Ledger.com/start | Complete 800-Word Guide to Setting Up Your Ledger Wallet

With the rise of cryptocurrency and digital assets, securing your coins has never been more important. Ledger hardware wallets—like the Ledger Nano S Plus and Ledger Nano X—offer one of the safest ways to store your crypto. This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to get started at ledger.com/start, the official setup hub for all Ledger devices.

What is a Ledger Wallet?

Ledger wallets are hardware wallets—physical devices that store your private keys offline, also known as "cold storage." This dramatically reduces your exposure to hacks and phishing attempts. Ledger supports over 5,000 coins and tokens including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP, Cardano (ADA), and many more.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide Using Ledger.com/start

Step 1: Unbox Your Ledger Device

When your Ledger wallet arrives, you should find:

  • The Ledger device (Nano S Plus or Nano X)
  • USB cable
  • Recovery sheet (to write down your secret recovery phrase)
  • Keychain and stickers
  • Instruction manual

Important: Make sure the box is sealed and untampered. Ledger devices should only be bought from ledger.com or verified resellers.

Step 2: Go to Ledger.com/start

Visit https://www.ledger.com/start in your browser. This is the official Ledger onboarding portal. Here you’ll:

  • Select your device (Nano S Plus or Nano X)
  • Download Ledger Live, the companion desktop/mobile app that lets you manage your assets and apps

Ledger Live is available for:

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
  • iOS and Android (for mobile use)

Step 3: Install Ledger Live

Download and install the Ledger Live app from ledger.com/start. After installation:

  1. Open Ledger Live.
  2. Click on “Get Started”.
  3. Read and accept the Terms of Use and privacy policies.
  4. Choose “Set up a new device” if you're starting fresh, or “Restore from recovery phrase” if you're recovering an old wallet.

Step 4: Initialize Your Ledger Device

Connect your Ledger wallet to your computer via USB. Follow the prompts:

  1. Choose a PIN code (4 to 8 digits) using the physical buttons on the device.
  2. Write down the 24-word recovery phrase shown on the screen. This is the most important step.

Warning:

  • Never take a photo or store the recovery phrase digitally.
  • Ledger will never ask for your recovery phrase.
  • Whoever has the phrase can access your funds—protect it like gold.

Once confirmed, your wallet is set up.

Step 5: Verify and Pair with Ledger Live

Back in Ledger Live, complete the pairing process:

  • Confirm your device is genuine (Ledger Live runs a secure check).
  • Set a password for Ledger Live (optional but recommended).
  • Choose analytics settings (optional).

Once set up, you’ll enter the Ledger Live dashboard where you can add crypto accounts, manage apps, and send or receive tokens.

Step 6: Install Apps and Add Accounts

Ledger doesn’t come preloaded with blockchain apps. You need to install them through Ledger Live.

  1. Go to the Manager tab in Ledger Live.
  2. Find and install the app for the cryptocurrency you want (e.g., “Bitcoin”).
  3. Once installed, go to Accounts > Add Account, choose your crypto, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Now you can receive crypto to your Ledger wallet and monitor balances in Ledger Live.

Step 7: Receive and Send Crypto

To receive crypto:

  1. Go to the Receive tab in Ledger Live.
  2. Choose the account you want to receive into.
  3. Verify the address shown on Ledger Live matches the one on your device screen.
  4. Copy or scan the address and send funds to it.

To send crypto:

  1. Go to the Send tab.
  2. Enter the recipient’s wallet address and the amount.
  3. Confirm the transaction on both Ledger Live and your device.

Step 8: Keep Your Ledger Secure

  • Always update your device firmware via Ledger Live.
  • Never share your recovery phrase or PIN.
  • Avoid phishing links pretending to be Ledger—always use ledger.com/start.
  • Use a secure, malware-free computer or mobile device.
  • Store your recovery phrase in a fireproof or waterproof location, ideally offline.

Optional: Use Ledger with Third-Party Wallets and dApps

Ledger can be integrated with:

  • MetaMask (for DeFi and NFTs)
  • MyEtherWallet
  • Solflare
  • Keplr, and many more

This lets you interact with decentralized apps (dApps) while keeping your private keys offline and secure.

Conclusion

Setting up your Ledger wallet through ledger.com/start is the safest way to begin your crypto journey. With your private keys stored offline, you’re in full control of your assets, safe from online threats. Take your time during setup, especially when writing down your recovery phrase, and never share sensitive info with anyone.

By following this guide, you now have a robust, secure foundation to store, send, and grow your crypto assets.