A concise, practical guide to set up your Ledger device, secure your recovery phrase, and use Ledger Live.
Ledger hardware wallets store your private keys offline in a certified secure element. They are a simple way to keep control over your crypto keys while using Ledger Live as the companion app to manage accounts and transactions.
Buy only from official sources and make sure the packaging is sealed. Ledger devices include a device, cable, recovery sheet, and quick-start guide.
Go to Ledger’s official start page and download Ledger Live for your OS. Ledger Live is the official companion app for installing apps on the device, managing accounts, and performing transactions.
Connect the device, follow on-screen prompts to create a new device or restore from a recovery phrase, set a PIN, and write down the 24-word recovery phrase on the recovery sheet. Keep this sheet offline and secure — it’s the only backup to your assets.
Use Ledger Live’s “Manager” (My Ledger) to install the coin-specific apps you need, then add accounts for each supported asset you plan to manage.
Never share your 24-word phrase or store it digitally. Use the recovery check app to verify your backup when available on your device.
Regular updates fix bugs and add support for new assets — always update Ledger Live and your device firmware via official channels.
If you need extra protection, Ledger supports an optional passphrase feature (a 25th word) to create hidden wallets — but treat it carefully: loss of a passphrase is irreversible.
Generate a receiving address in Ledger Live, confirm it on the device screen, and copy/paste it only into the sender (exchange, dApp) — always verify addresses on the device screen.
If the device is lost or damaged, use your 24-word recovery phrase with a new Ledger device (or compatible seed-compatible wallet) to restore access to your funds.
Never enter your recovery phrase into any website or app — only on the device during an official restore procedure.