Complete Getting Started Guide — Secure, Clear, Actionable
This guide is written to help both newcomers and experienced crypto holders. It emphasizes security best practices while keeping instructions simple. Read through once, then follow along at the official start page when you're ready to perform each step on your device and in Ledger Live.
Quick Steps — finish setup in ~10–20 minutes
Type https://www.ledger.com/start directly or use a trusted bookmark. Confirm the padlock and domain — phishing sites may mimic the look of Ledger but use a different address.
Use the supplied USB cable or Bluetooth (Nano X) and follow the on-screen prompts. The device’s screen is the final authority — always verify prompts there before approving actions.
Download Ledger Live only from the official domain. Ledger Live guides onboarding and handles firmware updates; install updates as instructed to keep security current.
Choose a PIN you'll remember but that isn't easy to guess. The PIN blocks access at the device level; never write it on or near your recovery backup.
Ledger will generate a 24-word recovery phrase (older devices may show 12). Write the words down exactly as displayed and keep backups offline—paper or, preferably, metal backup plates for durability.
Follow the device prompts to confirm your recorded words. Optionally add an additional passphrase for advanced privacy/security (only if you understand the implications). After verification, test with a tiny transaction.
Why starting at Ledger.com/Start matters
Using the official start flow guarantees three critical things: your device and software are genuine, the recovery phrase is generated in a secure environment, and firmware updates come from Ledger itself. These controls dramatically reduce the risk of phishing, tampering, and accidental exposure.
Core benefits you get from a correct setup
Best practices — quick checklist
- Always use
https://www.ledger.com/startand bookmark it. - Store multiple physical backups of your recovery phrase in separate secure places.
- Prefer metal backups if long-term durability is needed.
- Keep Ledger Live and firmware up to date, but only via official channels.
- Label backups discreetly — avoid obvious tags like “Crypto Seed”.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Don’t photograph or store your recovery phrase digitally (phone, cloud, notes).
- Don’t share your recovery phrase or PIN — support will never ask for them.
- Don’t buy pre-initialized or used devices without doing a full, official reset.
- Don’t skip confirmation prompts shown on the hardware device.
Advanced options (for power users)
Passphrases add another security layer by generating hidden wallets from your single recovery phrase. They’re powerful but require careful management — losing the passphrase can make funds unrecoverable. Consider multi-sig setups or split backups for very large holdings.