Your **secure crypto hardware wallet setup** begins here. This comprehensive guide ensures you initialize your device correctly, safeguard your funds, and harness the full power of cold storage for your **digital assets**.
Start Your Secure Journey NowSecurity is not a feature; it is the foundation of the Ledger experience. To ensure the integrity of your **Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other crypto assets** in cold storage, you must adhere to these non-negotiable principles. We prioritize these guidelines to protect your investment from sophisticated online threats.
Your **24-word recovery phrase protection** is absolute. This master key must **never** be typed into any computer, phone, cloud storage, or taken as a picture. Keep it strictly offline, written on the official recovery sheets or engraved on a metal backup. The moment this phrase touches an internet-connected device, its integrity is compromised.
The core security advantage of your Ledger hardware wallet is that it isolates your **private keys offline**. Every single transaction—sending, staking, or swapping—must be verified physically on the device's screen. If the Ledger Live application or your computer shows one address, but the device shows another, **DO NOT** confirm the transaction. The device's screen is the ultimate source of truth.
Always start at `Ledger.com/start` for the genuine link to the **Ledger Live official download**. Phishing attempts often mimic the official site to trick you into downloading compromised software. Verify your device's authenticity through the Genuine Check feature within Ledger Live immediately after setting up your PIN and recovery phrase. This ensures your **Ledger device authenticity check** is successful before you entrust it with funds.
The initial step in your **secure crypto hardware wallet setup** involves installing Ledger Live. Visit the official starting page mentioned in Rule 3 and select the correct application for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile). This application serves as your portfolio dashboard and the interface for interacting with the blockchain, all while your **private keys remain offline** within the device’s Secure Element chip.
Connect your Ledger Nano device (X or S Plus) using the provided USB cable. On the device screen, select "Set up as new device." The device will prompt you to choose a PIN code. This PIN is crucial—it acts as the local password to unlock your device. Select a strong, easily memorable PIN between 4 and 8 digits, avoiding obvious patterns or personal dates. The PIN locks the physical device, providing the first layer of protection against theft.
This is the most critical step in the entire process. The device will generate a unique sequence of 24 words, known as your **24-word recovery phrase**. This phrase is the definitive backup of your private keys and the only way to recover access to your **digital assets** if your Ledger device is lost, stolen, or damaged. You must meticulously write these words down on the provided recovery sheets, verifying the spelling of each word.
Once the PIN and recovery phrase are set, Ledger Live will prompt you to run a **Ledger device authenticity check**. This proprietary process cryptographically verifies that your hardware is a genuine Ledger product and has not been tampered with or pre-initialized by a third party. If this check is successful, you can proceed to the final step of setting up your accounts.
Use the Manager tab in Ledger Live to install the required applications onto your device (e.g., Bitcoin app, Ethereum app). Then, navigate to the Accounts tab and click 'Add Account.' The application will seamlessly synchronize with your Ledger device, enabling you to generate receiving addresses for your **cold storage for Bitcoin Ethereum** and other supported cryptocurrencies. You are now ready to receive funds safely.
For experienced users or those holding significant amounts of crypto, deploying additional layers of protection is vital. The core principle remains: your Ledger device, which keeps your **private keys offline**, is your primary shield. But thoughtful practices around backups and advanced features elevate your security profile significantly.
A passphrase, often called the "25th word," is an optional, user-defined word or sentence used in conjunction with your 24-word phrase to create a completely new set of accounts. This provides a phenomenal layer of plausible deniability. If your main 24-word phrase is compromised under duress, an attacker would only gain access to the accounts linked to that phrase, while your most valuable assets, protected by the **passphrase**, remain hidden and inaccessible. Crucially, the passphrase must be backed up separately and securely, as losing it means losing access to those funds forever.
Before clicking 'Accept' on your device, always triple-check the recipient address and the transaction amount. Sophisticated malware can subtly alter the address displayed on your computer screen (Address Poisoning Attack). Because your Ledger device is offline, it cannot be infected; the address displayed on its small, trusted screen is the one that will be broadcast to the network. Making this verification a routine habit is the final and most important check against cyber theft.
Ledger Live is the all-in-one software that connects your device to the blockchain. It allows you to check your real-time portfolio value, send and receive funds, and access decentralized finance (DeFi) services—all while ensuring your **private keys offline** security is maintained by the hardware. It is the essential interface for the **Ledger Getting Started Hub** experience.
Monitor all your multi-currency balances in one place. See the real-time value of over 5,500+ cryptocurrencies and tokens instantly and securely.
Stake coins like Ethereum (ETH), Polkadot (DOT), and Tezos (XTZ) directly through Ledger Live to earn passive rewards. Your **digital assets** remain secured by your device throughout the entire staking process.
Connect to external Web3 applications and decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like MetaMask or WalletConnect securely. All transaction signing occurs safely on your Ledger device.