It is the starting point of the whole hardware-wallet experience — the page you visit
first, before you ever plug the device into your computer.
Ledger.com/Start is the official onboarding entry point for Ledger hardware wallets. It
is where you download Ledger Wallet (the companion app), confirm you are
on the genuine domain, and follow the guided flow that initialises your device. The page
itself does not hold your crypto, and it never holds your keys. It is simply the door.
Your digital assets live on the blockchain, not inside the device. The hardware wallet
stores the private keys that unlock them — offline, behind a PIN, never exposed to your
computer or your browser. That single design choice is why a hardware wallet is a
different class of protection from a phone app or an exchange account.
Before you type anything
Only the genuine domain, reached by typing it yourself or through a saved bookmark, is
the right place to begin. Search results and adverts for "Ledger" are a common hunting
ground for copycat pages. Bookmark the real address once and use the bookmark forever.
Before You Begin: Your Setup Checklist
Have these five things ready and the whole process takes roughly fifteen minutes.
A sealed Ledger device — bought from the official store or an
authorised reseller. If the box arrived already opened, or the device looks tampered
with, do not set it up.
The original cable and accessories — a genuine USB cable or the
supplied connector. Loose third-party cables cause most "device not detected" errors.
A computer or phone with a stable connection, running an up-to-date
version of the companion app.
The recovery-phrase sheet from the box — card stock, pen, and nothing
digital. Never a photo, note, cloud document, password manager or screenshot.
Ten quiet minutes alone — the recovery phrase must never be written
while anyone else can see the screen or the paper.
Your box includes everything you need
There is nothing extra to buy and no subscription required. Anyone who contacts you
offering help to "complete your setup" for a fee is running a scam.
Step-by-Step: Getting Started
Follow the flow in order. The device screen and the app screen will ask you to confirm
the same thing — that two-way check is the point.
1
Download the official app
~3 minutes
Install Ledger Wallet from the official site or your platform's official store, and
open only that app. Check the publisher name before installing: counterfeit apps with
near-identical names exist on search results and app stores.
2
Connect and unlock your device
~2 minutes
Plug the device in, wake it, and let the app detect it. If it is not recognised, try a
different cable or port first — that solves the vast majority of connection problems
before you touch any settings.
3
Choose "set up as new device"
~1 minute
A brand-new device gets the "new device" path. Only choose "restore from recovery
phrase" if you are recovering an existing wallet on a replacement device.
4
Write down your recovery phrase
~5 minutes · most important step
The device shows 24 words, one at a time. Copy them by hand onto the supplied sheet,
in order, with a pen. Then let the device quiz you to confirm the order. This phrase
is the only way to restore your assets if the hardware is lost or damaged.
5
Set your PIN
~1 minute
Choose a PIN you have never used elsewhere and enter it on the device itself. The PIN
protects the device from someone holding it — it does not replace the recovery phrase.
6
Install apps and add your first account
~4 minutes
In the app, install the asset apps you actually need — Bitcoin, Ethereum and so on —
then add an account for each. Sending and receiving always ends with a confirmation
pressed on the device screen. Never approve a transaction you have not read on the
hardware itself.
Verify the addresses on the device
Malware can change an address on a computer screen. Compare the first and last
characters of the receive address on your device's own display before copying it, and do
the same before every outgoing transaction.
Your 24-Word Recovery Phrase: The One Golden Rule
The recovery phrase — sometimes called the seed phrase — is a human-readable backup of
the master key inside your device. Anyone who has those 24 words, in order, can restore
your accounts and move your funds on any compatible wallet anywhere in the world. It is
not a password. It cannot be reset, changed, recovered or cancelled by support.
That is why the rule is absolute: the phrase is written on paper, kept offline,
and never typed into a website, app, chat, email or form — ever. Reading it aloud
on a call, photographing it, or storing it in a cloud note creates a permanent copy that
no PIN and no hardware can protect.
No legitimate service ever asks for your 24 words
Not support agents, not wallet apps, not "validation" or "sync" pages, not migration
tools. Any screen asking you to enter your recovery phrase is a theft attempt. Close it.
The only place a recovery phrase is ever entered is the hardware device itself, using its
own buttons.
Do
Store the paper sheet somewhere private and fire-safe. Consider a second copy in a
separate secure location, and a metal backup for serious holdings.
Don't
Never photograph it, never email it, never type it into a computer, never store it in
a browser password manager or cloud drive.
Careful
Never accept help typing it in. A phrase split "in half for safety" or entered onto a
"secure portal" is the classic pattern of a drain scam.
Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues
Almost every first-time hiccup falls into one of these five categories.
What you see
Most likely cause
What to try
Device not detected
Cable, port, or a hub in the way
Use the supplied cable, plug directly into the machine, try another USB port.
App stuck on "connecting"
Outdated app or firmware
Update both to the newest official version, then reconnect.
Device shows "restore" only
Setup path already started
Only continue if you hold the phrase; otherwise start the new-device flow.
Missing balance after setup
Accounts added under a different phrase
Confirm you restored the same wallet, then re-add the account for that asset.
Browser blocked the download
Wrong download source
Return to the official domain and download from there only.
Firmware updates are safe and expected
Updates are signed and verified by the device. You will confirm them on the device screen,
and your keys stay protected throughout the process.
What You Can Manage After Setup
Once the device is initialised, support is broad and expands with new app releases.
Major networks
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, Litecoin and many more, each with its own app.
Tokens & NFTs
Thousands of tokens and digital collectibles in supported formats, viewable in the app.
Buy, swap, stake
In-app services for purchasing, exchanging and staking where available in your region.
Portfolio view
Balances, transaction history and price charts for every account you add.
Staying Safe: Spotting a Fake "Start" Page
The setup process is a favourite target for phishing because it happens once and feels
urgent. Three habits neutralise nearly all of it. First, never reach the site through an
advert, a direct message, or a search result — type the domain yourself. Second, check the
address bar character by character; lookalike domains differ by a letter or a hyphen.
Third, treat any unsolicited contact about your wallet as hostile by default.
Ledger support never opens a chat to ask for your phrase, never sends a link asking you to
"validate" a wallet, and never requests remote access to your computer. If someone calls
claiming to be from a wallet company and mentions anything about a compromised device or a
pending migration, end the call. Nothing good follows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the whole setup take?
Most people finish in about fifteen minutes, and the only slow part is the deliberate
one: writing the 24 words by hand and letting the device verify the order.
Do I need to buy anything else to get started?
No. The device, cable and recovery sheet in the box are everything required for setup.
Optional accessories — a metal backup, a case, extra cables — are conveniences, not
requirements.
What if I lose the device?
As long as you have the recovery phrase, you can restore your accounts onto a
replacement device and regain access. That is exactly why the paper backup matters more
than the hardware itself.
Can support recover my recovery phrase for me?
Never. It is generated on your device and is not stored by anyone else, so no company,
support team or technician can retrieve it — and anyone claiming they can is trying to
take your funds.
Is it safe to use a phone instead of a computer?
Yes, where a supported connection is available. The security model is unchanged: keys
stay on the device, and every transaction is confirmed on the device screen.
Your Next Steps
Setup is a one-time job. Good habits are what keep the wallet safe afterwards.
Start with the domain, download the official app, initialise the device, and write the
phrase on paper before you move a single coin. Then add only the accounts you need, verify
every address on the device display, and keep the paper backup where nobody else can
reach it. Do that and your keys stay yours — offline, private and under your control,
which is the entire reason to own a hardware wallet in the first place.