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Welcome

Set up your Ledger — fast, safe, and future-ready

This guide walks you through every step: unboxing, initializing, securing your recovery phrase, installing apps, and sending your first transaction. We wrote it so anyone — from a curious beginner to a practicing custodian — can rely on Ledger’s best practices and feel empowered.

1. Unbox & inspect

Confirm the package seal and device integrity. Ledger devices ship in tamper-evident packaging — never accept a package that looks opened or altered.

2. Initialize

Power on and choose to create a new wallet. Write the recovery phrase on the included card — digitally storing it first is a risk; physical backup only.

3. Install apps

Use Ledger Live to add currency apps (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.). Each app manages keys locally on the device.

Start setup Read FAQs

Why Ledger’s setup matters

Hardware custody gives you the strongest practical protection for your private keys. Unlike exchanges or software wallets, a hardware device isolates cryptographic operations inside a secure element. The setup is not just a checklist — it’s the foundation for long-term, self-custody resilience.

True ownership: only you hold the private keys that control your funds.
Air-gapped security: critical operations happen on the device, not on the internet.
Recoverable: the recovery phrase allows restoration if the device is lost, provided the phrase is stored properly.

Step-by-step: Practical setup

Follow these concrete steps to complete your setup. We recommend taking notes and using the included recovery card — keep it offline and locked away.

Charge & power: Connect the device using the supplied cable. Follow on-screen prompts.
Create a PIN: Choose a PIN you can remember but is not easily guessable. Avoid birthdays or sequential digits.
Write your recovery phrase: During initialization you will get a 24-word phrase. Write it in order on the physical card. Never photograph or store it digitally.
Confirm: The device will ask you to confirm random words from the phrase. This verifies the backup is accurate.
Install Ledger Live: Download the official Ledger Live app to manage accounts and install currency apps.
Add accounts: Open Ledger Live and add cryptocurrency accounts. Use the device to approve transactions.

Pro tip: Keep your firmware up to date. Ledger periodically releases firmware updates to enhance compatibility and security. When an update is available, Ledger Live will notify you — verify updates through Ledger Live only.

Security best practices — what professional custodians do

Security is more than the device — it’s the habit. Professionals apply layers of defense: physical protection, multiple geographically distributed backups of recovery phrases, and strict operational practices.

Never share your recovery phrase: no support agent or service should ever ask for these 24 words.
Store backups offline: use steel plates or fireproof safes for long-term storage.
Split backups: consider Shamir Backup or multi-party backups for higher-value holdings.
Limit device exposure: avoid using your hardware wallet on unknown or compromised computers.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What if I lose my device?

A: Use your recovery phrase to restore access on a new Ledger device or a compatible recovery tool. If the phrase is lost, funds cannot be recovered.

Q: Can Ledger recover my funds for me?

A: No. Ledger does not have access to your private keys or recovery phrase. You are the sole owner and responsible for your backups.

Q: Is my recovery phrase the same as a password?

A: No. It functions as the core seed to regenerate your private keys. Treat it as the single most sensitive piece of information you own.

Glossary — quick definitions

Private key: the secret value that authorizes transactions. Recovery phrase: a human-readable representation of your wallet seed (24 words). Ledger Live: the desktop/mobile companion app. Firmware: the device’s internal software.