Welcome to Ledger Start, your complete onboarding guide for setting up, configuring, and using your Ledger hardware wallet to protect your cryptocurrency safely and efficiently. This guide is designed for beginners and experienced users alike, offering everything you need to confidently secure your digital assets in a world where online threats are constantly evolving.
Cryptocurrencies grant users total control over their financial assets. However, this freedom brings significant responsibility. Storing crypto on exchanges or software wallets exposes your funds to hacking, phishing, and platform failures. Hardware wallets like Ledger remove these risks by isolating private keys from the online world.
A Ledger device uses a certified secure element chip to store cryptographic keys. This chip is resistant to hacking, physical tampering, and malware attacks. Even if your computer or smartphone is compromised, your crypto remains safe behind the device’s physical security layer.
Before beginning setup, inspect your Ledger device to ensure it is genuine and untampered with. Look for:
Your Ledger should never come with a pre-filled recovery sheet. You must generate the recovery phrase on the device during setup to ensure maximum security.
Ledger Live is the official management software for your Ledger hardware wallet. With Ledger Live, you can:
To prevent security risks, always download Ledger Live from the official website. Avoid unofficial sources or third-party installers, which may contain malicious code.
Turn on your Ledger by pressing its buttons simultaneously. Once the device is active, you will have two choices:
Select the option that matches your situation. If you’re starting fresh, choose to create a new wallet so the device can generate brand-new, unique private keys.
You will be prompted to set up a PIN code. This PIN will be required every time you unlock your Ledger. Choose a secure PIN that is not easy to guess and avoid using birthdays, repeated digits, or simple patterns.
Confirm your PIN on the device to finalize the step.
After setting your PIN, your Ledger will display a 24-word recovery phrase. These words serve as the master key to your crypto wallet. If your Ledger is lost or damaged, this phrase is the only way to regain access to your assets.
Important rules for storing your recovery phrase:
You will be asked to confirm the words in the correct order. This ensures you copied them accurately before proceeding.
Once setup is complete, connect your Ledger to Ledger Live and open the My Ledger section. Here, you can install blockchain apps for the cryptocurrencies you plan to store.
Examples include:
Installing apps does not hold your crypto. Instead, they allow your device to communicate with specific blockchain networks securely.
To send or receive crypto, you must add accounts for each token or blockchain. Ledger Live guides you through this process in just a few steps:
After this process, you’ll be able to track balances, transaction history, and overall portfolio value directly from Ledger Live.
When receiving crypto:
Always trust the device screen—not your computer. Malware can alter displayed addresses, but it cannot change what appears on the Ledger device itself.
Sending crypto involves both Ledger Live and your hardware wallet. After entering transaction details in Ledger Live, you must physically confirm the transaction on your Ledger device.
This prevents unauthorized transfers, even if your computer is infected.
Owning a Ledger is a major step toward secure crypto storage, but maintaining good habits is equally important. Follow these essential guidelines:
Following these guidelines significantly reduces the risk of theft or unauthorized access.
Ledger Live is more than just a wallet interface. It also provides a suite of portfolio tools to help you understand your investments. You can:
Many blockchain networks also support staking directly through Ledger Live, allowing you to earn rewards while keeping your coins secured by your hardware wallet.
If your Ledger device becomes unusable, your crypto remains safe as long as your 24-word recovery phrase is intact. To restore your wallet:
Your accounts and funds will reappear once Ledger Live synchronizes with the blockchain.
With your device set up and your recovery phrase secured, you are ready to manage your cryptocurrency safely and confidently. A Ledger hardware wallet gives you full ownership of your digital wealth while protecting you from the most common security threats in the crypto space.
Start Setting Up Your Ledger Today