Ledger.com/Start® | Starting Up Your Device - Ledger Wallet

A clear, secure walkthrough to get your Ledger Wallet set up safely and confidently.

This guide at Ledger.com/Start® explains the essentials for starting up your Ledger Wallet, covering unboxing, initializing, security best practices, and troubleshooting so you can control your crypto safely with confidence.

Unboxing & first checks — Ledger Wallet

When you receive your device from Ledger.com/Start®, inspect the package and confirm the tamper-evident seals before powering on your Ledger Wallet, because physical integrity is your first line of defense against supply-chain risks.

What to expect in the box — Ledger Wallet

Inside the Ledger box from Ledger.com/Start® you should find your Ledger Wallet device, a USB cable, recovery seed cards, and quick start documentation; keep these items together and never share your recovery phrase with anyone.

Powering on & choosing setup options — Ledger Wallet

Follow the on-screen prompts after connecting your Ledger Wallet to power or a computer; choose set up as new device on the Ledger.com/Start® setup flow unless you are restoring from an existing recovery phrase.

Create a secure PIN — Ledger Wallet

When the setup asks for a PIN on your Ledger Wallet, pick a PIN you can remember but that is not easily guessed; never store the PIN and recovery phrase together, and never enter them on websites or apps outside of the device interface described on Ledger.com/Start®.

Backing up your recovery phrase — Ledger Wallet

Write down the 24-word recovery phrase displayed on your Ledger Wallet on the provided recovery cards during the Ledger.com/Start® process; this recovery phrase is the ultimate backup to access your crypto if your Ledger Wallet is lost or damaged.

Recovery best practices — Ledger Wallet

Store the recovery phrase from Ledger.com/Start® in multiple secure physical locations if needed, avoid digital copies, and consider using steel backup plates for long-term durability for your Ledger Wallet recovery words.

Install Ledger Live & connect your device — Ledger Wallet

Download the official Ledger Live application from Ledger.com/Start® and follow the app steps to add your Ledger Wallet; installing Ledger Live lets you manage accounts, install apps, and perform transactions while keeping private keys on the Ledger Wallet device.

Verifying firmware & device authenticity — Ledger Wallet

Ledger Live will prompt you to install firmware updates and will authenticate your Ledger Wallet during the Ledger.com/Start® flow; always accept official firmware prompts in Ledger Live and never install firmware from unknown sources for your Ledger Wallet.

Adding cryptocurrencies and apps — Ledger Wallet

Use Ledger Live to install the coin-specific apps that your Ledger Wallet needs; only install what you require and remove unused apps to keep the Ledger Wallet storage organized and minimize attack surface.

Creating accounts and receiving funds — Ledger Wallet

In Ledger Live, create accounts for each cryptocurrency and verify receive addresses on your Ledger Wallet device screen to ensure addresses presented by the app match the Ledger Wallet hardware display for added security.

Security features to enable — Ledger Wallet

After setup, enable optional features in Ledger Live such as passphrase protection (used with Ledger Wallet), login confirmations, and alert notifications to raise the security posture of your Ledger Wallet and its linked accounts.

Passphrase considerations — Ledger Wallet

You may add a passphrase to your 24-word seed with Ledger.com/Start® as an advanced protection; understand that a passphrase creates additional secret(s) for your Ledger Wallet and must be managed carefully because loss of the passphrase means loss of access.

Daily usage tips — Ledger Wallet

Use your Ledger Wallet only with trusted computers and browsers, confirm transaction details on the device screen each time, and avoid copy-paste flows for addresses during the Ledger.com/Start® routine to reduce phishing and clipboard-hijack risks.

Safe mobile usage — Ledger Wallet

If you use Ledger Live Mobile with Bluetooth-enabled Ledger Wallet models, pair through the official Ledger Live app only, review Bluetooth permissions periodically, and keep mobile OS and Ledger Live updated per guidance on Ledger.com/Start® for your Ledger Wallet.

Troubleshooting common issues — Ledger Wallet

If your Ledger Wallet doesn't power on, shows firmware errors, or cannot connect to Ledger Live, follow the step-by-step troubleshooting instructions on Ledger.com/Start® and use the device's recovery and reinstall options before seeking further support for your Ledger Wallet.

When to contact Ledger support — Ledger Wallet

Reach out to official Ledger support through Ledger.com/Start® only when you have confirmed hardware issues or recovery problems, and never share your 24-word recovery phrase or PIN with support staff for your Ledger Wallet.

Maintaining long-term security — Ledger Wallet

Keep firmware and Ledger Live updated as recommended on Ledger.com/Start®, periodically review connected third-party apps, and treat your Ledger Wallet recovery phrase as the highest-value secret in your digital security model.

Estate planning & custody notes — Ledger Wallet

Plan for heirs by documenting recovery procedures securely and legally without exposing your Ledger Wallet seed phrase; use trusted legal instruments to pass access while keeping your Ledger Wallet secrets offline and encrypted, when appropriate.

Advanced tips for power users — Ledger Wallet

Advanced users can combine the Ledger Wallet with multisig setups, hardware security modules, or advanced passphrase schemes to distribute risk, following the advanced how-tos and recommended patterns on Ledger.com/Start® for enterprise or high-value Ledger Wallet custody.

Disclaimer: This guide references Ledger.com/Start® and Ledger Wallet setup best practices for informational purposes only. Always follow official instructions on Ledger.com/Start® and Ledger Live. Ledger Wallet security depends on safe handling of your device and recovery phrase; this content does not replace professional or official guidance from Ledger.