Official Site® | Ledger.com/Start®

Welcome — why this guide matters

If you bought a Ledger hardware wallet or you're about to, this is the friendly, practical walkthrough to take you from unboxing to confidently managing your crypto and backups. We'll cover the essential steps you need to follow at Ledger.com/Start®, highlight common pitfalls, and show how to keep records safely (including ways to combine with office productivity workflows).

This guide uses plain language and shows headings, code snippets, and visual structure you can copy directly into your blog, documentation, or personal notes.

Quick snapshot

5 minutes — initial setup

About the minimum time you’ll need to initialize and create a secure backup (plus more time to verify).

What you’ll learn

How to initialize a Ledger device safely
Best practices for storing your recovery phrase
How to use Ledger Live and integrate records with Office tools
How to avoid common scams and suspicious links

Step-by-step setup (detailed)

Unboxing & verifying authenticity

When you receive a Ledger device, authenticity matters. Always purchase from an official source (for example, ledger.com) or an authorized reseller. Check packaging for:

Factory seals that are intact
Instruction card and recovery sheet included
No pre-filled recovery phrase (a device should never come pre-initialized with a recovery phrase)

If anything feels off, stop and contact support or the seller before connecting it to your computer.

Power up & choose “Set up as new device”

Plug the Ledger into your computer or phone. On first power-up you will be asked whether to restore a device or set up as new — choose Set up as new device unless you are recovering from an existing seed.

You will be asked to choose a PIN. Use a PIN you can remember but that would be hard for others to guess. Ledger devices enforce a few important hardware-level protections that make brute-forcing harder, but your PIN remains a first-line guard.

Write down the recovery phrase (seed)

This is the single most important step. Your recovery phrase (usually 24 words for Ledger devices) is the only reliable way to recover funds if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Best practices for recovery phrase

Write the words exactly in order on the provided recovery card.
Do not store your seed digitally (no photos, screenshots, cloud notes).
Consider using a metal backup plate for long-term protection from fire, water, and corrosion.
Store copies in physically separate, secure locations (e.g., safe + safety deposit box) if you want redundancy.

Never share your recovery phrase. Ledger or any legitimate service will never ask for it.

Install Ledger Live and firmware updates

Ledger Live is the official companion app to manage your device. Download Ledger Live from the official site (links in the resource box). After installing:

Open Ledger Live and follow on-screen prompts to connect your device
Confirm firmware updates when prompted — firmware updates contain important security patches
Only accept updates shown in Ledger Live; avoid external firmware files from unknown sources

Why firmware matters

Firmware is like the device's operating system. Keeping it up to date ensures that the wallet has the latest protections against known vulnerabilities.

Add accounts & test with a small amount

After setup and firmware updates, add accounts (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) through Ledger Live. Always test by sending a small amount first so you can confirm the receiving address and confirm transactions work as expected.

This reduces the risk of human error when sending larger amounts later on.

Security habits & avoidance of common scams

Security is a habit, not a one-time action. Maintain these habits:

Never enter your recovery phrase into any website or software (including your computer).
Beware of phishing emails and fake customer support numbers. Official support will not ask for your recovery phrase.
Keep your firmware and Ledger Live updated; verify update prompts inside Ledger Live only.
Use passphrases (advanced users) carefully — they are powerful but can make recovery harder if you forget the passphrase.

Recognizing phishing and fake links

Phishing attempts may try to mimic official sites using URLs that are slightly different (typosquats) or use copycat designs. Always validate:

Is the domain exact? (e.g., ledger.com — not ledger-support.com or ledger.start)
Is the SSL padlock present? (Padlocks are helpful but not sufficient.)
Did you arrive via a link from social media or an unsolicited email? When in doubt, go directly to the official site manually.

Using Ledger with productivity tools (Office workflows)

Many people like to keep records of their crypto holdings, transaction logs, or safe-check procedures inside productivity tools such as Office. Here are safe ways to integrate:

What you can store in Office safely

Non-sensitive checklists — e.g., “backup verified on 2025-10-26”
Transaction dates, amounts, and confirmed transaction IDs (txids)
Instructions and procedural documentation

What you must never store digitally in Office

Your recovery phrase (seed) in plain text
Private keys or exported JSON keystores without encryption

A practical workflow example: keep a one-line index file in OneDrive or an Excel sheet with “Vault location A / Vault location B” (no sensitive details). Store physical seed backups in a vault or safe and reference their locations by coded names in your office records.

Advanced topics

Passphrases (25th word)

A passphrase is an optional string you can add to your recovery phrase to create effectively a different wallet derived from the same seed. This is powerful for creating hidden wallets, but be aware:

If you forget the passphrase, funds are irretrievable.
Passphrases should be treated like an additional secret — do not store them with your recovery card.

Multisig & team custody

If you manage funds for a team or an organization, consider multisig (multiple signatures required) setups. Ledger devices can be part of multisig wallets and provide hardware-level signing.

Travel & device handling

When traveling, put your ledger in a padded, inconspicuous case. Avoid leaving your device unattended in public places and consider bringing just a watchlist of addresses (not the recovery) on a phone if you need to check balances.

Checklist — pre-launch security review

Run this checklist before you start using your device for significant transactions:

Device firmware up to date
Recovery phrase written, double-checked, and stored physically
Device PIN memorized and not written down
Test transaction sent and confirmed
Support & official links saved to trusted resources (do not bookmark from an email)

Sample HTML snippet — embedding a “Getting started” card on your site

Below is a compact HTML snippet you can drop into a blog or knowledge base. It includes headings `h1` → `h5` and a CTA. This snippet is intentionally minimal and accessible.

<section class="getting-started">
  <h1>Official Site® | Ledger.com/Start® | Getting started</h1>
  <h2>Quick setup</h2>
  <p>Plug in your Ledger, choose &ldquo;Set up as new device&rdquo;, create a PIN, and write down your 24-word recovery phrase on the supplied card.</p>
  <h3>Safety note</h3>
  <p>Never enter your recovery phrase into any website. Store it offline.</p>
  <a href="https://ledger.com/start" class="cta">Get started on Ledger.com/Start®</a>
</section>

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What if I lost my Ledger device?

If your recovery phrase is safe, you can recover your wallet on a new Ledger or a compatible wallet. If the recovery phrase is lost and the device is gone, funds are likely unrecoverable.

Can I store my recovery phrase in encrypted digital form?

It’s possible to store encrypted backups (e.g., encrypted file, hardware-encrypted drive), but this increases your attack surface if your passphrase is weak or compromised. Most security-conscious users prefer physical backups + metal plates.

Should I use Ledger Live or other wallet apps?

Ledger Live is the official app and supports many currencies. For advanced or alternative use-cases (dApps, DeFi), you might connect the Ledger device to Web3 wallets (e.g., MetaMask) for signing transactions. Always validate the dApp you connect to.

Closing remarks

The combination of a reliable hardware wallet, careful backup practices, and good security hygiene dramatically reduces your risk of loss or theft. Keep learning: crypto security evolves, and staying updated is essential.