Official Ledger Start | Secure Your Digital Assets Today

A complete 2025 onboarding and landing page: Learn how to set up your Ledger device securely, manage firmware, back up recovery phrases, and adopt best practices for long-term custody.

Official start guideUpdated: 2025Reading time: ~9 min

Quick verdict

Ledger provides a polished hardware wallet experience focused on security and usability. The Ledger ecosystem — including Ledger Live and the Ledger hardware devices — offers robust firmware signing, secure element protection, and a convenient app marketplace for managing coins and decentralized apps. For most users seeking a balance of security and usability, Ledger is a strong contender in 2025.

What is Ledger Start?

Ledger Start is the official onboarding flow and companion content that helps new Ledger owners initialize their device, set up Ledger Live, create secure backups, and learn essential security practices. This page consolidates step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting tips, and security advice to get you confidently started.

Core features & benefits

Secure Element hardware protection
Ledger Live desktop & mobile apps
App management & coin support
Firmware signing and verified updates
PIN and recovery phrase (24-word) backup
Optional passphrase & multi-account support

Why security-first setup matters

Hardware wallets are only as secure as their setup and backup procedures. A compromised seed or unchecked firmware can expose assets. Ledger's onboarding emphasizes verified downloads, offline verification where practical, and using Ledger Live to manage apps and firmware—a process designed to reduce supply-chain and tamper risks.

Step-by-step setup guide

  1. Unbox & inspect. Confirm packaging integrity and that the tamper-evident seals (if provided) are intact. Purchase only from official Ledger stores or authorized resellers.
  2. Install Ledger Live. Download Ledger Live from the official Ledger website. Verify installer integrity if you have the skills and desire to do so.
  3. Connect your device. Plug your Ledger device into your computer or phone and follow the on-screen prompts in Ledger Live.
  4. Create a PIN. Set a secure PIN directly on-device. This prevents unauthorized access if someone holds the device.
  5. Generate & secure your recovery phrase. Ledger devices generate a 24-word recovery phrase. Write it down on the recovery card or use a metal backup. NEVER store the phrase digitally.
  6. Install apps & accounts. Use Ledger Live to install coin apps (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) onto the device and create accounts to start receiving funds.
  7. Update firmware when prompted. Accept signed firmware updates in Ledger Live; verify update prompts on the device screen before approving.

Recovery & backup best practices

The 24-word recovery phrase is the master key to your funds. Treat it with the highest care:

  • Write the phrase on the supplied recovery sheet and store it in a secure, offline place.
  • Consider metal backups to resist fire, water, and degradation.
  • Do not enter your recovery phrase into any website, app, or device other than a trusted recovery process.
  • Test recovery using a spare device or test wallet to ensure you can restore from your backup.

Ledger Live: desktop and mobile

Ledger Live is the central hub to manage apps, monitor portfolio, send/receive crypto, and interact with DeFi via integrations. The app includes an app catalog, built-in swap/exchange options, staking features for select assets, and analytics for portfolio tracking. Always use the official Ledger Live downloaded from Ledger’s domain.

Common onboarding pitfalls

  • Using the recovery phrase on a compromised or unknown device.
  • Buying a device from untrusted third parties with unknown history.
  • Failing to store backup copies of the recovery phrase.
  • Approving transactions without checking the device—always confirm amounts and destinations on-device.
Pros
  • Strong hardware security with Secure Element.
  • Well-supported Ledger Live ecosystem (desktop & mobile).
  • Clear onboarding and firmware verification steps.
Cons
  • Proprietary elements in the firmware ecosystem may concern some open-source purists.
  • Learning curve for advanced features (passphrase, multisig).
  • Dependency on Ledger Live for some features; third-party integrations vary.

Troubleshooting

  1. If the device isn’t recognized: try a different USB cable/port or use Ledger Live mobile via USB-OTG (if supported).
  2. Firmware update issues: ensure you are running the latest Ledger Live and that the device battery (if applicable) is sufficient; retry the update and follow on-device instructions carefully.
  3. Lost recovery phrase: if you have no backup, funds cannot be recovered—practice recovery beforehand to avoid this scenario.

Ledger vs other wallets (quick comparison)

FeatureLedgerTrezorThird-party
Secure elementYesNo (different model)Depends
Open-sourcePartiallyMostlyVaries
App ecosystemRobustGrowingVaries
Mobile supportStrongImprovingVaries

FAQ

Is Ledger safe to buy on marketplaces?
Prefer official Ledger stores or authorized resellers. Avoid marketplaces where devices could have been tampered with.
Can I use Ledger with multiple computers?
Yes — the device and recovery phrase are portable. Use Ledger Live on different machines, but never input your recovery phrase into a computer.
What is a passphrase?
An optional extra secret added to your recovery phrase, creating an additional derived wallet. It increases security but also recovery complexity — if you forget the passphrase, you cannot restore that hidden wallet.

Final checklist

  • Did you verify the Ledger Live download from the official site?
  • Have you written down and secured your 24-word recovery phrase?
  • Did you test a small inbound/outbound transaction and confirm on-device?

This landing page provides onboarding guidance and best practices. For official support and downloads, always refer to Ledger’s official site and documentation.