Start® — Initializing Your Ledger Device

A secure, elegant, and practical walkthrough for powering up, setting a PIN, saving your recovery phrase, enabling optional passphrases, and verifying transactions with confidence.

Getting started: step-by-step

Follow these carefully curated steps. Each one is designed to reduce risk, increase clarity, and help you use your Ledger device in a way that is both professional and future-ready.

  • 1

    Inspect packaging and device

    Open the box in a secure place. Confirm tamper-evident seals are intact. If anything looks altered, pause and contact the seller — a compromised device is the primary red flag to avoid.

  • 2

    Visit the official start page

    Type ledger.com/start manually into the browser — do not click links from email or messages. This ensures you are using the official onboarding flow and avoids phishing sites.

  • 3

    Connect your device and allow permissions

    Use the supplied cable and, if prompted, allow the browser to access the device for the setup process. If a firmware update is requested, only proceed through the official site.

  • 4

    Set a strong PIN

    Your PIN protects local access to the device. Use a length and pattern that are easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess. Never store your PIN in plain text.

  • 5

    Record your recovery phrase securely

    The recovery phrase is the single most important element for recovery. Write it on the provided card or a hardened metal backup. Do not photograph, digitize, or share it online under any circumstance.

  • 6

    Consider an optional passphrase

    Passphrases create an additional hidden wallet derived from your recovery phrase. They provide extra deniability and segregation but require careful management — losing the passphrase is equivalent to losing the funds it protects.

  • 7

    Verify addresses on-device and perform a small test

    Always verify receiving addresses on your Ledger screen itself before sending funds. Try a small test transaction first — it’s a simple way to confirm that everything is working as expected.

Security-first reminder: Ledger or official services will never ask for your recovery phrase. Protect your recovery phrase and PIN as you would a high-value physical asset.

Why these steps matter

Hardware wallets like Ledger are built to isolate private keys from internet-connected devices. The device itself signs transactions internally and only exposes public addresses and signed transactions. This separation significantly reduces attack surface compared to software wallets. However, user practices — such as how you record and protect your recovery phrase, how you manage your PIN, and where you plug in the device — will determine how effective the security model is in practice.

When initializing, you create both a PIN (device-level protection) and a recovery phrase (backup and ultimate key). The PIN stops on-site attackers from using or tampering with your device. The recovery phrase is a human-readable representation of your private keys; if lost, the account cannot be recovered. That is why hardened physical backups and multiple secure copies are recommended.

Storage & backup best practices

Use a trusted metal backup for long-term storage if you plan to hold significant value. Store duplicates in separate secure locations (e.g., a home safe and a safety-deposit box). Rotate and check your physical backups periodically for legibility and corrosion, especially if you use paper.

Operational security (OpSec) tips

Minimize exposure by avoiding unknown or public computers when you perform sensitive operations. Close unnecessary browser tabs and disable or audit browser extensions. Keep your device firmware and official software up to date — updates often include important security improvements. If you ever suspect a compromise, move funds to a new, securely initialized device and revoke access from affected platforms.