Unbox and verify
Check the seal, the packaging and the device itself. If the box arrives already open or looks resealed, stop — buy from an official source instead of pushing ahead.
Independent setup guide · Beginner friendly
Ledger.com/start: set up your Ledger® wallet the safe way
Unboxing a hardware wallet should feel like a relief, not a risk. This guide walks you through Ledger.com/start in plain English — install Ledger Live from the official source, initialise your device, write down your 24-word recovery phrase offline, and add your first crypto accounts with confidence.
- Never asks for your recovery phrase
- Links only to official Ledger sources
- About 15 minutes, start to finish
- Steps
- 6
- Setup time
- ~15 min
- Backup words
- 24
PIN set on device only
Firmware verified
The one rule that matters more than any step
Never type your 24-word recovery phrase into a website, chat, email, spreadsheet or app. It belongs on paper or metal, stored offline. Ledger Live can ask you to confirm words — but only on the device screen, never on a keyboard. If a page asks for those words, it is a scam, no matter how official it looks. This page never asks for them, and no legitimate one ever will.
What you'll actually do
Six things, from sealed box to first coin
Each card below is a real step on the Ledger.com/start path. Tick them off in order and you will not miss the part that protects your funds.
Install Ledger Live, officially
Ledger Live is the companion app for desktop and mobile. Download it from Ledger's own site — not from an ad, a mirror site, or a link someone sent you.
Set a PIN you own
You choose the PIN on the device itself, with the device's own buttons. Nobody helping you remotely should ever know it, and support staff never need it.
Write down 24 words, offline
The device shows your recovery phrase once. Write it on the supplied sheet, keep it offline, and never photograph it or store it in the cloud.
Add accounts and receive
Install the coin apps you need, add accounts, then confirm the receive address on the device screen before you send anything to it. Trust the device, not the laptop.
Update firmware, then stay calm
Keep the firmware current, use the official recovery check before you hold serious value, and treat every urgent message about your wallet as a scam until proven otherwise.
The walkthrough
Ledger.com/start, step by step
Follow this order. Skipping the backup step is the single most common way people lose access to their own crypto — everything else can be redone later, that cannot.
-
Buy from an official source
Order the device from Ledger's own store or an authorised reseller so the box arrives sealed.
-
Install Ledger Live
Download the desktop or mobile app from the official page, then launch it and choose "set up a new device".
-
Initialise on the device
Follow the on-device prompts to pick a PIN and generate your recovery phrase. The screen is where every decision is confirmed.
-
Write the 24 words on paper
Copy them exactly, in order, by hand. Store the sheet somewhere private and offline — ideally in two separate places.
-
Add your first account
Install the coin app in Ledger Live, add an account, then verify the receiving address on the device before sending funds.
-
Run a recovery check
Once value is involved, confirm your backup actually works. A backup you have never tested is a hope, not a plan.
Buttons open Ledger's official pages in a new tab. Always double-check the address bar before downloading anything or entering any information.
Go straight to the source
Official doors, in one place
Typing the address yourself, or using these links, is safer than clicking whatever comes first in a search result or an ad.
ledger.com/start
The official onboarding entry point for a new device.
Ledger Live downloads
Desktop and mobile apps, straight from the manufacturer.
Official support
Real help articles — and yes, they will never ask for your 24 words.
Ledger Academy
Background reading on self-custody, seeds and staying safe.
Questions people actually ask
Ledger.com/start FAQ
What exactly is Ledger.com/start?
It is the official starting point for setting up a Ledger hardware wallet: it points you to Ledger Live, then walks you through initialising the device and adding your first accounts. Think of it as the front door, with Ledger Live as the room you actually work in.
Do I ever need to enter my 24-word recovery phrase on a website?
No — not on this page, and not on any legitimate one. The phrase is entered only on the device itself, and only if you choose to restore a wallet. Every site, pop-up or "support agent" that asks for those words is trying to take your funds.
How long does the whole setup take?
Around 15 minutes for the basics: install, PIN, write down 24 words, add an account. Budget a little longer the first time you move funds, so you can verify the receiving address on the device screen properly.
What if my device or box looks tampered with?
Do not use it. Contact the official seller, arrange a return, and get a replacement. A device that arrived pre-initialised or with a phrase already written down is a deliberate trap, not a convenience.
Is this an official Ledger page?
No. This is an independent educational guide written to explain the setup clearly. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by Ledger SAS, and every download link sends you to Ledger's own site.
Ready when you are
Six steps, one rule, and your keys stay yours.