Ledger Start: A Clear Path to Safer Crypto

Welcome to Ledger Start—the official, step-by-step pathway for setting up your Ledger hardware wallet and protecting your digital assets from day one. This guide helps you unbox, initialize, and connect your device with confidence, while learning the essential safety habits that keep your crypto under your control.

What Makes Ledger Different

Ledger hardware wallets keep your private keys offline, inside a secure element chip designed to resist tampering. Unlike software wallets that live on internet-connected devices, your Ledger isolates the most sensitive operations—key generation and transaction signing—so that malware on your computer cannot steal your funds. Pairing the wallet with the Ledger Live app gives you a clean, unified interface without exposing your keys to the web.

Tip: Think of Ledger as a vault for your keys, and Ledger Live as the control panel you use to interact with your coins.

Before You Begin: Quick Safety Checks

Step 1 — Unbox and Power On

Connect your Ledger device using the supplied cable. Follow on-screen prompts to select a language and create a secure PIN. Choose a PIN you can remember but others cannot guess. Never share this PIN, and do not store it in screenshots or cloud notes.

Step 2 — Write Down Your Recovery Phrase

Your device will display a 24-word recovery phrase, one word at a time. Write it down carefully on the provided sheets. This phrase is the only way to restore your accounts if your device is lost, damaged, or reset. Keep it offline, private, and stored in a safe place. Do not photograph, scan, or type it into any website or app.

Step 3 — Install Ledger Live

Download Ledger Live from the official site and complete the quick onboarding. Ledger Live verifies your device, helps you add accounts for supported coins, and keeps your firmware and apps up to date. You’ll manage addresses, view balances, and send or receive funds—all with final confirmation on your Ledger device.

Tour of Ledger Live

The Portfolio view shows your overall holdings and recent activity. In Accounts, you add assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many others. The Send and Receive tabs let you move funds using addresses you control. When you initiate a transaction, the details appear on your Ledger screen; verify the amount and address, then confirm physically. This prevents malware from silently altering your transactions in the background.

Security Habits that Actually Matter

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest risk is entering your recovery phrase on a website or typing it into a computer. You never need to do this during normal use. Another frequent error is skipping firmware updates, which can lead to compatibility or security issues. Finally, avoid saving your phrase in cloud storage; physical, offline backups are safer.

Troubleshooting Basics
Advanced Options (Optional)

Experienced users can enable a passphrase for an extra layer of protection, manage multiple accounts per asset, and connect to third-party services for specialized features. These options are powerful but should be configured carefully; always document your setup securely.

Start Now

You’re ready to take control of your crypto with professional-grade security. Visit ledger.com/start to download Ledger Live, follow the guided setup, and explore best-practice resources. With your keys stored on a Ledger device and your habits aligned to strong security, you can navigate the crypto world with clarity and confidence.