Secure your digital assets with the world's most trusted hardware wallet. Follow our comprehensive guide to set up your Ledger device and protect your cryptocurrency from online threats.
Begin Your Secure JourneyIn the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, security is not just an option—it's a necessity. Ledger hardware wallets provide the highest level of protection for your digital assets by keeping your private keys offline, away from internet-connected devices that are vulnerable to hacking attempts.
Ledger devices utilize a secure chip (CC EAL5+ certified) similar to those used in passports and credit cards, providing robust protection against sophisticated attacks.
Store over 5,500 different cryptocurrencies and tokens, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and all ERC-20 tokens.
Ledger Live app provides an intuitive dashboard to manage your portfolio, send and receive crypto, and access decentralized applications.
Your 24-word recovery phrase allows you to restore access to your crypto assets if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Follow these steps carefully to initialize your Ledger device and ensure maximum security for your cryptocurrency investments.
Carefully unbox your Ledger device and check that all components are present. Connect your Ledger hardware wallet to your computer using the provided USB cable.
Navigate to Ledger.com/start in your web browser. Download and install Ledger Live, the official companion application for managing your crypto assets.
Follow the on-screen instructions in Ledger Live to set up your device as new. Choose a strong PIN code with 4-8 digits that you'll remember but others can't easily guess.
Your device will generate a 24-word recovery phrase. Write these words down in exact order on your recovery sheet. Store this sheet in multiple secure locations—never digitally.
Your Ledger will ask you to confirm several words from your recovery phrase to ensure you've recorded it correctly. This step is crucial for future recovery.
Use Ledger Live to install applications for the cryptocurrencies you want to manage. Each crypto asset requires its own application on your Ledger device.
In Ledger Live, add accounts for each cryptocurrency you wish to manage. Your Ledger will generate unique receiving addresses for each account.
Send a small test transaction first to verify everything works correctly. Then transfer the remainder of your crypto assets to your new Ledger-secured addresses.
While Ledger devices provide excellent security, following these additional practices will further protect your investments:
If you encounter problems during setup, here are solutions to the most common issues:
Try a different USB cable or port. Ensure you're using the original cable that came with your device. Update USB drivers if necessary.
Check your internet connection and firewall settings. Ledger Live requires internet access to function properly but doesn't expose your private keys.
If you've forgotten your PIN, you'll need to reset your device using your 24-word recovery phrase. This will wipe the device, allowing you to set a new PIN.
Check that you've set an appropriate transaction fee. Higher fees typically result in faster confirmations, especially during network congestion.