Welcome to Your Ledgèr Device: A Secure Start Guide
Welcome, and congratulations on taking a crucial step towards securing your digital assets. You've arrived at Ledger.com/start, your official hub for setting up your new Ledger hardware wallet. This guide is designed to be your clear, step-by-step companion to ensure your journey into self-custody is smooth, secure, and successful from the very first moment.
Before You Begin: Your Ledger Kit Essentials
Before diving in, please take a moment to verify the contents of your box. You should have your Ledger device (Nano S Plus, Nano X, or Stax), a USB-C cable, three recovery sheets for securely recording your 24-word recovery phrase, and a keychain strap. Ensuring you have all components is the first step to a seamless setup. For absolute security, only use the accessories provided in your official Ledger box.
Phase 1: Initial Device Setup & The Ledgèr Live Application
Your journey begins by downloading the official Ledger Live application. It is critical that you only download Ledger Live from our official website, Ledger.com, or from verified app stores. This prevents any risk of encountering malicious software.
Download & Install Ledgèr Live: Navigate to our website and download the application for your desktop or mobile device.
Power On Your Device: Connect your Ledger hardware wallet to your computer using the supplied USB cable. Follow the on-screen instructions on your device to choose a PIN code. This PIN is your first line of physical defense, so choose one that is strong and unique to you.
Initialize as a New Device: Your device will prompt you to choose between restoring from a recovery phrase or setting up as a new device. Select "Configure as new device."
Phase 2: The Most Critical Step: Your Recovery Phrase
This is the single most important part of your setup. Your 24-word recovery phrase is the master key to your entire cryptocurrency portfolio. The device itself is simply a secure vault that uses this phrase.
Write It Down Manually: Your Ledger device will display a list of 24 words, one at a time. Carefully transcribe each word, in the exact order shown, onto one of your provided recovery sheets.
The Golden Rules of Your Recovery Phrase:
NEVER digitize it. Do not type it, photograph it, or store it in a cloud service, password manager, or any digital format.
NEVER share it with anyone. Ledger staff will never ask for it.
Store your recovery sheet in a safe, secure, and durable place, like a fireproof safe or a safety deposit box.
Consider storing a second copy in a separate, secure location.
Phase 3: Finalizing Setup & Installing Apps
Once your recovery phrase is securely stored, your device is ready for action.
Connect to Ledger Live: In the Ledger Live app, follow the prompts to "Add device." The application will securely connect to your hardware wallet.
Install Asset Apps: Your Ledger device manages assets through small applications. Navigate to the "My Ledger" section within the app to find and install the apps for the specific cryptocurrencies you own (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon). Don't worry, your coins are always on the blockchain; these apps simply allow your device to manage them.
Create Your Accounts: After installing an app, you can return to the "Accounts" tab in Ledger Live to add an account for that asset. This generates your unique public receiving addresses.
You're Now in Control
With these steps complete, you have successfully fortified your crypto holdings. You are now the true custodian of your wealth, free from reliance on third-party exchanges. To receive assets, simply use the "Receive" function in Ledgèr Live, which will guide you through a secure verification process directly on your device.