Start with clarity.
A hardware wallet is one part of a wider security practice. Take the time to prepare, confirm every source, and understand what should—and should never—leave your hands.
What are you trying to accomplish?
People arrive at a setup page for different reasons: to initialize a new device, restore access they already manage, or learn how signing transactions works. Those are not interchangeable tasks. Start by naming yours before you connect anything or follow an instruction.
A hardware wallet is designed to keep private keys isolated from an internet-connected computer or phone while you review and approve actions. It does not remove every risk, guarantee an investment, or make a suspicious transaction safe. You remain responsible for understanding what you approve and for keeping recovery information private.
This page is an independent educational guide, not an official Ledger support channel and not a substitute for the instructions supplied by the manufacturer. For device-specific steps, navigate to the official site yourself and use its current setup guidance. Never rely on a search advertisement, direct message, or unsolicited “support” link.
Setting up a new device creates a new recovery phrase. Restoring a wallet uses an existing phrase. If you are unsure which task applies, stop and verify through official documentation before proceeding.
Before you begin
Choose a quiet place where you can focus and where other people cannot see your device screen or recovery notes. Give yourself enough time to read each prompt. Rushing is a common way to miss a detail; there is no advantage to completing setup in one sitting if you feel uncertain.
Check that the device and any included materials appear consistent with the seller and manufacturer’s guidance. If packaging or device condition concerns you, contact support through a route you independently verified. Do not accept a prewritten recovery phrase, and do not enter a phrase supplied by another person.
Use a private, well-lit place without a camera pointed at your screen or notes.
Charge your phone or computer and use a trusted, updated operating system.
Set aside uninterrupted time; pause whenever a screen or instruction surprises you.
Type the manufacturer’s known address yourself rather than following unsolicited links.
During setup
Follow the current instructions for your exact device and software version. Keep the hardware wallet with you, and pay attention to the prompts on its own screen. A computer or phone can be compromised; the device display is an important place to independently review what it asks you to confirm.
- 01Install companion software only from a verified official source. Check the publisher and destination before downloading, and avoid sponsored results or look-alike domains.
- 02Initialize or restore only after you understand which path you are taking. Never let another person create, view, or enter your recovery phrase for you.
- 03Read device prompts in full. Confirm addresses and transaction details on the device itself, not solely in an app window or browser.
- 04If anything asks you to disclose a recovery phrase online, over chat, or to “verify” an account, stop. Treat the request as unsafe and verify independently.
How to verify information
Scammers often imitate familiar branding and create urgency. A logo, polished page, or confident voice does not establish that a source is authentic. Start from a website address you already know, type it yourself, and look for support material reached through that site’s own navigation.
Be precise when checking a domain: small spelling changes, extra words, unusual subdomains, and unexpected URL endings can be misleading. Search results can include ads; a top result is not proof of legitimacy. If an instruction came in an email, social post, QR code, or private message, do not use its link as your only way to verify the claim.
Use a second route to confirm
When uncertain, close the page and open the official site separately. Compare the instructions there, and contact support using contact details published on that verified site. Never share your recovery phrase with support, a moderator, or anyone claiming they can “synchronize,” validate, or unlock a wallet.
Requests to act immediately, install remote-access software, transfer assets for “safekeeping,” or disclose recovery words are reasons to stop—not reasons to hurry.
For device-specific information, begin at Ledger’s official getting-started page by entering the address directly in your browser. Check that you remain on the intended domain before following any outbound support links.
Protecting recovery information
Your recovery phrase can provide access to the assets controlled by the corresponding wallet. Treat it as a secret master key. Anyone who obtains it may be able to restore the wallet elsewhere, even if your physical device remains with you. A device PIN protects the device; it does not replace the phrase.
Write the phrase only in the way your device’s verified instructions describe, and check the words and order carefully. Keep the record private and protected against loss, damage, and unauthorized access. Think through realistic risks in your living situation and local environment; there is no single storage method that suits everyone.
Keep the boundary clear
Do not photograph or screenshot the phrase, save it in cloud storage, email it to yourself, paste it into a website, or enter it into a computer or phone unless the official recovery procedure for your exact device explicitly requires a safe on-device flow. No legitimate support agent needs you to send it to them. This guide will never ask you to reveal it.
If you think someone has seen or copied the phrase, treat the wallet as exposed and seek trusted, device-specific guidance promptly. Do not follow unsolicited instructions from people who contact you in response.
After setup
Before moving meaningful value, learn how receiving addresses are displayed and confirmed on the device. Consider a small test transaction where appropriate, while accounting for network fees and the possibility of irreversible mistakes. Verify the address on the hardware wallet screen every time; clipboard contents can be changed by malware.
Keep firmware and companion software current by checking through verified official channels. Updates can change interfaces and instructions, so read release guidance rather than clicking an unexpected notification. Store the device PIN and recovery phrase separately in a way you can manage securely, and make a recovery plan that a trusted person could understand without learning the phrase.
Self-custody includes ongoing decisions. Revisit your process when you change devices, move to a new home, or alter who can access your space. Security is not a one-time screen; it is the habit of pausing, verifying, and approving only what you understand.
Final checklist
Use this as a reminder, not a substitute for the instructions for your specific device. Check each item for yourself before moving on.