Ledger.com/Start® — Starting Up Your Device® || Ledger®®

Ledger.com/Start® | Starting Up Your Device® - Ledger®® — Ledger.com/Start® is the official onboarding hub to start your Ledger hardware device. This guide walks you step-by-step through initializing your device, installing Ledger Live Desktop®, securing your recovery phrase, pairing device models (Nano S Plus, Nano X), verifying downloads, and essential first-time security practices to start your crypto journey safely.

Why use Ledger.com/Start® to start your device

Ledger.com/Start® is designed as the single, trusted starting point for onboarding new Ledger hardware. Beginning the process at the official start page reduces the chance of encountering malicious imitators, fake installers, or phishing pages that try to trick users into revealing their recovery phrase. When you start at Ledger.com/Start®, you are guided to the correct Ledger Live Desktop® download, given checksum verification instructions, and shown the exact, device-specific steps for models such as Ledger Nano S Plus and Ledger Nano X.

Preparing before you connect your Ledger device

Prior to opening the box, pick a clean, private workspace with minimal distractions. You will need:

• A desktop or laptop for Ledger Live Desktop® installation (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• A stable internet connection to download Ledger Live Desktop® and any app updates.
• A pen and the recovery sheet that ships with the Ledger device or a secure metal backup if you prefer. Do not store the recovery phrase digitally.

Why physical backups matter

The recovery phrase is the universal backup of your private keys. If your device is lost or damaged, the 24-word phrase lets you restore control of funds on any compatible wallet. Physical backups — whether on paper or on a metal plate designed for seed storage — protect against accidental deletion, device failure, or theft of digital backups.

Installing Ledger Live Desktop®

Ledger Live Desktop® is the official companion application used to manage accounts, firmware, and apps on your Ledger device. To install safely:

1. Go to https://www.ledger.com/start (or Ledger.com/Start®) and follow the prompts for your device model.
2. Download the installer for your operating system. Ledger provides checksums — verify the installer hash (SHA256) using a trusted tool on your OS before running it.
3. Install and open Ledger Live Desktop®, then follow the onboarding flow for a new device.

Tip: Ledger Live Desktop® will never ask for your recovery phrase. If any page, pop-up, or support request asks for the 24-word phrase, treat it as a scam.

Initial device setup: PIN, recovery phrase, and firmware

When you power on your Ledger device for the first time you will be guided to create a PIN. Choose a PIN you can remember but that is not easily guessable. Next, your device will display the 24-word recovery phrase one word at a time — write each word exactly as shown and keep the sheet offline.

After writing your recovery phrase, confirm the words on the device as prompted. Ledger devices may offer optional firmware updates during setup; run only updates presented in Ledger Live Desktop® and verify you initiated them.

About firmware updates

Firmware updates improve device security and add compatibility. Ledger signs firmware releases; Ledger Live Desktop® applies updates through a secure channel. Never install firmware from unofficial sources or third-party downloads.

Pairing your device, adding accounts, and confirming addresses

With Ledger Live Desktop® installed and your device initialized, connect the device via USB (or Bluetooth for supported models) and open Ledger Live. Use the 'Add account' flow to install coin-specific apps on the device and to add accounts into Ledger Live Desktop®. Accounts show on the desktop UI, and balances are fetched from the network.

When preparing to send funds, always validate the destination address on your Ledger device screen. Confirm the address shown on the physical device matches the one in Ledger Live Desktop® — this prevents clipboard or host-based attacks from substituting addresses.

Security checklist: first steps after setup

Security is the reason users choose hardware wallets. After setup, ensure you complete the following:

• Store your recovery phrase offline in at least one secure physical location.
• Enable a strong OS-level account password and, if available, full-disk encryption on your computer.
• Keep Ledger Live Desktop® updated and only download updates from Ledger.com/Start® or the official Ledger website.
• Do not enter your recovery phrase into any website, app, or chat. Ledger staff will never ask for your phrase.

Troubleshooting common startup issues

If your device is not recognized, try a different USB cable, a different USB port, or restart your computer. For Bluetooth pairing issues on Ledger Nano X, ensure Bluetooth is enabled and that no other device is currently connected. If Ledger Live Desktop® shows an error about firmware or app versions, follow the on-screen prompts to update—again, only through Ledger Live Desktop®.

When to contact official support

If you suspect your recovery phrase was exposed or you notice unauthorized transactions, immediately move any remaining funds to a newly initialized device using a new, never-exposed recovery phrase. For account-specific questions, visit Ledger Support at support.ledger.com for official guidance.

Official resources and next steps

The following official pages are essential references:

• Start page (onboarding): Ledger.com/Start®
• Ledger Live Desktop®: ledger.com/ledger-live
• Support & Help Center: support.ledger.com
• Developer docs (for advanced integrations): developers.ledger.com