret keys.

Step-by-step setup

1

Power up and choose a PIN

Connect your Ledger device to a computer or mobile device using the included USB cable. The device will prompt you to choose a PIN. Pick a PIN you can remember but that is not easily guessed. Avoid using birthdays or simple sequences.

2

Write down the recovery phrase

During initialization the device will display a 24-word recovery phrase (seed). Write those words exactly and in order on the provided recovery sheet. This phrase is the only backup of your private keys — keep it safe, offline, and secret.

3

Install Ledger Live and apps

Download the official Ledger Live app from Ledger.com. Use Ledger Live to install currency-specific apps (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum). Ledger Live queries the device securely to create accounts and view balances; transactions still require device confirmation.

4

Receive a small test transaction

Before moving large amounts, always send a small test transaction to confirm addresses and flow. Verify the receiving address both in Ledger Live and on your device screen before confirming — the device is the source of truth for addresses.

Security best practices

Hardware wallets give you strong protections but you must use them correctly. The most common mistakes are sharing recovery words, storing the seed unprotected, or initializing on a compromised device.

  • Never enter your recovery phrase into any website, app, or phone — only on the Ledger device when recovering.
  • Store the recovery sheet in a safe, ideally in a fireproof/waterproof location or multiple geographically-separated copies.
  • Avoid digital copies of your seed (photos, cloud backups). If you must split a seed, use proven secret-sharing methods and document the plan.
  • Enable passphrase feature for added security (advanced users): this creates a hidden wallet accessible only when a specific passphrase is entered.

Troubleshooting & maintenance

If your device fails to power on, try a different cable or USB port. For software issues, ensure you are running the latest Ledger Live version and device firmware. Ledger's official support pages provide firmware update instructions and recovery steps, and only those instructions should be trusted.

Warning: If a website, person, or ad asks for your 24-word recovery phrase or promises to "restore" your funds for a fee, treat it as a direct attempt to steal funds. Recovery phrases are never shared.

FAQ — quick answers

Can I recover funds if I lose my device?

Yes — with the 24-word recovery phrase you can restore your wallets on another Ledger device or compatible wallet that uses the same standard. Guard this phrase carefully.

Is Ledger safe for beginners?

Yes — with a little care. Beginners should follow step-by-step setup, keep their seed offline, and test small transactions first. Learning about phishing and safe address verification is also essential.

What is a passphrase?

A passphrase is an optional extra word/phrase you can add to your recovery seed to create additional hidden wallets. It increases security but increases responsibility: lose the passphrase and you lose access to that hidden wallet.

Resources & further reading

For authoritative instructions and downloads, always use Ledger's official website and support pages. Community guides are useful but verify any link or tutorial against the official documentation.

  • Ledger official setup & support pages
  • Ledger Live user manual
  • Basic crypto security primers (cold storage, seed backups)

Below are suggested next steps after setup: learn how to safely use DeFi bridges, set up account segregation for different asset classes, and consider multi-signature strategies for high-value holdings.

Presentation prepared for "Get Started with Ledger | Ledger.com/start^". This guide is informational and does not replace official Ledger documentation. Always verify firmware, software, and support links at the official Ledger site.