Welcome to your colorful, clear guide to get a Ledger device set up safely and confidently. This onboarding hub walks you through every step — from unboxing to securing your recovery phrase — in plain language, with best practices and an FAQ to answer common concerns.
Onboarding is the bridge between owning a Ledger device and actually securing your crypto. A great setup process prevents user errors, reduces attack surface, and ensures your private keys remain offline and under your control. Think of onboarding as a short investment that protects your long-term digital assets.
Confirm tamper-proof packaging and authenticity stickers. Ledger ships in sealed packaging — never accept a device whose seal looks broken.
Follow the on-screen prompts to choose a PIN and generate a recovery phrase. Never share the recovery phrase.
Download Ledger Live only from the official Ledger website and install the appropriate apps for your cryptocurrencies.
Create accounts in Ledger Live for each crypto type (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) and receive addresses from your device.
When your package arrives, inspect the outer seal and the inner tamper-evident bag. Ledger devices have an authenticity QR/check process during setup — follow it. If anything looks altered, contact Ledger support immediately and do not proceed with setup.
Power your Ledger and follow prompts. Choose a 4–8 digit PIN — longer is better. Avoid obvious sequences (1234, 0000) and use digits you can remember without writing them down. The device will lock after incorrect attempts; that’s a security feature.
This is the single most critical step. The device will generate a 24-word recovery phrase. Use the included recovery sheet or a durable metal backup. Write clearly, in order, and keep the sheet offline. Never take a photo or store the phrase on cloud or phone. If someone gets this phrase, they can recover your funds.
- Use a metal backup plate for fire/water resistance.
- Store duplicates in separate secure locations (e.g., safe, deposit box).
- Consider splitting using secret sharing only if you understand the risks.
Go to https://www.ledger.com/start (this is the official setup hub) to download Ledger Live. Install only the packages from Ledger’s site and keep the app updated. Through Ledger Live you’ll install specific apps (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) onto your device so it can manage those protocols.
In Ledger Live, add a new account and follow the prompts to display your receiving address on the physical device. Always verify that the address shown in Ledger Live matches the device screen before sharing it to receive funds.
A passphrase adds a 25th word and creates a hidden wallet. It offers additional protection but also increases complexity and risk — if you forget it, funds are lost. Use only if you know how to manage it securely.
Ledger periodically releases firmware updates. These updates fix bugs and improve security. Only apply updates from Ledger Live and verify release notes.
Ledger staff or support will never ask for your seed phrase. If someone asks, it’s a scam. Always treat the seed as the single point of truth for access to your crypto.
Always check URLs, bookmarks, and e-mails. Ledger will never direct you to input your recovery phrase in a web page. Use bookmarks to access Ledger Live and the official site.
Below are ten quick office-style links you can use as placeholders, shortcuts, or references during onboarding. Each opens in a new tab.
https://www.ledger.com/start or contact Ledger support through official channels. Beware of impersonators and never share your seed.