GETTING STARTED GUIDE REV. 01
Ledger.com/start
A calm, practical path from unboxing to safer self-custody. Use this independent checklist to understand what to prepare, what to verify, and which details must stay private.
This page is an independent educational resource, not Ledger’s official website or support channel.
PRE-FLIGHT / 00
Before You Begin
A few minutes of preparation makes it easier to spot anything unusual and avoid making a security decision under pressure.
FOUNDATION
Prepare
Start with the device and its package. A hardware wallet is designed to keep signing keys isolated from an internet-connected computer; it does not store coins inside the device. Your assets remain recorded on their respective blockchains, and the wallet helps authorize transactions.
Check the package for obvious damage or signs it may have been opened, but remember that packaging alone cannot prove a device is genuine. Do not rely on a seal, scratch code, or a seller’s claim as your only test. If you bought from an unfamiliar marketplace or something seems wrong, pause and seek guidance through official Ledger channels reached independently.
Good to know You can stop at any point. Never continue because a person, pop-up, or countdown tells you that you must act immediately.
SOURCE CHECK
Verify
Use a browser bookmark or type the address yourself to reach Ledger’s official website. Confirm the spelling and domain carefully; sponsored search results, messages, QR codes, and lookalike domains can lead to convincing copies. Do not follow setup links sent unexpectedly by email, text, social media, or a support account.
Install Ledger’s companion software only from a source you independently verified, such as the official site or the device maker’s verified app listing. Follow the current on-screen instructions for your exact device and operating system. During the genuine setup flow, use the device to confirm prompts and verify that it is recognized as expected. If instructions ask you to type recovery words into a website, computer, phone, or support chat, stop: that is not a safe recovery-phrase practice.
Pause if anything differs Unexpected security warnings, requests for remote access, or instructions to install an unknown app are reasons to stop and check official support independently.
DEVICE INITIALIZATION
Set Up
Choose the option to set up a new device if it is new to you. The device should generate a recovery phrase for you during its own initialization; write each word in the correct order on paper and check it carefully. Never accept a phrase that was printed in the box, provided by a seller, shown on a website, or sent to you by another person. If the device arrives already configured or displays a prewritten phrase, do not use it.
Create a PIN directly on the device and keep it private. A PIN protects access to the physical device, while the recovery phrase can restore the wallet if the device is lost or damaged. They serve different purposes. Follow the device prompts to verify your written words if offered, and make sure you understand the distinction before moving funds. Start by learning the wallet interface; there is no need to transfer assets immediately.
Protects local device access
Restores access to wallet keys
LONG-TERM CARE
Secure
Your recovery phrase is the most sensitive part of setup. Anyone who gets it may be able to restore your wallet elsewhere and control the associated assets. Keep the words offline, private, and away from cameras. Do not photograph, scan, email, message, copy into cloud notes, or paste them into any app. Legitimate support staff should never need to see them.
Store the written backup somewhere private and protected from casual access, water, heat, and loss. Consider your own risks before making any additional copy: more copies can improve resilience but also create more opportunities for exposure. Tell a trusted person how to locate important instructions in an emergency without giving them the phrase itself. Review secure storage periodically, especially after moving homes.
PAUSE POINT / 05
Security Check
Before relying on the setup, make sure the key steps happened in the right place. Your device—not a computer screen or a person on a call—should be the source of the recovery phrase and the place where sensitive device confirmations happen.
- 01The phrase was generated on the device during your own setup.DEVICE
- 02You wrote the words by hand and verified their order.OFFLINE
- 03No one asked you to reveal or enter the phrase online.PRIVATE
- 04You can reach the official software source without using a message link.VERIFIED
If any statement is false or uncertain, pause before adding funds. Use official help reached independently and describe the issue without sharing your secret words.
RED FLAGS / 06
Things to Avoid
Never share your recovery phrase. Not with “support,” friends, a verifier, or a website.
Never restore from a phrase supplied to you. A new wallet should generate its own phrase.
Never install remote-access tools because an unsolicited helper asks you to.
Never approve a transaction you do not understand. Verify details on the device display.
READY WHEN YOU ARE / 07
Final Checklist
Use this short pass before considering setup complete. Checking an item here does not save anything or send information anywhere.
Steady beats rushed.
You can return to this guide whenever you need a reminder.
INDEPENDENT RESOURCE · This guide is general educational information, not financial, investment, or individualized security advice. Product steps may change; consult current official documentation for device-specific instructions. Ledger is a trademark of its respective owner. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ledger.