How to Set Up Your Ledger Wallet Using Ledger.com/Start
Setting up your Ledger hardware wallet correctly is essential to protecting your cryptocurrency portfolio. Unlike online wallets or software wallets that depend on devices connected to the internet, a Ledger wallet keeps your private keys inside a secure hardware chip that never exposes them online. This drastically reduces the risk of hacking, phishing, and unauthorized access.
To begin, visit the official website Ledger.com/start. This ensures you are not interacting with fake phishing portals. Once on the page, choose your Ledger device model, such as Ledger Nano S Plus or Ledger Nano X. The website will guide you through connecting your device to your computer using USB or Bluetooth depending on your model.
When turning on the wallet for the first time, you will be prompted to **create a PIN code**. This PIN protects your wallet if someone physically gains access to it. Choose a strong PIN and never share it. After that, your wallet will generate a **24-word recovery seed phrase**. This phrase is the backup to all your assets. If your device is lost, broken, or stolen, your recovery phrase allows you to recover your funds on another Ledger device.
However, anyone who has access to your recovery phrase can control your crypto. So it must always be written down **on paper**, never saved digitally, never photographed, never typed into phone notes or cloud storage. Store it securely in a location only you can access.
Once your wallet is initialized, download **Ledger Live**, the official crypto management software. Ledger Live allows you to send and receive crypto, swap tokens, view market prices, and manage supported blockchains. It connects securely with your hardware wallet, meaning transactions must still be physically confirmed on your Ledger device, providing strong protection.
Ledger.com/start also provides regular firmware update instructions. Updating firmware ensures your security features are up to date and your device can support the latest blockchain integrations.
In summary, Ledger.com/start is the trusted and official entry point for new users. By following each step carefully, you ensure your cryptocurrency remains protected behind world-class hardware security that is nearly impossible to hack remotely.