A concise, security-first walkthrough to set up your Ledger hardware wallet, protect your recovery phrase, install Ledger Live and begin using Web3 safely.
Welcome to Ledger.com/start — the official getting-started resource for Ledger hardware wallets. This guide walks through essential steps: confirm package authenticity, download Ledger Live from the official site, initialize your device, securely record your recovery phrase, verify firmware and signatures, and connect to dApps while keeping private keys offline. Follow each step deliberately — small mistakes at setup time are the most common cause of future loss.
Before you begin, choose a quiet, offline-friendly workspace and have a pen and the included recovery card or a durable metal backup ready. Never photograph or store your recovery phrase on any internet-connected device. If you bought your Ledger from a reseller, confirm packaging integrity and check official authenticity guidance before powering on the device.
When your Ledger device arrives, inspect the box and seals for tampering. Ledger publishes official guidance about packaging and authenticity — if something looks off, contact Ledger Support immediately and avoid using the device. Only download Ledger Live and companion apps from the official Ledger domain (links here point to the official download pages). Ledger Live is Ledger's official companion app for firmware management, account setup, portfolio tracking, and connecting with partner services.
Ledger provides platform-specific installers for Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile apps via official app stores. Advanced users can verify binary signatures and checksums published by Ledger to ensure installer integrity before running it on their machine.
Install Ledger Live from ledger.com/ledger-live/download. Ledger Live offers an interactive setup that will guide you through connecting your device, choosing to set up as a new device or restore a wallet, and installing signed firmware if needed. Ledger publishes verification tools and SHA hashes so you can validate the download. Verifying the installer is a small step that substantially reduces the risk of running tampered software.
Once Ledger Live is installed, launch it and choose “Get Started.” The app shows a curated flow for initializing your device and will help you perform firmware checks when required.
When creating a new wallet, Ledger devices generate a recovery phrase (usually 24 words). Write the words down exactly as presented on the device onto the provided recovery card or use a durable metal backup plate for protection against fire and water. Do not store the phrase on a phone, computer, photo, or cloud storage. Treat the recovery phrase as the single most critical secret — anyone with it can restore access to your funds.
If you choose to use an optional passphrase, understand that it acts as an extra secret; losing it can make the recovery phrase alone insufficient to recover funds. Consider your threat model carefully when enabling advanced features.
Ledger periodically releases firmware updates that include security improvements, performance changes, and new features. Ledger Live will notify you of available firmware updates and help install signed firmware. Only apply updates from Ledger Live or official support instructions. Ledger also publishes release notes and signed assets for verification — use those resources if you want an additional layer of assurance before updating.
If firmware installation fails or you see unexpected behavior, pause and consult the Support Center instead of forcing further actions.
After setup you can add accounts for many supported blockchains using Ledger Live. Start by transferring a very small amount to a newly created address to validate the end-to-end flow — address correctness, fee calculation, and confirmations — before sending larger sums. Ledger Academy offers step-by-step guides and educational materials to help you understand staking, DeFi, NFTs and common security pitfalls.
Keep transaction logs for bookkeeping and to help troubleshoot if necessary. Use official partner integrations listed in Ledger Live when you need fiat on/off ramps or swapping features.
For high-value holdings consider multisig wallets, geographic redundancy for backups, or using multiple devices to reduce single points of failure.
A — Download Ledger Live from the official Ledger page: ledger.com/ledger-live/download. Verify checksums if you want added assurance.
A — Write it by hand on the recovery card or use a metal backup for durability. Never store it in photos, notes, email, or cloud storage.
A — Stop and consult Ledger Support at support.ledger.com. Do not enter your recovery phrase into any website or share it with anyone.
A — Yes. Use Ledger Live integrations and official partner wallets listed in Ledger Live. Always verify the dApp and test with small amounts.
A — Ledger Academy (ledger.com/academy) offers guides and tutorials. For developer resources, see Ledger's developer portal and GitHub links below.
Below are official pages and resources you’ll likely use during setup and beyond. Always verify the domain before downloading or entering sensitive information.