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Ledger.com/Start® | Official Getting Started Guide - Ledger

Ledger.com/Start® | Official Guide to Getting Started with Ledger Security

The URL **Ledger.com/Start®** is the dedicated and authenticated entry point for every user looking to set up their Ledger hardware signer (such as the Nano S Plus, Nano X, or Ledger Stax). This guide is designed to eliminate uncertainty and protect you from fraudulent sites, ensuring you follow the precise, secure steps necessary to take full, non-custodial control of your cryptocurrencies and digital assets. By starting here, you guarantee your security foundation meets the industry's highest standards.

Ledger's revolutionary security model relies on the principle of **absolute key isolation**. Your critical private keys—the cryptographic proof of ownership—are generated and stored offline within the device's certified Secure Element chip, making them invulnerable to online threats like viruses or malware. The **Ledger Wallet™ App** (referred to throughout as Ledger Live™), which you will download via this official site, acts as the secure, user-friendly interface that connects your physical device to the blockchain, allowing for seamless management, tracking, and transaction signing.

This comprehensive guide details the required steps: downloading the official Ledger Live software, initializing your device with a unique PIN, generating and securing your 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase, and validating your device's cryptographic authenticity.

1. Download the Official Ledger Wallet App (Ledger Live)

1. Essential Preparation and Integrity Check

Before plugging in your device, ensure you have a private, uninterrupted space. The initial setup requires focused attention to correctly record your security information.

Mandatory Pre-Setup Checklist

  • **Genuine Ledger Hardware Signer:** Verify the device was purchased from Ledger or an authorized retailer.
  • **Original Contents:** Ensure you have the USB cable and the **three blank Recovery Sheets** provided in the box.
  • **A Pen:** Necessary for permanently and legibly recording your Secret Recovery Phrase.
  • **A Desktop Computer:** Highly recommended for the initial setup, device updates, and stability.
🛑 **Crucial Anti-Phishing Alert:** If your Ledger box appears tampered with, or if it contains a pre-written or pre-printed **24-word Secret Recovery Phrase**, **DO NOT USE THE DEVICE.** Immediately stop and contact Ledger Support. A brand-new, secure Ledger device requires you to generate and record the phrase yourself.

2. Installing the Official Ledger Wallet App

The Ledger Wallet App (Ledger Live) is essential for activating and managing your device. Always download the application through the official links provided on **Ledger.com/Start®** to guarantee the software's authenticity.

  1. **Click the Official Link:** Use the provided button or link to navigate directly to the download page.
  2. **Select and Install:** Download the installer file compatible with your desktop OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Execute the file and follow the clear installation instructions.
  3. **Launch and Initiate:** Open the newly installed Ledger Live App. On the welcome screen, choose the option to **"Set up a new device"** and select your specific model (e.g., Nano X).

3. Generating Your Keys: PIN and Secret Recovery Phrase

This phase is the cryptographic heart of your security setup and is exclusively performed on your Ledger device's physical screen, completely isolated from your computer.

The Critical Steps on the Hardware Device

  1. **Connect and Activate:** Connect your Ledger device to your computer via USB. The device will turn on and prompt you to set up your PIN.
  2. **Establish PIN Code:** Use the physical buttons on the device to select and confirm a unique 4-to-8 digit PIN code. This PIN is your physical defense against unauthorized access.
  3. **Generate and Record the 24-Word Master Key:** The Ledger device will generate and display your **24-word Secret Recovery Phrase** sequentially. You **MUST** write these words down accurately, in the correct numbered order, on the blank **Recovery Sheets**. Do not use a photo, screenshot, or any digital recording.
  4. **Confirm Accuracy:** The device will then prompt you to confirm specific words from the phrase (e.g., "What is word #15?") to verify the accuracy of your recording. Complete this confirmation using the physical buttons.

Your Secret Recovery Phrase is your ultimate backup. **Store it in a physically secure, hidden, and fireproof location.** If you lose this phrase, access to your funds is permanently lost if your device breaks or is lost.

4. The Absolute Security Check: Genuine Ledger Verification

The Ledger Genuine Check is a mandatory cryptographic process that verifies your device’s integrity, ensuring that it is an official Ledger product and running uncompromised firmware.

  1. **Initiate Check:** In Ledger Live, click the prompt to **"Check your device"** or start the Genuine Check.
  2. **Authorize Manager:** Unlock your Ledger device with your PIN. The device screen will display a message asking for communication permission (e.g., **"Allow Ledger Manager?"**).
  3. **Physical Confirmation:** You must physically confirm this action on the Ledger device by pressing both buttons simultaneously.
  4. **Verification Result:** Ledger Live will communicate with Ledger’s secure server and confirm: **"Your Ledger device is genuine."** This final assurance solidifies your security foundation.

5. Manager & Accounts: Preparing Your Portfolio

With your device verified, you use the **Manager** tab in Ledger Live to install the necessary blockchain applications and the **Accounts** tab to view your balances.

Device and Account Management Steps

  • **Firmware and App Installation:** Navigate to the **"Manager"** tab. Install the specific applications (e.g., the Bitcoin app, the Ethereum app) for the cryptocurrencies you intend to hold. Always check here for Ledger OS firmware updates.
  • **Add Accounts:** Go to the **"Accounts"** tab and click **"+ Add account."** Select the cryptocurrency and open the corresponding app on your physical Ledger device.
  • **Synchronization:** Ledger Live securely scans the public blockchain to identify the addresses and accounts associated with your device’s keys, displaying your balance in the **"Portfolio"** dashboard.

6. Confident Transactions: The Clear Signing Protocol

The security provided by Ledger is enforced with every single transaction you make, ensuring you are never vulnerable during transfers.

  • **Secure Receiving:** When generating a receive address, you are required to **verify the address on your Ledger device's secure screen**. This prevents clipboard-hijacking malware from substituting a hacker's address.
  • **Clear Signing (Sending):** When initiating a transfer, your device requires you to **manually confirm the recipient address, the exact amount, and the transaction fees** on its physical screen before signing. This "What You See Is What You Sign" (WYSIWYS) process ensures full control and transparency.

Congratulations! By starting at **Ledger.com/Start®**, you have completed the secure setup process. You are now the sole, secure custodian of your digital assets.

Continue your journey and explore the full features of Ledger Live: Securely Buy, Swap, Stake, and manage your NFTs.