Official® | Lédger.com/Start® | Getting Started

Welcome to Ledger. You’re taking the first step toward full control of your digital assets. Crypto was created to remove intermediaries and give individuals direct ownership. Ledger makes that promise practical by giving you powerful security tools that are easy to use from day one.

With Ledger, your crypto stays yours—protected by hardware designed specifically to secure private keys and shield them from online threats.

Why Hardware Security Matters

When crypto is stored on an exchange or in a software wallet, private keys are exposed to connected environments. Even strong passwords can’t fully protect assets if keys are stored online.

Ledger hardware wallets change this model entirely. Your private keys are created and stored inside your Ledger device, isolated from your computer or phone. Transactions can only be approved directly on the device, giving you a clear, physical layer of confirmation.

This approach helps protect you from:

• Online hacks and malware
• Phishing attacks and fake apps
• Unauthorized transactions

With Ledger, security is not optional—it’s built in.

Getting Ready to Set Up

Before starting, make sure your Ledger device was purchased from Ledger or an authorized reseller. Authentic devices are sealed and ready for secure initialization.

To continue, download Ledger Live, Ledger’s official app for desktop and mobile. Ledger Live walks you through each step of setup and becomes your central dashboard for managing crypto securely.

During initialization, your Ledger device will guide you through:

1. Choosing a PIN code to secure physical access
2. Generating a 24-word recovery phrase
3. Confirming each word on the device screen

Your recovery phrase is the only backup of your wallet. It allows you to restore your assets on any Ledger device if needed. Store it offline in a safe place. Never share it, never photograph it, and never enter it into any website or app. Ledger will never ask for your recovery phrase.

Manage Your Assets with Confidence

Once setup is complete, Ledger Live lets you manage thousands of supported cryptocurrencies and tokens from one secure interface. You can:

• Add and organize crypto accounts
• Send and receive assets with on-device verification
• Monitor balances and transactions
• Track your portfolio value over time

Every transaction must be reviewed and approved on your Ledger device. This ensures that nothing happens without your awareness and consent.

Expand Your Crypto Experience Safely

Ledger gives you the freedom to participate in the broader crypto ecosystem while keeping your keys protected. Through Ledger Live and trusted integrations, you can:

• Stake supported assets to earn rewards
• Swap cryptocurrencies securely
• Connect to decentralized applications and Web3 platforms

Even when interacting with third-party services, your private keys never leave your Ledger device. You stay in control at all times.

Built to Protect What Matters

Ledger devices use a Secure Element chip, a tamper-resistant technology used in highly secure industries such as banking and identity systems. This chip protects sensitive data from both physical and digital attacks.

Ledger also develops its own operating system, designed exclusively for crypto security. Combined with ongoing audits, open-source components, and independent security research, Ledger continuously strengthens its defenses against emerging threats.