This is your **Official Setup Portal** for your **Ledger Hardware Wallet**. Successfully completing this **Ledger Device Setup** process is the *only* path to achieving true **crypto security** and **digital asset management**. We will guide you through the critical steps: device verification, setting your **PIN Code**, and securely recording your **24-word Recovery Phrase**. Your full **non-custodial** control over your **crypto assets** begins now.
Start My Ledger Setup and Security JourneyEnsure your Ledger Nano X or Nano S Plus is charged and ready to begin initialization.
Verifying the physical integrity and firmware authenticity of your **Hardware Wallet**.
The first crucial step in the **Ledger Device Setup** is the physical verification of your package. Every Ledger Nano device—be it a **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X**—must arrive in packaging with all tamper-proof seals intact. This initial inspection is your first layer of defense against supply chain attacks. Confirm the presence of the device, the USB cable, and the indispensable three sheets of paper for your **Recovery Phrase**. If any seal appears compromised, **stop the setup** immediately and contact official Ledger support. This diligence is fundamental to robust **Ledger security**.
Before generating any **private keys**, the device’s internal integrity is checked. The Ledger device utilizes a specialized chip known as a **Secure Element** (CC EAL5+ certified), a tamper-resistant microcontroller designed to securely host sensitive data and cryptographic operations. This chip is what isolates your **crypto assets** from the risks of a compromised computer. Upon connection to the **Ledger Live** application, an **Attestation Check** (or **Genuine Check**) is performed. This complex cryptographic handshake confirms that the internal firmware is factory-signed by Ledger and has not been altered by malicious actors. Only a genuine Ledger with uncompromised firmware will pass this check, allowing the **Ledger Device Setup** to proceed. This verification process guarantees that the environment for generating your **24-word Recovery Phrase** is completely secure.
It is critical to remember that this process must be initiated by downloading the **Official Ledger App** directly from Ledger.com. Downloading from unofficial sources risks installing malware that could intercept future transaction data, though the **Secure Element** itself remains protected.
Establishing the physical security lock for your **Hardware Wallet**.
Next in the **Ledger Device Setup** sequence is the **PIN Code** creation. The device screen will display "Choose PIN Code," and you use the device’s physical buttons to input your choice. This design isolates the input mechanism from your host computer, rendering **keyloggers** or remote screen capture attacks completely ineffective. Your PIN should be between 4 and 8 digits. We strongly recommend a 6 or 8-digit PIN for superior entropy and protection.
The **PIN Code** is essential for **Ledger security** because it provides an immediate physical lock. If the device is lost or stolen, the thief is only allowed three incorrect PIN attempts. On the third failure, the **Secure Element** automatically triggers a factory reset, securely wiping the **private keys** from the device's memory. Your **crypto assets** remain safe on the blockchain, only recoverable by entering the **24-word Recovery Phrase** into a new device. This mechanism ensures that the PIN protects against casual theft, while the **Recovery Phrase** protects against total loss.
Focus on the device screen during this step. Never input the PIN into your computer's keyboard or trackpad. The entire philosophy of the **Hardware Wallet** is built on the principle of the "trusted screen"—the small, dedicated display confirms actions and inputs only on the device itself. This isolation is non-negotiable for maintaining the highest level of **crypto security**.
The master key, derived using the **BIP39 standard**—your ultimate backup.
This is the single most critical step of the entire **Ledger Device Setup**. The device will now generate a unique **24-word Recovery Phrase** using a high-entropy source within the **Secure Element**. This phrase, sometimes called the seed, is the cryptographic root from which all your **private keys** and public addresses for all your **digital assets** (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) are derived, following the industry-standard **BIP39 standard**.
**Meticulous Transcription:** As each word (Word 1 to Word 24) is displayed sequentially on the **Hardware Wallet** screen, you must copy it precisely onto the official **Recovery Phrase** sheets. Double-check spelling and order. Errors in transcription are the leading cause of permanent **crypto asset** loss. The **Ledger Device Setup** ensures that this phrase is only ever visible on the device's screen and never transmitted or recorded digitally by the **Ledger Live** application.
**ABSOLUTE NON-DIGITAL RULE:** You must **NEVER** digitize your **24-word Recovery Phrase**. This means no photographs, no screenshots, no typing it into an email, a document, or a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. If you break this rule, you have voluntarily exposed the master key to your **crypto assets** to the internet, nullifying the $100 price tag of the device and the decades of **hardware security** expertise built into it. True **non-custodial security** relies on the phrase existing only in the physical world.
To finalize this phase, the device will initiate a verification sequence. You will be prompted to confirm specific words from your list (e.g., "Word 8 is..."). This mandatory, manual check ensures you have a usable, correct copy of the phrase. Only after successful verification does the device become "ready" for **digital asset management**. This rigorous process is the cornerstone of **Ledger security**.
Connecting the secure hardware to the intuitive software interface for **digital asset management**.
Now that your **Hardware Wallet** is initialized and your **Recovery Phrase** is secured, return to the **Ledger Live Desktop** application. The final steps involve setting up your software interface.
The relationship between the **Hardware Wallet** and **Ledger Live** is symbiotic: the wallet provides the impenetrable security (holding the **private keys**), and Ledger Live provides the convenient, verifiable interface for viewing balances and initiating transactions. This separation of concerns is why Ledger is considered the leader in **crypto security**.
Embracing the **Non-Custodial** Philosophy and Long-Term Protection.
The **Ledger Device Setup** is complete, but your responsibility as a **non-custodial wallet** owner has just begun. By holding your own **private keys**, you have effectively become your own bank, gaining complete sovereignty over your **digital assets**. This comes with the responsibility of safeguarding the **Recovery Phrase**.
Standard paper storage is sufficient for the short term, but for long-term **digital asset management**, consider **fireproof** and **waterproof** solutions. Many experienced users engrave their **24-word Recovery Phrase** onto metal plates. This is the gold standard for long-term data preservation, ensuring that natural disasters or unforeseen accidents cannot destroy the one key that restores your **crypto assets**. Remember to store this physical backup in a location separate from the **Hardware Wallet** itself—a safe deposit box, a home safe, or another secure location known only to you.
Every time you send **crypto assets** from your **secure Ledger Live Wallet**, you must physically interact with your Ledger device. When you hit 'Send' in **Ledger Live**, the software prepares the transaction details and sends them to the device. The device’s **Secure Element** signs the transaction using your **private keys**. Crucially, the final step requires you to manually confirm the recipient address, amount, and fees on the device's trusted screen by pressing the physical buttons. If a hacker has compromised your computer, they can change the recipient address in the software interface, but the true details displayed on the **Hardware Wallet** screen cannot be manipulated. **Always verify the details on the device screen.** This mandatory physical confirmation is the fundamental safeguard of **Ledger security**.
For those seeking the pinnacle of **Ledger security**, the optional BIP39 Passphrase (often called the 25th word) can be set up. This is an additional, user-defined word or string that acts as a second **Recovery Phrase**. If the **24-word Recovery Phrase** is discovered by an unauthorized party, they still cannot access your primary funds without this 25th word. This advanced feature is only recommended for expert users, as losing the 25th word means permanent loss of funds, with no recovery possible, even if the original **24-word Recovery Phrase** is intact. Use this feature to manage **digital assets** that require the absolute maximum level of isolation.