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Ledger.com/Start® — Getting started with Ledger

A clear, practical guide to setting up your Ledger hardware wallet, understanding recovery safety, and best practices for securing your crypto assets.

Last updated: October 13, 2025 · Estimated read: 6 minutes

Quick summary

Ledger provides hardware wallets (like Ledger Nano S Plus and Ledger Nano X) to store cryptocurrency private keys offline. This guide walks through purchasing, initial setup via Ledger.com/Start®, creating a secure PIN, backing up your recovery phrase, and everyday safety tips.

What is Ledger and why use it?

Ledger makes hardware wallets — small physical devices that securely store the private keys you need to control cryptocurrencies. Because the keys never leave the device, hardware wallets reduce the risk of online theft compared to software wallets on a phone or computer.

Use a hardware wallet if you hold non-trivial cryptocurrency amounts, plan long-term storage, or want stronger protection against phishing, malware, or account takeovers.

Before you begin

  • Buy only from Ledger.com or an authorized reseller. Avoid secondhand devices.
  • Have a pen and the provided recovery card (or a secure notebook) ready to write down your recovery phrase during setup.
  • Find a private, offline space for the initial setup — never share your recovery phrase with anyone.

Step-by-step: Setup via Ledger.com/Start®

  1. Unbox & verify — Inspect the sealed packaging and the tamper-evident seal. If anything looks altered, contact Ledger support.
  2. Go to Ledger.com/Start® — follow the official guided setup instructions for your model. The site will walk you through downloading Ledger Live and pairing your device.
  3. Install Ledger Live — Ledger Live is the official app to manage accounts, install apps on the device, and perform firmware updates.
  4. Create a device PIN — choose a PIN of at least 4 digits (longer is safer). Never store the PIN together with your recovery phrase.
  5. Write your recovery phrase — the device will display a 24-word recovery phrase. Write it down exactly in order on the provided card AND a second backup stored separately. Do not digitize (no photos, no cloud notes).
  6. Verify the phrase — the device will ask you to confirm a few words. This ensures you copied them correctly.
  7. Install apps & add accounts — through Ledger Live, install the coin-specific apps and add accounts. You can now receive and send crypto via the app.
Tip: Keep one copy of your recovery phrase in a physically secure place (safe deposit box, home safe). Consider a fireproof and waterproof storage method for long-term protection.

Security best practices

  • Never share your 24-word recovery phrase. Ledger staff or official support will never ask for it.
  • Only use Ledger Live or other well-known wallets that explicitly support Ledger devices.
  • Keep firmware and Ledger Live updated — firmware updates patch security fixes.
  • Beware of phishing — check URLs (avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails), and bookmark Ledger.com/Start® for setup.
  • Consider multisig or splitting large holdings across multiple devices for very large balances.

Common issues & troubleshooting

If the device doesn't power on, charge it (if it has a battery) or try a different USB cable/port. If you lose your device, you can restore access with your recovery phrase on a new Ledger or another compatible wallet — which is why secure backup matters.

# Example note — you will not type your recovery phrase into a computer.
# Restoration happens inside Ledger Live or the device UI only.

FAQ

Q: Can Ledger recover my funds if I lose my recovery phrase?
A: No. Ledger cannot recover funds without your recovery phrase. That phrase is the only backup of your private keys.

Q: Is Ledger free to use?
A: The Ledger hardware wallet is a paid product; Ledger Live is free to download. Transaction fees (network gas) still apply when sending crypto.