Welcome to Ledger.com/Start

Your Secure Gateway to Digital Asset Ownership

Getting started with your Ledger device is the first step toward taking full control of your digital assets. Whether you're new to cryptocurrency or an experienced investor, Ledger provides industry-leading security designed to help you manage, buy, sell, swap, and grow your crypto portfolio with confidence.

At Ledger, security is at the heart of everything we do. Unlike software-only wallets, Ledger hardware wallets keep your private keys offline and protected from many common online threats. By combining a secure hardware device with the Ledger Live application, you gain a powerful and user-friendly platform for managing your digital assets safely.

This guide will walk you through the setup process and help ensure that your device is genuine, secure, and ready to use.

Before You Begin

Before setting up your Ledger device, make sure you have:

Your new Ledger hardware wallet
A computer or smartphone with internet access
The latest version of Ledger Live
A secure and private environment for setup
A pen and the recovery sheets included in the box

Important: Never use a Ledger device that has already been configured. Your device should allow you to create a new PIN code and generate a new recovery phrase during setup.

Step 1: Download Ledger Live

Ledger Live is the official companion application for your Ledger device. It allows you to:

Manage multiple cryptocurrencies in one place
Install and update crypto applications
Send and receive digital assets
Buy, sell, and swap supported cryptocurrencies
Track portfolio performance
Access additional Web3 services

Always download Ledger Live from the official Ledger website to ensure you're using authentic software.

Once installed, launch Ledger Live and select Get Started.

Step 2: Choose Your Ledger Device

Ledger offers several hardware wallet models designed to meet different user needs. During setup, Ledger Live will ask you to select your device model.

After selecting your device, the application will provide model-specific instructions and guide you through the setup process.

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with your device buttons and screen. These controls are essential for securely reviewing and approving transactions.

Step 3: Initialize Your Device

When you power on your Ledger device for the first time, you'll be prompted to either:

Set up as a new device
Restore from an existing recovery phrase

If this is your first Ledger device, choose Set up as a new device.

Your device will guide you through the creation of a PIN code. This PIN helps protect your device against unauthorized access.

Create a Strong PIN

Choose a PIN that is:

Easy for you to remember
Difficult for others to guess
Not reused from other accounts or devices

Avoid obvious combinations such as birthdays, repeated numbers, or simple sequences.

You will need to enter this PIN whenever you unlock your Ledger device.

Step 4: Write Down Your Recovery Phrase

One of the most important steps in the setup process is recording your recovery phrase.

Your Ledger device will generate a unique recovery phrase consisting of 24 words. These words serve as the master backup for your crypto assets.

Why Is the Recovery Phrase Important?

Your recovery phrase allows you to:

Recover access to your wallet if your device is lost
Restore your accounts on a replacement device
Maintain ownership of your assets independent of any single device

Anyone who has access to your recovery phrase can access your assets.

Security Best Practices

Write the words down exactly as displayed
Store them offline
Keep them in a secure location
Never share them with anyone
Never take photos of them
Never store them in cloud storage, email, or messaging apps

Ledger employees, support agents, and legitimate services will never ask for your recovery phrase.

After recording the phrase, your device will ask you to confirm selected words to verify accuracy.

Take your time during this process. The security of your assets depends on it.

Step 5: Verify Device Authenticity

Once initialization is complete, Ledger Live performs a genuine check.

This process confirms that:

Your device is authentic
The secure element is functioning correctly
The device has not been tampered with

The genuine check is performed directly through Ledger's security infrastructure and helps ensure that you're using a legitimate device.

If the verification succeeds, you can continue with confidence.

Step 6: Install Crypto Applications

Ledger devices support a wide range of cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks.

To manage a specific cryptocurrency, you'll first need to install its corresponding application through Ledger Live.

Examples may include:

Bitcoin
Ethereum
Solana
Polygon
Litecoin
XRP
Many other supported assets

The installation process takes only a few moments and can be managed directly from the Manager section of Ledger Live.

You can remove and reinstall applications as needed without affecting your assets, provided you still have access to your recovery phrase.

Step 7: Add Accounts

After installing a crypto application, you'll be able to add accounts to Ledger Live.

Accounts allow you to:

View balances
Monitor transaction history
Receive cryptocurrency
Send funds securely

Ledger Live automatically synchronizes supported blockchain data, making account management straightforward and transparent.

You can organize multiple accounts across different cryptocurrencies within a single interface.

Step 8: Receive Your First Crypto Transaction

Receiving cryptocurrency with Ledger is simple and secure.

To receive funds:

Open Ledger Live
Select the desired account
Choose Receive
Connect and unlock your Ledger device
Verify the receiving address on the device screen
Confirm the address matches the one displayed in Ledger Live
Share the verified address with the sender

Always verify addresses on your hardware wallet screen before using them.

This verification step helps protect against malware that may attempt to alter addresses on your computer or smartphone.

Step 9: Send Crypto Securely

When sending cryptocurrency, every transaction must be reviewed and approved on your Ledger device.

This process ensures that:

Transaction details are displayed independently on the device
Addresses can be verified securely
Unauthorized transfers cannot be approved remotely

Carefully review all transaction details before confirming.

Once approved and broadcast to the blockchain, most cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed.

Explore the Ledger Ecosystem

Ledger Live provides access to a growing ecosystem of services and tools designed to help users manage digital assets efficiently.

Depending on availability and supported regions, you may be able to:

Buy cryptocurrency
Sell digital assets
Swap between supported tokens
Stake eligible assets
Connect to decentralized applications
Manage NFTs
Explore Web3 experiences

All while maintaining the security advantages of hardware-based key protection.

Security Reminders

As you begin your crypto journey, remember these essential principles:

Protect Your Recovery Phrase

Your recovery phrase is the ultimate key to your assets. Treat it with the highest level of security.

Verify Every Transaction

Always check transaction details directly on your Ledger device before approving.

Stay Updated

Keep Ledger Live and your device firmware updated to benefit from the latest features and security improvements.

Beware of Scams

Fraudsters may impersonate support representatives, websites, or community members. Never disclose your recovery phrase under any circumstances.

You're Ready to Begin

Congratulations! Your Ledger device is now ready to help secure and manage your digital assets.

By combining secure hardware with intuitive software, Ledger empowers you to take ownership of your crypto journey with confidence. Whether you're holding long term, exploring decentralized finance, collecting NFTs, or managing a diverse portfolio, your Ledger device provides a strong foundation for security and control.