Your journey starts here
A few thoughtful steps make a big difference. Set up your Ledger device, protect your recovery phrase, and learn how to manage digital assets with confidence.
Always verify instructions and downloads at ledger.com.
LEDGER HARDWARE WALLET
Getting started
Take your time and follow what you see on the trusted app and on your device screen.
01
Unbox your Ledger device and connect it to your computer or phone using the supplied cable, or pair over Bluetooth if your model supports it. Follow the prompts on the device screen to choose a PIN. Your PIN protects access to the device; choose one you can remember and never share it.
02
Your device will display a recovery phrase, usually 24 words. Write each word in order on the recovery sheet and verify it carefully. This phrase is the offline backup to your wallet. Anyone who has it can control your assets, so never photograph it, type it into a website, or share it with anyone—even someone claiming to be support.
03
Download Ledger Wallet (formerly Ledger Live) only from Ledger’s official website or your device’s official app store. Open the app and complete the genuine-device check. The app guides you through adding accounts and installing the apps needed for supported crypto networks. Keep both your device firmware and wallet app up to date.
04
Choose a network, add its account, then select Receive. Confirm that the address shown in the app exactly matches the address displayed on your Ledger screen. Approve only when they match. A small test transfer is a sensible way to get familiar with receiving before moving a larger amount.
Security basics
Self-custody means you control access—and take responsibility for protecting your backup. Ledger will never ask you to reveal your recovery phrase.
Write the words on paper and store them somewhere private and secure. Don’t enter them into a computer, phone, cloud backup, or website.
Review transaction details on your Ledger screen. Reject anything you didn’t initiate or don’t understand.
Ignore unsolicited messages, fake support accounts, and urgent links. Navigate to Ledger’s official site yourself.
Crypto transfers are generally irreversible. Confirm the network and recipient address, and consider a small test transfer first.
Need a hand?
Explore step-by-step articles, device guides, and answers to common questions in Ledger’s Help Center. For your safety, reach support only through official Ledger channels.
Ledger hardware wallets are designed to help keep your private keys isolated from internet-connected devices. Your keys authorize transactions; the wallet app gives you a way to view accounts and prepare actions, while your device lets you review and approve them. No wallet can remove every risk, and digital assets can be volatile, so take time to understand each action before confirming it. This getting-started guide is educational and is not financial or investment advice.
When in doubt, stop and verify. Use the official Ledger website to find software and support, check the address on your physical device before confirming a transaction, and never disclose your recovery phrase. If a message creates urgency or asks for secret words, treat it as suspicious. Your first setup does not need to be rushed: learn the controls, secure your backup, and proceed only when each step makes sense to you.