Ledger Start — Get Started with Ledger.com/Start

What is Ledger.com/Start?

Ledger.com/Start is the official onboarding entrypoint provided by Ledger for first-time users. It walks you through powering on your Ledger device, installing Ledger Live, creating a new wallet, and learning essential security hygiene. The goal is simple: help you securely take custody of your private keys while avoiding common setup pitfalls.

Before you begin

Gather these items and make a calm, distraction-free space. A secure setup is more about good habits than complex steps.

Your new Ledger hardware device (Ledger Nano S Plus, Nano X, or similar).
A computer or phone with a USB (or Bluetooth for supported models).
Paper and a pen (for writing your recovery phrase) — never type your seed onto a computer or cloud service.
A strong mindset: do not share your recovery phrase, and only use Ledger's official site: ledger.com/start.

Step-by-step: Using Ledger.com/Start

Open the official site. Type ledger.com/start directly into your browser or scan the official URL from Ledger's packaging. Avoid search engine shortcuts for initial setup to reduce the risk of typosquats.
Download Ledger Live. From the Start page, choose the correct Ledger Live app for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS). Verify signatures if you are familiar with that process; otherwise, use the official download link only.
Power on the device. Follow on-screen prompts on the device. Choose to create a new wallet if you don’t already have one. Keep your device in view while you interact with it; the hardware screen is the single trusted display during setup.
Write down the recovery phrase. Your device will generate a recovery phrase (typically 24 words). Write them down in order on the included recovery card or another offline medium. Do this carefully: this phrase is the sole backup of your crypto holdings.
Confirm the recovery phrase. The device will ask you to confirm a few words to ensure you recorded them correctly. This is a device-level check — complete it directly on the Ledger hardware.
Set a PIN. Choose a PIN you can remember but others won’t guess. The PIN protects the device UI; even if someone physically has the device, it prevents immediate access.
Install apps and add accounts in Ledger Live. Use Ledger Live to install coin-specific apps (for example, Bitcoin, Ethereum) on your device. Add accounts in Ledger Live to view balances and manage transactions while the private keys remain on the device.

Security best practices

Protecting your assets is mostly about process. Here are the core rules:

Never share your recovery phrase with anyone — not support, not friends, not strangers. No legitimate service will ever ask for it.
Keep backups of your recovery phrase in multiple secure locations (preferably offline and fire-resistant). Consider using a dedicated metal backup for long-term resilience.
Verify URLs and apps. Always download Ledger Live from Ledger's official site and avoid third-party installers.
Use the device screen. Approve transactions only on your Ledger device — the hardware screen is the final arbiter of what you sign.

Troubleshooting & tips

Common hiccups are usually simple to fix:

If Ledger Live doesn't detect your device, check the cable and try another USB port. Rebooting the host machine can help.
If you lose your PIN but still have your recovery phrase, you can restore your wallet on a new Ledger device using the recovery phrase. If you lose both, funds are unrecoverable.
For mobile Bluetooth connection issues, ensure the Ledger device firmware and Ledger Live app are up to date and that Bluetooth permissions are granted on your phone.

Why hardware wallets matter

Hardware wallets like Ledger keep private keys offline, isolated from internet-connected devices. That isolation dramatically reduces exposure to malware, phishing, and remote hacks. When you sign a transaction, the private key never leaves the device — you verify and approve each action physically on the hardware.