Welcome to the official onboarding guide—your trusted path to start with Ledger securely and confidently 🚀
You’ve arrived at the **Official Site®** destination for Ledger’s onboarding: Ledger.com/Start®. This page is your definitive source to begin using your Ledger hardware wallet securely. No phishing, no confusion—just clear, official guidance from Ledger.
Whether you’re brand new to hardware wallets or migrating from software wallets, this guide walks you through each step: from unboxing to transacting safely. Along the way, we’ll highlight things you **must do**, common pitfalls, and ways to stay protected.
Let’s embark on this journey—your crypto deserves to be safeguarded by Ledger. 🛡️
Follow these sequential steps to set up and begin using your Ledger device safely. Each step includes best practices and caution notes.
Open your browser and type into the address bar: https://www.ledger.com/start. Confirm the SSL padlock and domain. Avoid typing via search engines or clicking email links.
On the official start page, download the Ledger Live app suitable for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android). The file is code‑signed; verify its checksum if provided.
Upon delivery, inspect the packaging and device. Ledger devices ship sealed and never pre‑initialized.
Plug in your Ledger device. On the screen, choose whether to **Set up as new** or **Restore from recovery phrase**.
If new: choose a 4–8 digit PIN, confirm it, then you will be shown **24 recovery words**. Write them down in order on the included recovery card—never store this digitally.
If restoring: enter your existing 24‑word recovery phrase using the device interface.
Launch Ledger Live, follow prompts to pair and allow communication. You may set an optional password. Ledger Live never sees your private keys.
In Ledger Live’s “Manager” tab, install coin-specific apps (e.g. Bitcoin, Ethereum). Then in “Accounts,” add corresponding accounts, letting Live detect your holdings.
To receive: click “Receive” → select account → verify address on your device → use that address. To send: click “Send” → enter recipient, amount, and confirm transaction details both in Live and on your device screen.
✅ Always double-check the address displayed on your **Ledger device screen**—that is your final line of defense against address spoofing.
Using Ledger through Ledger.com/start unlocks a secure, feature-rich wallet experience. Here's what you get:
All of these while your private keys remain safely stored in the hardware device—never exposed to your computer or mobile OS.
Security is non-negotiable. Here are the critical guidelines and best practices to ensure safety.
Always download software, firmware, and guides from **Ledger.com/Start®**. Never trust third‑party mirrors or links from unknown emails.
Ledger will never ask for your 24-word recovery phrase or PIN—neither in software nor in support conversations. Treat your recovery phrase as the ultimate vault: guard it, never back it up digitally, never photograph it.
Always confirm the recipient address and amount **on your Ledger device screen** before approving. This prevents man-in-the-middle or malware address substitution.
Apply firmware and app updates promptly. Updates are signed and distributed via Ledger’s official channels. Avoid delaying them—some updates fix critical security flaws.
If your Ledger device is lost or damaged, you can recover your wallet using your 24-word seed on a new Ledger device or compatible wallet—but only if you kept the seed secure.
Be cautious of emails, popups, or social media ads claiming to be Ledger support asking for seed words, telling you to “verify wallet”, etc. These are phishing attacks. Always navigate manually to **Ledger.com/Start®**, do not click suspicious links.
This ensures you receive the **official, verified software and instructions**. Avoid phishing and use the correct domain to stay safe.
Yes. Ledger Live is available for iOS and Android. Use Bluetooth (for Nano X) or via USB-c adapter (for Nano S Plus). Always update the mobile app via the official store or Ledger.com.
You can restore it on the Ledger device. Go to “Restore from recovery phrase” during setup and input your 24 words. Ledger will import your existing keys.
Follow the on-screen instructions or check the official guides in the support center at Ledger.com. Use only the firmware files provided through **Ledger.com/Start®**.
Yes. Ledger’s software and firmware have open-source components. You may audit parts of it. Always refer to the official GitHub repositories linked from Ledger’s documentation.
Ledger often publishes checksums or PGP signatures. After downloading, compute the checksum locally and compare to the published value before installing. This ensures authenticity.