Official Site® | Ledger.com/Start®

Getting started with Ledger® — a clear, practical guide for new users who want to secure crypto with a hardware wallet and Ledger Live.

Beginner → Secure

Why use a Ledger hardware wallet?

Short answer

Ledger hardware wallets keep your private keys offline (cold storage). That means even if your computer or phone is compromised, attackers cannot remotely steal your keys. Ledger combines a secure chip, an audited OS, and Ledger Live (the companion app) to manage, send and receive 5,000+ assets safely.

Before you begin — preparation

What you’ll need

Tip: Only download Ledger Live from the official site to avoid fake apps and phishing. See official links below.

Step-by-step setup (quick overview)

1. Visit Ledger.com/start

Open ledger.com/start which gives the official, device-specific setup flow and the Ledger Live download link.

2. Download Ledger Live

Download the Ledger Live app for your OS from the official download page and install it. (Windows / macOS / Linux / Mobile).

3. Initialize the device

Create a new wallet on the device, set a PIN, and write down the 24-word recovery phrase exactly as shown. This phrase is the only backup of your funds.

4. Install apps & add accounts

Use Ledger Live’s “Manager” to install the apps for the coins you want to use, then add accounts to view balances and transact.

Safety best practices

Do
  1. Only download Ledger Live from ledger.com/ledger-live-download.
  2. Store your 24-word recovery phrase offline and never share it.
  3. Keep your device firmware up-to-date via Ledger Live.
Don’t
  1. Enter your recovery phrase into any app or website.
  2. Buy devices from third-party marketplaces that could be tampered with.

Start here — trusted Ledger pages you may need while setting up and managing your device: