Official, security-first guide to set up your Ledger hardware wallet — installs, backups, firmware, and best practices to keep your crypto safe.
Welcome to the official Ledger start guide. This page collects the essential steps new Ledger owners should follow: verify package authenticity, download Ledger Live from the official domain, initialize your device, record and protect your recovery phrase, verify firmware signatures, and connect to Web3 via supported partners. Doing these steps carefully reduces the chance of mistakes — and mistakes during setup are the most common cause of lost funds.
Before you begin, choose a quiet, offline-friendly workspace and have a pen plus the provided recovery card or a robust metal backup ready. Never take photos or copy your recovery phrase to a phone or cloud storage. If you purchased your device from a reseller, verify packaging and authenticity guidance before powering on the device.
When your Ledger arrives, inspect seals and packaging for tamper evidence. Ledger publishes authenticity guidance; if anything looks suspicious, contact official support and do not use the device. Next, only download Ledger Live and companion apps from the official domain — links above point to official pages. Ledger provides installers for Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile apps via app stores; advanced users can verify checksums and signatures for added assurance.
Installing Ledger Live gives you firmware management, account setup, and partner integrations in one place. Avoid third-party downloads, and when in doubt, verify the installer signature or checksum against the official release information.
Ledger Live is the recommended starting point. Install it from ledger.com/ledger-live/download, launch the app, and follow the “Get started” flow. Ledger Live will walk you through setting up a new device or restoring one. It also helps with firmware installation — Ledger firmware is signed and Ledger Live verifies the signatures during updates.
During setup Ledger Live will never ask you to type your recovery phrase into the computer. The device displays words on its screen — write them down exactly and store them offline. If you plan to use the Ledger with dApps, Ledger Live also shows recommended partner apps and integrations you can enable safely.
When creating a new wallet, the device will generate a recovery phrase (often 24 words). Write the words down exactly in the order shown using the included recovery card or a certified metal backup. Never photograph, screenshot, or copy the phrase to a digital file. If you choose to add a passphrase (an optional extra secret), remember it acts as an extension of the recovery phrase — losing the passphrase can make funds unrecoverable even if you have the words.
Balance redundancy and secrecy: multiple secure copies lower single-point-of-failure risk but increase exposure. For large holdings, consider multisig or splitting holdings across devices for defense in depth.
Ledger publishes firmware updates that improve security and add features. Ledger Live will notify you when an update is available and walk you through installing signed firmware. Only accept firmware updates through official Ledger Live prompts or the documented official process. If firmware fails to install or behaves oddly, stop and contact support rather than trying workaround steps from untrusted sources.
Check Ledger’s release notes and advisories (see the blog and support links) for context on critical updates and known issues. Audits and changelogs are public for those who want to independently verify changes.
After setup you can add accounts in Ledger Live for supported blockchains. Always test a new integration or dApp with a small amount first to validate address correctness, fees, and expected behavior. Ledger Live lists vetted partner integrations for swaps, staking, and DeFi; prefer those partners or recognized wallets when you interact outside Ledger Live.
For browser-based dApps, follow official guidance and use partner wallets or recommended flows — do not paste your recovery phrase anywhere and confirm all signatures on the device display before approving.
Protect your privacy by keeping seed backups offline and avoiding public exposure of account details when possible. Consider durable metal backups for disaster resistance and store them in secure locations. For advanced users: multisignature setups, hardware-split strategies, and geographic separation of backups are all useful techniques to raise resilience for high-value holdings.
Ledger Academy and the official developer resources provide deeper guides on staking, DeFi interaction, and building secure workflows. Reference links below include official docs, developer portals, and GitHub for integrations.
A — Download Ledger Live from the official Ledger site: ledger.com/ledger-live/download. Verify checksums if you want extra assurance.
A — Write it on the provided recovery card or use a certified metal backup and store it offline in a secure place. Never store the phrase digitally or share it online.
A — If you have your recovery phrase you can restore funds to a new device. If both the device and recovery phrase are lost, funds may be irrecoverable.
A — Yes. Use Ledger Live integrations or vetted partner wallets listed in Ledger Live, and always confirm signatures on the device screen. Test with small amounts first.
A — Official resources: Ledger Academy, Ledger Support, the Ledger Blog, and the developer portal at developer.ledger.com.
These official links are useful during setup and beyond. Always confirm domain authenticity before downloading or entering sensitive information.