Start up your Ledger device — clear, secure, and fast

This guide walks you through powering up, initializing, and protecting your Ledger hardware wallet. When you need the official flow use ledger.com/start for the latest firmware steps and resources.

Quick overview

Setting up a hardware wallet is an essential step to take full custody of your crypto. This page summarizes the important actions — power up, create a PIN, write down the recovery phrase, and confirm your backup. If you prefer the official interactive setup, visit ledger.com/start to follow the guided workflow.

Step-by-step setup

Unbox and inspect: Confirm the packaging is sealed and the device shows no physical tampering.
Power on the device: Connect to a trusted computer or mobile device and follow on-device instructions.
Create a PIN: Choose a PIN you can remember but can't be easily guessed. Never store the PIN in plain text online.
Write down your recovery phrase: The device will generate a 24-word seed. Write it on the supplied card (or another offline medium) immediately and store it in a safe place.
Confirm backup: Follow the on-device prompts to confirm several words from your recovery phrase to ensure it was recorded correctly.
Install Ledger Live: Use the official app to manage accounts and software. The authoritative start page is ledger.com/start.

Safety tip: Never enter your recovery phrase into a computer, phone, or website. The recovery phrase is the ultimate key to your funds — treat it like cash.

Security best practices

Only download Ledger Live or firmware from the official source linked at ledger.com/start.
Use a strong PIN and enable additional on-device locks if available.
Keep your recovery phrase offline and consider a secure fireproof safe or bank safe deposit box.
Beware of phishing: type addresses manually or use bookmarks — never follow unsolicited links.

Troubleshooting — common issues

If the device doesn't turn on, try a different cable and USB port. For firmware update failures, retry using Ledger Live and ensure the computer’s OS is up to date. If the device shows unexpected text or behavior, discontinue the setup and verify instructions at ledger.com/start.

Advanced tips

Power users often create a passphrase on top of the 24-word seed (also called a 25th word). This adds security but increases complexity: losing the passphrase means losing access. Consider whether the added gain in privacy is worth the operational risk for your use case.

What to do after setup

Install only the apps for the assets you intend to manage.
Test a small transaction first to confirm everything is working as expected.
Document your recovery storage plan privately and check it periodically.
Keep software, including Ledger Live and device firmware, updated by checking the official site at ledger.com/start.

Final notes

This page is intended as a clear, practical primer for safely starting a Ledger hardware device. For the most current, interactive setup and official downloads always reference ledger.com/start. Good device hygiene — verified firmware, secure seed storage, and cautious online habits — keeps your crypto secure for years to come.