Your Ledger.
Set up with confidence.

Getting started with a hardware wallet is an important moment: you are taking a more direct role in protecting access to your digital assets. The process does not need to be complicated. The safest approach is to move deliberately, use trusted sources, and treat your recovery phrase as the most sensitive information you own. This guide explains how ledger.com/start fits into that journey and what to expect when you set up, download, and update your Ledger experience.

Begin at the official starting point

Type ledger.com/start into your browser yourself rather than following a link in an email, social post, direct message, or advertisement. Check the spelling of the domain before continuing. The page is intended to help new owners find setup instructions and the official Ledger Live download. Bookmark the verified page if you expect to return to it. A convincing design is not proof that a website is authentic, so always verify the address bar.

Unbox your device and inspect it before connecting. Ledger devices are designed to be initialized by their owner; a pre-filled recovery phrase, a card containing words, or instructions to use a supplied phrase should be treated as a serious warning. If anything about the packaging or device seems unusual, pause and consult Ledger’s official support resources. Never use a recovery phrase that someone else has prepared for you.

Download Ledger Live safely

From ledger.com/start, follow the route to the official Ledger Live page and select the version intended for your computer or phone. Desktop availability and requirements can change, so check the current instructions for Windows, macOS, or Linux rather than relying on an old tutorial. On mobile, use the link to the official Apple App Store or Google Play listing and confirm the publisher. Avoid third-party mirrors, file-sharing sites, sponsored search results that you have not verified, and unofficial browser extensions.

Once installed, open Ledger Live and follow its guided onboarding. Connect your hardware wallet using a trusted cable or supported connection, then use the buttons on the device to navigate. The app can guide you through choosing a PIN and generating a new recovery phrase. Choose a PIN that is not easily guessed, and keep your recovery phrase private as you write it down. The phrase is not a password for Ledger Live; it is a backup capable of restoring access to the wallet.

Protect your recovery phrase

Write each word in its correct order on the recovery sheet, and store that backup somewhere secure and offline. Do not take a photo, save the words in a notes app, email them to yourself, put them in cloud storage, or enter them into a website or computer. Ledger support will not ask you for the phrase. Anyone requesting it—whether they claim to be support, a security checker, or an update service—is not a safe reason to share it. If you are interrupted while recording it, start again carefully and verify each word on the device.

After setup, complete the authenticity and device checks shown in Ledger Live. Confirm important actions, including addresses and transaction details, on the hardware wallet’s own display. The computer screen alone is not the authority for approval. Consider making a small test transfer when learning a new workflow, and take time to understand network fees, addresses, and the asset network before sending anything significant. A hardware wallet protects signing keys; it cannot reverse a transaction sent to the wrong address.

Keep software and firmware current

Ledger Live and the firmware on a hardware wallet are updated separately. To check the app, open it directly and use its built-in update guidance or revisit Ledger’s official download page. If your app version is old, download the newest available version for your operating system from that trusted source. Do not install a file sent to you in a message, and do not rely on an unfamiliar site that promises an urgent fix. If automatic updates are available, review what the app is asking before approving.

Firmware updates are managed through the official app and may differ according to device model and current version. Read the instructions displayed in Ledger Live, make sure the device has a stable connection, and allow the process to finish without disconnecting it. Follow prompts on the device itself. Some updates may require you to reconnect or re-enter your PIN. Your recovery phrase should not be requested as part of a legitimate firmware update. Stop and verify through official support if any prompt asks you to type the words into a computer or phone.

Before an update, it is sensible to know where your offline backup is and to check that you can access it securely. Keep the backup private while doing so; there is no reason to photograph or digitize it. After an update, reopen Ledger Live, reconnect the device if needed, and confirm that the app recognizes it. If something does not look right, avoid repeated attempts through random troubleshooting links. Use official help material and take note of the exact error message without sharing sensitive recovery information.

Make a habit of checking the source

Security is not a one-time setup screen. Keep your computer and phone reasonably current, use a screen lock, and be cautious with unexpected attachments or requests to install remote-access software. When visiting ledger.com/start, check the domain each time, especially when arriving from a search result or message. Be wary of urgency, guaranteed returns, giveaway offers, and anyone asking you to validate a wallet by entering secret words. Legitimate support can help troubleshoot without knowing your recovery phrase.

Updates can bring compatibility changes, improvements, and security fixes, but you should still take a measured approach. Read the release guidance, make sure you understand the operation, and do not approve a transaction simply because an app recommends it. A software update and a crypto transaction are different actions. Review the screen on your device and approve only something you intended to do. Keep a record of which official app and device you use, but never record your PIN or recovery phrase alongside it.

A steady first day

You do not need to rush through setup. Start from ledger.com/start, download the official Ledger Live app for your platform, initialize your own device, write the recovery phrase offline, and learn how to verify actions on the device. Return to the official source when checking for application or firmware updates. If you are uncertain, pause and consult Ledger’s own documentation before proceeding. Good self-custody is built from small, repeatable habits: check the address, protect the backup, read each prompt, and keep control of your approvals.

This page is an independent getting-started guide and is not a substitute for current manufacturer instructions. Product features, supported operating systems, and update steps can change. Always use the official Ledger website for the latest downloads and device-specific guidance. With a verified source and careful handling of your recovery phrase, your Ledger.com/start setup can be clear, secure, and entirely under your control.