Setting up a Ledger hardware wallet is one of the easiest ways to keep your cryptocurrency safe. This plain guide explains exactly what to do when you go to Ledger.com/Start. No technical words, no extra clicks, just clear steps anyone can follow in under ten minutes.
Ledger.com/Start is the only official page you should use to begin. It works like a friendly helper that shows pictures and big buttons. The page finds your device model by itself and gives you the correct download link for Ledger Live. Everything happens on one screen so you never get lost.
Your Ledger arrives in a sealed box. Cut the tape carefully. Inside you will see the device, a short USB cable, three empty recovery cards, and a small card with basic instructions. Look closely. There should be no paper with words already printed. If you see any 24 words inside the box, do not turn on the device. Someone may have opened it before. Contact Ledger support at once.
Open your browser and type Ledger.com/Start. Press enter. The page loads fast. Click the large green button “Start now”. Choose your device from the pictures. Then pick “Set up a new device”. Plug the USB cable into your computer and into the Ledger. The screen turns on and shows a spinning Ledger logo.
The device screen says “Welcome”. Press both buttons together. Choose “Set up as new device” by pressing the right button until it highlights, then press both buttons. Now pick a PIN. Use 4 to 8 numbers you can remember easily. Press both buttons to confirm each number. Write the PIN on paper and keep it separate from the device.
This is the most important part. The device shows one word at a time. Write each word on the recovery card exactly as shown. Do not skip any word. Do not change the order. After word 24, the device asks you to confirm a few random words. Look at your paper and select the correct word each time. When finished, the screen says “Your device is ready”. You now have the only backup that can ever recover your money.
Go back to the Ledger.com/Start page. Click “Download Ledger Live”. Choose your system – Windows, Mac, or Linux. The file is tiny. Open it and install the program in a few clicks. When Ledger Live opens, click “Get Started”. Choose “Initialize a new device”. Connect your Ledger again. The app checks that the device is real. A green check mark appears. You are done with the hard part.
Ledger Live is like a bank app but for crypto. The main screen shows your total balance. On the left you see five big words: Portfolio, Accounts, Send, Receive, Manager. Everything is large and easy to read.
Click “Add account”. Pick Bitcoin or Ethereum or any coin you own. Ledger Live tells your device to install a small app for that coin. Look at the Ledger screen. It asks “Allow application?”. Press both buttons. In a few seconds the account appears. Click “Receive” to see your address. Always press “Continue” so the Ledger screen shows the same address. Check every letter. Only give out the address when both screens match.
Click “Send”. Type or paste the address you want to pay. Enter the amount. Choose normal fee for regular speed. Click “Continue”. Connect your Ledger. Open the correct coin app on the device. The Ledger screen now shows the exact amount and address. Read it carefully. If everything looks right, press both buttons to sign. The money leaves your wallet safely.
Click “Receive”. Choose the account. Click “Continue”. The Ledger device wakes up and shows the address on its own screen. Compare the two screens side by side. When they are identical, copy the address or show the QR code. This habit stops hackers from changing the address on your computer.
Ledger Live shows an orange bar when a new firmware update is ready. Click it. Follow every step exactly. Do not remove the cable until the device restarts and says “Update complete”. Updates fix problems and add new coins. They take only a few minutes.
If you have Nano X or Stax, you can connect by Bluetooth. Download Ledger Live from the official App Store or Play Store. Open the app. Tap the plus sign. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and device. They pair in seconds. You can now check balances and send money from anywhere.
Your Ledger holds thousands of different coins at the same time. Add Polygon for low fees. Add Ripple for fast payments. Add Polkadot or Cosmos. Each coin needs its own tiny app. Use the Manager section to install or remove apps whenever you want. Space is never a problem.
Send five or ten dollars to your new Ledger address. Wait for the confirmation dots to turn green. Then send the same small amount to another wallet. This test costs almost nothing but teaches you everything. After the test works perfectly, move the rest of your crypto.
Keep the recovery card in a different place from the device. Never take a picture of the 24 words. Never type them into any website. Never tell them to anyone, even someone who says they are from Ledger. Real Ledger staff will never ask for those words.
You now control your own money. No company can block you. No hacker can steal without the physical device. Enjoy the safety.
This guide is written independently for educational purposes only and is not created, reviewed, or endorsed by Ledger SAS. Always visit the official website at Ledger.com/Start and use only the official Ledger Live software downloaded from there. Cryptocurrency carries high risk of loss. You alone are responsible for protecting your PIN and 24-word recovery phrase. Never share your recovery phrase with anyone. Ledger will never contact you asking for it. Always check that the website address begins with https://www.ledger.com. For official help, go directly to support.ledger.com. The writer and anyone sharing this guide are not responsible for any loss of funds, damage, or problems that happen from using this information. Always confirm addresses on the Ledger screen before sending or receiving money.