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#Ledger® Setup Guide — Official Walkthrough (via Ledger.com/Start™)**
Hardware wallets like Ledger are widely recognized as one of the safest ways to store your cryptocurrencies because your private keys are kept offline in a secure chip. This guide shows you how to set up your Ledger device — securely, correctly, and from scratch — by using the official Ledger.com/Start™ portal. ([en-ledgercomstart.pages.dev][1])
Before starting the setup process, make sure you have the following:
✔ Visit https://www.ledger.com/start in your browser — type it manually to avoid phishing sites. ✔ Use a trusted computer or smartphone (avoid public or shared devices). ✔ Have a pen and blank recovery sheet ready — never store recovery words digitally. ✔ Allocate about 15–30 minutes without interruptions. ([ghjh f][2])
Important: Ledger devices are never shipped with a PIN or recovery phrase already set. If your device appears pre-configured, do not use it — contact Ledger Support. ([Ledger Academy][3])
Open your browser and go to:
👉 https://www.ledger.com/start
This is the only official setup page for Ledger devices. Enter the address manually to avoid copycat or scam sites that attempt to steal recovery phrases or install fake software. ([en-ledgercomstart.pages.dev][1])
What You’ll See on Ledger.com/Start:
Ledger Live is the official companion app — without it, you cannot fully initialize your device, install cryptocurrency apps, or manage accounts. ([en-ledgercomstart.pages.dev][1])
Click the “Download Ledger Live” button on the start page.
Choose your platform:
Download the installer and run it.
Follow your OS prompts to install and launch Ledger Live.
Security Tip: Only download Ledger Live from Ledger.com — never from third-party websites or links in emails or ads. Fake installers are a common scam. ([en-ledgercomstart.pages.dev][1])
Open your device box and inspect the contents:
✔ Packaging should be sealed and tamper-evident. ✔ The device should not show a pre-set PIN or a recovery phrase printed already. ✔ The box should contain the recovery sheet and cables. ([ghjh f][2])
If anything appears tampered with or incorrect, stop setup immediately and contact Ledger Support through the official site.
Hold the buttons (or follow the on-screen prompt) to power the device on.
You should see the Ledger logo on the device screen — this means it’s ready to initialize.
Once Ledger Live is open, follow the on-screen prompts:
On the device screen:
💡 PIN Tips:
1234 or 0000.This is the most critical phase.
📜 Critical Rules for Your Recovery Phrase:
✔ Never store the words digitally. ✔ Never take a photo of them. ✔ Never enter them into a website or app. ✔ Store the recovery sheet in a secure, offline place. ([en-ledgercomstart.pages.dev][1])
Ledger will ask you to confirm random words from your phrase to ensure you wrote them down correctly.
Why This Matters: Your recovery phrase is the only backup of your wallet. If you lose both the device and your phrase, you permanently lose access to your crypto. Conversely, if someone else obtains it, they can steal your assets.
After you’ve initialized the device:
If the check fails or you see warnings, do not continue — contact Ledger Support.
Ledger devices require asset-specific apps before you can manage balances.
Note: Each app occupies limited space — newer devices like Nano X may hold more simultaneous apps than older ones. ([ledger-comstartweb.framer.ai][6])
After installing apps:
Your balances and transaction data will now show in the dashboard.
Ledger Live will show transaction statuses and confirmations on the blockchain.
Ledger regularly issues firmware updates — these are essential for security enhancements or new features.
✔ Review the notifications in Ledger Live. ✔ Connect your device when prompted for updates. ([en-ledgercomstart.pages.dev][1])
☑ Check the USB cable for data support (not just charging). ☑ Try a different USB port or restart your computer. ☑ On mobile, ensure Bluetooth permissions are granted (Nano X). ([home started][8])
☑ Double-check spelling and word order. ☑ Each word is case-insensitive, but order matters. ☑ If errors persist, restart the process with a new backup. ([home started][8])
Once you’ve:
✔ Set up your PIN ✔ Secured your recovery phrase ✔ Verified your device ✔ Installed apps ✔ Added accounts
Your Ledger hardware wallet is fully operational — allowing you to safely store, send, receive, buy, swap, and manage crypto with strong offline protection.
🔒 Never enter your 24-word recovery phrase online. Ledger Live and Ledger devices never request it online or via email. ([Reddit][7]) 🛡 Always download Ledger Live only from Ledger.com/start. 📌 Store your recovery sheet offline in a safe place (consider a metal backup solution). 🆘 With any doubts, refer to official Ledger Support.