Ledger.com/Start® | Starting Up Your Device®

Concise, practical 1200-word guide to safely set up and begin using your Ledger hardware wallet.

This guide gives you the essential steps to unbox, install companion software, initialize or restore your Ledger device, and follow security best practices for everyday use. It is an educational resource — for official downloads and firmware use the vendor's authenticated pages.

Quick start — overview

At a glance: inspect packaging, download Ledger Live from the official site, choose to create a new wallet or restore an old one, record your recovery phrase offline, install needed chain apps, and verify every transaction on the device screen before approving.

Unboxing & authenticity

When your Ledger device arrives, check packaging for tamper signs. The box should be sealed and free of obvious alterations. If something looks suspicious, pause and contact the seller or official support before using the device.

Download Ledger Live (official)

Open your browser and type the official URL (do not click unknown links). Download the desktop installer for Windows/macOS/Linux or install the mobile app from the official store. Ledger Live is the companion app used to set up the device, manage accounts, update firmware, and sign transactions.

Tip: bookmark the official download page. Phishing sites often mimic the real page; typing the domain directly reduces risk.

Initialize the device — create or restore

When you power on a genuine Ledger device it will be in factory mode. Ledger Live will guide you to either create a new wallet (generate a new recovery phrase) or restore an existing seed. Creating a new wallet on-device is recommended for most users.

Create a new wallet

  1. Connect the device and open Ledger Live.
  2. Choose “Set up as new device” and follow on-device prompts.
  3. Create a device PIN directly on the hardware (do not use an easily guessed number).
  4. Write down the 24-word recovery phrase shown on-device — use the supplied recovery card or a durable backup solution.
  5. Confirm a few words on-device to complete verification.

Restore from seed

  1. Select restore in Ledger Live.
  2. Enter your recovery words on the device when prompted.
  3. Set a new PIN and finish the onboarding process.
Warning: Never type or photograph your recovery phrase; never enter it into a website or share it. Official support will never ask for your seed.

Install apps & add accounts

Ledger devices use small per-blockchain apps. In Ledger Live go to Manager, install the apps you need (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.), then Add Account to discover the derived addresses. Device storage may be limited on smaller models — uninstall apps you don't use and reinstall later (uninstalling does not remove funds).

Receive & send — the safe flow

Receive

  1. Open Receive in Ledger Live and choose the account.
  2. Connect the device and open the corresponding app on-device.
  3. Verify the receiving address in the app matches the address on your device screen before sharing it.

Send

  1. Create a Send in Ledger Live and enter recipient and amount.
  2. Ledger Live sends the unsigned transaction to the device for signing.
  3. Confirm the recipient address, amount, and fee on the device; approve physically to sign.

Firmware updates & maintenance

Apply firmware updates only through Ledger Live prompts. Firmware updates fix security bugs and add features — do not interrupt the device during an update. If an update fails, follow the official recovery instructions or contact support (without sharing your seed).

Security best practices (short checklist)

  • Buy the device from official channels or listed resellers.
  • Record your recovery phrase offline; consider a metal backup for durability.
  • Always confirm addresses and transaction data on the hardware display.
  • Keep Ledger Live and device firmware up to date.
  • Limit use of public/shared computers for signing large transactions.
  • Use a separate spending wallet for day-to-day small amounts; keep the bulk in cold storage.

Troubleshooting — common issues

Device not detected

  • Try a different USB cable or port (avoid charge-only cables).
  • Unlock the device and ensure the correct app is open.
  • Restart Ledger Live and, if needed, reinstall the companion app.

Forgot PIN

If you forget the device PIN you must reset the device and restore from your recovery phrase. This makes secure backups critical.

App install or memory errors

Uninstall unused apps to free device memory; reinstall when needed. Uninstalling does not remove funds because the keys are derived from your seed.

Quick checklist before your first transaction

  1. Downloaded Ledger Live from the official source.
  2. Initialized device and safely stored recovery phrase offline.
  3. Installed necessary blockchain apps and added accounts.
  4. Verified a receive address on-device.
  5. Tested sending a small amount first, then proceed to larger transfers.