Welcome — this page walks you through the essential information for beginning with a Ledger hardware wallet. If you're looking for the official setup portal, visit Ledger.com/start. Below you'll find step-by-step setup guidance, security best practices, common troubleshooting, and FAQs written in plain language so you can protect your crypto with confidence.
Hardware wallets provide a simple but powerful security improvement over software wallets. A hardware wallet stores your private keys offline so that transactions must be physically approved on the device. The official entry point for that process is Ledger.com/start, where Ledger guides you through initializing your device, writing down your recovery phrase, and installing apps for different coins.
Quick Start — What to expect
- Unbox carefully: Confirm the package seal and authenticity of your Ledger device before powering on.
- Visit Ledger.com/start to begin the official setup flow.
- Follow on-screen setup: Create a PIN and write down the recovery phrase exactly as shown, on physical paper.
- Install apps: Use Ledger Live to add apps for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other assets you plan to hold.
- Receive funds: Always verify the receiving address on the hardware device screen before sharing it.
Each of these steps is important. The most critical element is the recovery phrase — typically 24 words — which secures your ability to recover funds. Store this phrase somewhere safe and offline. Ledger (and good security practice) strongly recommends never storing the recovery phrase digitally or sharing it with anyone.
Detailed Setup Steps
1. Power on your Ledger device and choose a PIN. Pick a PIN that's easy to remember for you but hard for others to guess. The PIN is required every time the device signs a transaction.
2. The device will generate a recovery phrase. Write the words down in order and keep them in a secure location. Consider storing the phrase in a fireproof safe or secure safety-deposit option if you hold significant value.
3. Install Ledger Live on your desktop or mobile device from the official site. Ledger Live is the companion app where you can manage accounts and install coin-specific apps. After installing Ledger Live, follow the in-app instructions to add an account. When sending or receiving funds, the hardware device displays the address for you to confirm.
4. When receiving crypto, always verify the address on your device screen. Malware on your computer can alter addresses — the hardware device is the final authority for addresses it displays.
Security Checklist
- Only buy devices from authorized vendors or the official store.
- Never share your recovery phrase — Ledger support will never ask for it.
- Keep your PIN and recovery phrase separate and offline.
- Use a passphrase (optional advanced feature) for added security if you understand the tradeoffs.
- Regularly update Ledger Live and your device firmware through official channels.
If you want the official onboarding flow, remember to type Ledger.com/start directly into your browser or use a saved bookmark. That reduces the risk of phishing. Ledger.com is the canonical domain — the underlined keyword above highlights this location so you never accidentally use an impostor site.
Troubleshooting & Common Questions
Q: I lost my device — what now?
A: If you still have your recovery phrase, you can restore funds to a new Ledger device or another compatible wallet. If you lost both the device and the recovery phrase, there is no way to recover the private keys.
Q: Can Ledger support access my funds or reset my PIN?
A: No. Ledger does not store your private keys or recovery words. Support cannot retrieve your funds or reset your PIN without the recovery phrase.
Q: Is it safe to use Ledger with third-party apps?
A: Many popular third-party wallets and DApps work with Ledger. Always confirm the addresses and prompts on the physical device screen, and prefer well-known, audited applications.
Advanced: Passphrases and Multi-Account Strategies
Some users opt to enable a passphrase in addition to their recovery phrase. This acts as a "25th word" that creates an additional set of private keys. Passphrases add strong protection against physical theft but increase responsibility: losing the passphrase can permanently lock funds. Consider using passphrases only after you fully understand the risks and backup strategies.
Example: How to Verify a Receive Address
// Example checklist for verifying an on-device receive address
1. Open Ledger Live and choose "Receive".
2. Select the account and click "Continue".
3. Verify that the address shown in Ledger Live matches the address shown on your hardware device.
4. If they match, copy the address from the device UI or use the on-screen option to confirm.
5. Only share the address once confirmed on-device.
Following those five sub-steps ensures the address wasn't replaced by malware on your host computer. The device's screen is the single trusted source.
Final Thoughts
Getting started with a hardware wallet can feel technical, but the core ideas are simple: keep your private keys offline, protect your recovery phrase, and verify every address on your device. The combined approach of a hardware device and careful habits dramatically reduces common attack vectors. Use Ledger.com/start as your official starting point and refer to Ledger's documentation for device-specific details.
If this page is part of your documentation or site, you may choose to link directly to Ledger.com/start as the primary call to action. Below is a suggested call-to-action link styled as a simple button for readers:
Go to Ledger.com/start