What this page does (in plain terms)
Ledger Start is not a promise β itβs a sequence: unbox β initialise β protect β connect. Each step minimizes attack surface and gives you a measurable security improvement. Youβll leave with an initialized hardware wallet, a tested recovery flow, and a plan to handle small-to-medium transfers safely.
Step 1 β Unbox and inspect
Before you power anything, visually inspect packaging and the device. Genuine devices have tamper-evident seals and a consistent finish. If the packaging looks altered, stop and contact official support. Take a photo of the serial number for your records β store the photo separately from the device and recovery phrase.
Step 2 β Initialize with a PIN and seed
Turn the device on and follow its on-screen prompts to create a PIN. Choose a PIN length youβll remember but that isnβt trivially guessable. The device will display a recovery phrase β write this on the supplied card or a metal backup (recommended). Never store the seed as an unencrypted digital file or share it over messages.
Step 3 β Validate and test your backup
After writing down the words, the device will ask you to confirm a few of them. This is intentional: it verifies you recorded the phrase correctly. Next, restore the device from that phrase on a second device (or a trusted emulator) if possible. A backup that canβt be restored is worthless.
Step 4 β Connect apps deliberately
Only install the specific Ledger apps you need (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.). Keep firmware and apps current using the official Ledger Live application. When connecting to web-based wallets or exchanges, always confirm the receiving address on your device screen β never rely solely on the computer display.
Smart fund movement: transfer strategy
Move a small test amount first. Confirm arrival, then shift larger sums in controlled increments. Use unique addresses for high-value transfers and enable transaction notifications from your exchange or blockchain explorer to confirm activity.
Everyday safety checklist
- Never enter your recovery phrase online.
- Keep firmware up to date via official channels only.
- Use a metal backup for long-term cold storage.
- Split large holdings across multiple seeds (multisig for high-value wallets).
Why hardware-first security matters
Software wallets are convenient, but keys in software are exposed to malware. A hardware wallet keeps the private key inside a secure element β signing occurs on-device so the key never leaves that protected environment. For anyone holding meaningful value, that isolation matters.