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Get Started with Confidence at Ledger.com/start | Official Setup Guide

Get Started with Confidence at Ledger.com/start

The transition to secure self-custody of your digital assets is a critical step, and **Ledger.com/start** is the official, trusted gateway designed to guide you through this process with maximum security and clarity. Whether you have just unboxed your Ledger Nano S Plus, Nano X, or the new Ledger Stax, following the authenticated resources found here ensures you establish your security foundation correctly, bypassing phishing risks and setting up your device according to industry-leading standards.

Ledger’s architecture is built on the principle of **absolute key isolation**. Your private keys—the ownership proof of your crypto—remain permanently offline within the certified Secure Element (a tamper-proof chip). The **Ledger Wallet™ App** (often referred to as Ledger Live™), which you will download here, serves as the user-friendly interface that securely connects your hardware signer to the public blockchain, allowing you to manage, transact, and grow your portfolio without ever exposing your sensitive information to the internet.

This comprehensive guide details the required steps: downloading the official software, initializing your device with a unique PIN, generating and securing your 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase, and validating your device's authenticity.

1. Download the Official Ledger Wallet App Here

1. Essential Preparation and Security Review

Before connecting your device, ensure you have a distraction-free, private environment. Proper preparation minimizes the risk of human error—often the weakest link in the security chain.

Your Mandatory Setup Checklist

  • **Ledger Hardware Signer:** Ensure your device is new and purchased from Ledger or an authorized retailer.
  • **Original Recovery Sheets:** The blank, numbered sheets provided in your Ledger box.
  • **A Pen:** For permanently and legibly recording your Secret Recovery Phrase.
  • **A Desktop Computer:** Recommended for the initial secure setup and critical firmware updates.
🛑 **Security Integrity Check:** If you receive a device where the box is open, the device has been tampered with, or—most critically—if it includes a pre-written or pre-printed **24-word Secret Recovery Phrase**, **DO NOT USE THE DEVICE.** Your security is compromised. Contact Ledger Support immediately for assistance. A genuine Ledger device requires you to generate the phrase yourself.

2. Official Software Download and Initialization

The Ledger Wallet App is essential for device management and portfolio viewing. Always rely on **Ledger.com/start** for the official download link to ensure software integrity.

  1. **Download the App:** Use the official link to download the latest Ledger Wallet App for your desktop operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  2. **Install and Launch:** Run the installer and open the application. Select **"Set up a new device"** and choose your specific Ledger model from the list.
  3. **Follow On-Screen Prompts:** Ledger Live will walk you through the connection process and prompt you to begin the physical setup on your device.

3. The Cryptographic Core: PIN and Secret Recovery Phrase

This phase is performed entirely on your Ledger device’s secure screen, physically isolating the generation of your most valuable data.

Steps on the Ledger Device Screen

  1. **Connect and Power On:** Connect the Ledger device to your computer.
  2. **Establish PIN Code:** Use the device's physical buttons to choose and confirm a strong 4-to-8 digit PIN code. This PIN locks the device against physical theft.
  3. **Generate and Record the Secret Recovery Phrase:** The Ledger device will generate and display your **24-word Secret Recovery Phrase** sequentially. You **MUST** write these words down accurately, one by one, on the provided Recovery Sheets. **Do not use your computer, phone, or any digital medium.**
  4. **Confirm Accuracy:** The device will prompt you to verify the phrase by asking you to input specific words. This final on-device check ensures you have recorded the phrase correctly—this step is vital as there is no second chance.

Your **Secret Recovery Phrase** is the only key to restoring your funds if your device is lost or damaged. Store it securely, offline, and separate from your Ledger device. Never share it with anyone.

4. The Absolute Assurance: Ledger Genuine Check

This mandatory step uses cryptographic proof to confirm the hardware signer's authenticity. Ledger Live performs a handshake with the device and Ledger’s secure server, verifying that the chip is genuine and the firmware is official.

  1. **Start the Check:** In Ledger Live, click the prompt to **"Check your device"** or start the Genuine Check.
  2. **Authorize Manager:** Unlock your Ledger device with your PIN. The device screen will display a message asking for permission (e.g., **"Allow Ledger Manager?"**).
  3. **Physical Confirmation:** Press both physical buttons on your Ledger device to authorize the check.
  4. **Verification Result:** Ledger Live will confirm with a definitive message: **"Your Ledger device is genuine."** This assurance confirms your security foundation is uncompromised.

5. The Manager and Accounts: Portfolio Synchronization

Once your device is initialized and verified, you use the **Manager** tab to install the necessary blockchain applications and the **Accounts** tab to view your assets.

Device and Account Management Steps

  • **Firmware and App Installation:** Navigate to the **"Manager"** tab. Install the specific applications (e.g., Bitcoin app, Ethereum app) required to manage the coins you plan to hold. Ensure your Ledger OS firmware is always updated here.
  • **Add Accounts:** Go to the **"Accounts"** tab and click **"+ Add account."** Select the cryptocurrency and open the corresponding app on your physical Ledger device. Ledger Live will securely scan the blockchain to find the associated addresses and accounts.
  • **Portfolio View:** Once added, your accounts will synchronize, and your balances will appear in the **"Portfolio"** dashboard, giving you a real-time, comprehensive view of your digital wealth.

6. Transacting with Absolute Confidence

The Ledger security protocol extends to every transaction, ensuring you are never vulnerable to online exploits during a transfer.

  • **Secure Receiving:** When generating an address to receive funds, you are always required to **verify the address on your Ledger device's secure screen**. This prevents malicious software from replacing the correct address with a hacker's address.
  • **Clear Signing (Sending):** When initiating a transfer, your hardware signer requires you to **manually confirm the recipient address, the exact amount, and the network fees** on its physical screen before the transaction is cryptographically signed. This vital step is known as "What You See Is What You Sign" (WYSIWYS).

Congratulations! By following the official steps at **Ledger.com/start**, you are now managing your crypto assets with uncompromised, industry-leading security.

Explore all features of the Ledger Wallet App: Securely Buy, Swap, Stake, and manage your NFTs.