Getting started: a step-by-step guide to setting up your Ledger® hardware wallet securely and confidently.
This page helps you set up your Ledger® hardware wallet from unboxing to your first secure transaction. It focuses on best practices, recovery preparation, and troubleshooting common issues so you can protect your crypto assets with confidence. Whether you’re brand new to hardware wallets or switching from a software wallet, follow these steps carefully.
Checklist — make sure you have the following before starting:
Check that the box is sealed and the tamper-evident stickers are intact. Ledger® devices come in consistent packaging — if something looks off, contact support before continuing.
Connect your Ledger® to your computer or phone using the supplied cable. Follow on-screen prompts to choose a PIN. Choose a PIN you can remember but that is not easily guessable.
The device will generate a 24-word recovery phrase (some older devices may use 12 words). Write these words clearly on the provided recovery sheet — never store them in a photo, text file, cloud storage, or password manager.
If anyone asks for your recovery phrase, it is a scam. Ledger technicians or official support will never ask for these words.
The Ledger® device will ask you to confirm a few words from your recovery phrase. This verifies you recorded it correctly. Only proceed when the phrase matches exactly.
On your computer or smartphone, download and install Ledger Live from the official site. Launch Ledger Live and choose Set up a new device or Restore device depending on whether you are creating a fresh wallet or restoring from an existing recovery phrase.
Within Ledger Live, install the apps (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) corresponding to the assets you want to manage. Then add accounts which create read-only views of your addresses; actual signing occurs on the hardware device itself.
Before moving large amounts, receive a small test transfer to verify addresses match and that you can view & sign transactions. Confirm the transaction in Ledger Live and approve it on your device when prompted.
If your computer does not detect the Ledger® device, try a different USB cable or port. Ensure Ledger Live is up to date and that you have granted any necessary permissions on your operating system. Rebooting your computer often resolves driver conflicts.
If you enter the wrong PIN too many times, the device will reset. You will need to restore from your recovery phrase. This is a security feature — never share your recovery phrase to get help with PIN recovery.
If you lose the recovery phrase and cannot access your accounts, funds are irretrievable. Ledger cannot recover crypto for you without the recovery phrase. For this reason, keep multiple secure backups as described above.
Once comfortable, consider these enhancements:
Buy only from the official site (Ledger.com) or authorized retailers. Verify packaging and ensure setup prompts you to create a PIN and generate a recovery phrase — devices that arrive pre-loaded or ask for your recovery phrase before initial setup are suspicious.
No. Ledger does not have access to your private keys or recovery phrase. If you lose the recovery phrase and cannot access your device, your funds cannot be recovered. This is why secure, offline backups are essential.
Yes. Ledger Live for iOS and Android is designed to work with Ledger® devices and supports common cryptocurrencies. Use your phone safely: keep the OS updated, install apps from official app stores, and avoid public/untrusted Wi‑Fi when managing transactions.
Do not click any links or provide information. Ledger will never ask for your 24‑word recovery phrase. Report phishing attempts to Ledger support and verify any official communication by visiting the official site directly.
Technically certain wallets support the same BIP39/BIP44/BIP32 standards allowing seed compatibility, but mixing devices increases risk. If you restore your Ledger seed to another wallet, ensure you fully understand compatibility and security implications.
Setting up a hardware wallet is one of the most important steps you can take to secure your crypto assets. Follow the steps in this guide closely and adopt the security best practices listed here. If in doubt, consult official documentation on Ledger.com/Start® or contact official support channels from the Ledger website.