How to Set Up Your Ledger Wallet at ledger.com/start: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide

As cryptocurrency adoption continues to grow, so does the importance of keeping your digital assets safe. If you're serious about crypto, it's not enough to buy and hold — you also need to protect your investments from hackers, scams, and system failures.

The most effective way to do that is by using a hardware wallet — a physical device that stores your private keys offline. Among the top choices, Ledger stands out for its reliability, industry reputation, and ease of use.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explain how to set up your Ledger device through the official setup portal at ledger.com/start, while also covering essential tips for secure storage, usage, and maintenance.

What Is a Ledger Hardware Wallet?

A Ledger wallet is a physical device designed to protect your cryptocurrencies by storing your private keys offline. It adds a significant layer of protection by isolating your keys from potential threats on your phone or computer.

Ledger offers two major models:

These wallets are trusted by millions of users across the world and are widely regarded as some of the most secure ways to store digital assets.

Why You Need a Hardware Wallet Like Ledger

If you're holding crypto on an exchange, you're exposed to risks like:

Using a Ledger wallet eliminates these issues by giving you full custody of your assets. Your private keys remain on your Ledger device, inaccessible to hackers, apps, or any online platform.

Advantages of Ledger wallets include:

Getting Started at ledger.com/start

To begin the setup process, visit ledger.com/start — the official onboarding page provided by Ledger.

⚠️ Important: Always type this URL directly into your browser. Do not search for it or click on ads or unofficial links. This page is the only legitimate source for downloading Ledger Live and initializing your device safely.

What You’ll Need

Before you start, make sure you have:

Now you're ready to begin the setup process.

Step-by-Step Ledger Setup Instructions

Follow these steps to correctly and securely set up your Ledger device.

✅ Step 1: Unbox and Inspect the Device

Open your Ledger packaging and inspect the contents. Make sure:

If anything looks suspicious, do not use the device. Contact Ledger support immediately.

✅ Step 2: Visit ledger.com/start

Open your browser and go directly to ledger.com/start. This page will guide you through choosing your device model and downloading Ledger Live — the official software companion for managing your wallet.

Ledger Live is available for:

Download and install the version appropriate for your system.

✅ Step 3: Set Up the Device

After installing Ledger Live:

  1. Open the app and select “Set up as new device.”
  2. Connect your Ledger Nano to your computer using the included USB cable.
  3. The device will prompt you to choose a PIN code. This is required every time you access your wallet.
  4. After setting the PIN, the device will display a 24-word recovery phrase.

✅ Step 4: Write Down Your Recovery Phrase

This phrase is your only backup in case your device is lost, stolen, or damaged. If you lose this phrase, your funds will be unrecoverable.

Ledger will then ask you to confirm your recovery phrase by selecting the words in the correct order using the device buttons.

✅ Step 5: Install Apps via Ledger Live

Once your wallet is initialized and recovery phrase is confirmed:

  1. Open Ledger Live and go to “My Ledger.”
  2. You’ll be prompted to install apps for each type of crypto you want to store.
    • Example: Install the Bitcoin app to receive BTC.
    • You can install multiple apps, depending on your storage capacity.

The apps allow your device to interact with different blockchains securely.

✅ Step 6: Add Accounts

After installing apps, you’ll be able to add accounts to Ledger Live. Each account corresponds to a blockchain (e.g., Ethereum, Bitcoin).

  1. Click “Accounts” and select “Add account.”
  2. Choose the crypto asset (e.g., BTC, ETH).
  3. Ledger Live will prompt you to open the corresponding app on your device.
  4. Once verified, the account will be added and ready to use.

✅ Step 7: Send and Receive Crypto

To receive crypto:

To send crypto:

Always double-check that the address shown in Ledger Live matches what’s displayed on the device.

Ledger Wallet: Supported Cryptocurrencies

Ledger wallets support 5,000+ digital assets, including:

You can also interact with DeFi apps and NFTs using Ledger in combination with wallet extensions like MetaMask and WalletConnect.

What Happens If You Lose Your Ledger?

If your Ledger device is lost, stolen, or damaged, your crypto is not gone — as long as you have your 24-word recovery phrase.

To restore:

  1. Purchase a new Ledger wallet.
  2. Choose “Restore from recovery phrase” during setup.
  3. Enter the 24 words in the correct order.
  4. Your accounts and balances will be recovered exactly as they were.

This is why protecting your seed phrase is critical.

Tips for Maximum Security

DISCLAIMER

This article is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or cybersecurity advice. Use of the information provided is at your own risk, and we are not liable for any loss, damage, or theft resulting from improper use or interpretation of this guide.

Always ensure you are visiting the official Ledger website by manually typing the URL “ledger.com/start” into your browser. Never click on email links, social media ads, or suspicious popups claiming to represent Ledger. Phishing attacks are extremely common in the cryptocurrency industry and can lead to total loss of your funds.

The 24-word recovery phrase is the ONLY way to access your funds if your Ledger device is lost or reset. If this phrase is lost or falls into the wrong hands, your cryptocurrency cannot be recovered. Ledger, its affiliates, or any other third party cannot assist in recovering lost funds due to lost or compromised recovery phrases.

This content is independent and not affiliated with Ledger SAS or any of its services. All product names, logos, brands, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. You are solely responsible for performing your own due diligence and maintaining the security of your digital assets.

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