Ledger® Onboarding™

Ledger® Onboarding™ — Official Setup Hub | Ledger.com/start

Step-by-step setup, protection tips, and a compact FAQ to get your Ledger device up and running safely.

Getting started: first-time setup (H2)

Welcome to Ledger® Onboarding™ — this guide walks you through the official setup: unboxing, initializing your hardware wallet, connecting to Ledger Live, and securing your recovery phrase. Follow each step carefully; crypto security is a mindset, not just a checklist.

Quick setup steps (H3)

  1. Unbox & verify packaging — Make sure the Ledger seal is intact. If anything looks tampered with, stop and contact official support.
  2. Charge / power on — Follow the included manual to power your Ledger device and select language if prompted.
  3. Initialize & create PIN — Choose a secure PIN you will remember; never store it with your recovery phrase.
  4. Write down your recovery phrase — Use the supplied recovery sheet. Keep it offline and in multiple secure places.
  5. Install Ledger Live — Download the official Ledger Live desktop or mobile app from Ledger.com. Follow onscreen prompts to add accounts.
Security note: Ledger will never ask for your 24-word recovery phrase. Treat any request for your phrase as a scam attempt.

Advanced: restore vs. initialize (H4)

If you already have a recovery phrase, choose Restore during setup and enter your words exactly. If you don’t, choose Initialize to generate a new phrase.

Pro tip (H5)

Take a photo of your recovery card only after you’ve secured it — but prefer no digital copies. Physical separation (safe, deposit box) is best.

Security & best practices (H2)

Ledger devices are hardware wallets designed to store cryptographic keys offline. That reduces online attack surfaces, but it doesn't make you invincible. Below are practical controls to keep ownership secure.

Harden your setup (H3)

When you should use a passphrase (H4)

A passphrase adds another secret that derives a different set of accounts. It’s powerful, but if you lose the passphrase, you cannot recover those additional accounts — treat it like a new recovery phrase.

Emergency checklist (H5)
  1. If device is lost/stolen — use a trusted device to restore from your recovery phrase onto a new Ledger or compatible wallet and move funds to a new wallet if needed.
  2. If you suspect compromise — move funds to a new seed immediately and revoke allowances where relevant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (H2)

Resources & next steps (H2)

Follow these next steps after setup: keep Ledger firmware and Ledger Live updated, create a documented backup strategy, and practice cautious interaction with dApps and smart contracts. Consider reading the official Ledger support docs for model-specific instructions.

# Example quick checks after setup:
# 1. Verify device recognized:
#    - Open Ledger Live → Manager → Confirm device appears
# 2. Check account balances and sync:
#    - Accounts → Add account → Sync
# 3. Test with small transfer:
#    - Send 0.001 (or small token) to verify flow