Official Site® | - Ledger.com/Start® | Getting started (H1)

Presentation-style starter guide — single-colour background, calm accent tones, refreshed headings and format. This page is intended to be educational and adaptable for internal guides, help centers, or onboarding slides.

Design: single background (#0b1120) with cyan & purple accents • font system changed for clarity

Introduction

This concise, presentation-format guide explains how to begin using a Ledger hardware device through the official start flow at Ledger.com/Start. The content is crafted to be read aloud, turned into slides, or printed as a quick reference. Headings have been refreshed for improved scannability and a modest font-family change improves readability on modern screens.

1. Prepare your workspace

Before starting, make sure you have a stable, well-lit workspace and the tools you need: a host computer or smartphone with a supported browser, a data-capable USB cable, and durable backup material (archival paper or metal plates). Close unnecessary applications and avoid public Wi‑Fi during setup. All steps should be performed deliberately; haste leads to mistakes.

Tip: Keep a pen and an extra clean sheet of paper nearby for writing recovery words — never take photos or store words in cloud-synced notes.

2. Unboxing & authenticity checks

Inspect the packaging for tamper-evident seals and manufacturer holograms where applicable. Genuine products have consistent printing, intact seals, and no signs of prior opening. If you suspect tampering, stop and contact official support.

Typical contents include the hardware device, USB cable, quick start leaflet, and recovery cards. Keep packaging and serial numbers for warranty and verification records.

3. First steps — connect and initialize

Connect your device to the host using the provided cable. Navigate to the verified URL Ledger.com/Start, check the browser's HTTPS certificate, and follow the guided flow. The site will detect your device model and prompt you to either create a new wallet or restore from an existing recovery phrase.

  1. Open the official start page in a trusted browser.
  2. Follow the on-screen prompts to identify your device and proceed with setup.
  3. Do not follow links from unsolicited messages or social media posts; always type the official domain directly or use a trusted bookmark.

4. Security essentials

Set a secure PIN when prompted — choose something memorable but not guessable from personal data. Ledger devices require on-device confirmation for critical operations; always verify addresses and amounts on the device display before approving. Firmware updates should only be accepted through the official start flow and must be verified via displayed fingerprints.

Security mantra: never share your recovery phrase, never enter it into a website, and treat the physical device and recovery backup as high‑value assets.

5. Recovery — backups & resilience

When creating a new wallet, you will be given a recovery phrase (commonly 12 or 24 words). Record these words exactly and store backups in secure, durable locations. Consider using metal backups for long-term resilience. For advanced users, explore split backups (e.g., Shamir) or geographically distributed storage, but only after you verify reconstruction procedures.

Word Bank & New Phrasing

Use these fresh terms and synonyms to vary documentation tone and improve clarity across audiences.

Recovery phrase Seed Mnemonic Tamper-evident Firmware fingerprint Cold storage Passphrase extension Shamir split Operational security Chain of custody

Microcopy example: "Confirm the address and amount on your device — Ledger will never ask for your recovery phrase."