A concise, step-by-step walkthrough to set up your Ledger hardware wallet and Ledger Live safely.
This guide helps new users securely start with Ledger hardware wallets and Ledger Live. It covers unpacking, initializing, creating backups, updating firmware, and basic troubleshooting. Follow each step carefully — hardware wallets protect your private keys offline, so small setup mistakes can lead to permanent loss of funds.
Never share your recovery phrase. Ledger employees will never ask for it. Store your recovery seed offline — use the provided recovery sheet or a durable backup solution.
Open the package and verify tamper-evidence seals. Confirm you received a genuine Ledger product by checking serial numbers and packaging. If something looks off, contact Ledger support immediately.
Install Ledger Live from the official source. Avoid third-party download sites. Ledger Live is the companion app for managing accounts, installing apps, and updating firmware.
Follow the on-device prompts to set a PIN and generate a recovery phrase (24 words recommended). Physically confirm the words shown on the device — never enter them into a computer.
Write the seed words on the supplied recovery sheet or use a metal backup. Do not take photos or save the phrase digitally. Keep multiple copies in secure locations if appropriate.
Open Ledger Live and follow the app to add your device. Ledger Live will detect the device and guide you to install the needed apps (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) on your Ledger device.
Install only the Ledger-sanctioned apps for the blockchains you wish to use. Then add accounts in Ledger Live to view balances, receive funds, and initiate transactions.
Ledger Live may prompt for firmware updates. Only install firmware when connected to Ledger Live and ensure you're downloading updates from the official Ledger servers.
Before transferring large sums, send a small test transaction to your new Ledger address. Confirm receipt in Ledger Live and on-chain explorers.
Consider durable backup solutions (stainless steel seed storage). Use geographically-separated storage for backups if possible.
Keep firmware up to date, but avoid updating during large transactions. Only pair your Ledger with trusted devices and networks.
You can use Ledger with supported third-party wallets (e.g., MetaMask, WalletConnect) to access dApps, but keep the Ledger as the signer to protect keys.
Try a different cable, USB port, or computer. Reboot the host machine. Ensure Ledger Live is up to date.
If you forget your PIN, you must reset the device and restore from your recovery seed. This is why a secure backup is essential.
Without the recovery phrase, funds are unrecoverable. Contact support for guidance but understand recovery without the seed is not possible.
(Open these links from official ledger.com domains only — avoid third-party mirrors.)
Ledger devices typically use a 24-word recovery phrase. Some devices or modes may present 12 or 18 words — always follow on-device instructions.
Ledger devices store private keys offline which greatly reduces attack surface. Social engineering, phishing, or compromised backups remain the primary risks.
Yes — Ledger Live supports both desktop and mobile, and some devices connect via Bluetooth for mobile use.