Ledger.com/Start® | **Starting Up Your Device**

The **Official Guide** to **Initial Setup** and Unlocking **Digital Asset Security**

Welcome to the beginning of true self-custody. This guide is your definitive **Unboxing Guide** and step-by-step path to completing your **Ledger Hardware Wallet Device Setup**. This crucial process is performed entirely on your device's screen, ensuring your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** remains isolated and secure. Master the initial steps to guarantee your **Digital Asset Security**.

Begin the **Device Setup** Phases

Phase 1 & 2: Power, Authenticity, and **Secure PIN Code**

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Step 1: **Unboxing Guide** and Power On

Your **Ledger Hardware Wallet** arrives in a sealed box. Inspect the packaging carefully for signs of tampering. True **Digital Asset Security** starts here. Connect your device to your computer using the supplied USB cable. The device screen will immediately light up, typically displaying a welcome message such as "Welcome to Ledger." Use the buttons on your **Hardware Wallet** to navigate through the initial welcome screens. A proper **Device Setup** requires your full attention, confirming authenticity right out of the box.

The device should never come pre-initialized with a **24-Word Recovery Phrase** already written down. If it does, stop and contact Ledger support immediately.

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Step 2: Defining Your **Secure PIN Code**

The device will prompt you to "Choose PIN Code." This **Secure PIN Code** is the first layer of protection, guarding physical access to your **Hardware Wallet**. It must be between 4 and 8 digits long. Select a number sequence that is impossible to guess (avoid birthdays, repeating numbers, or "1234"). Crucially, you enter and confirm this code directly on the device's screen, never on your computer. The creation of this **Secure PIN Code** is fundamental to the **Device Setup** process and your daily **Digital Asset Security**.

Remember this **Secure PIN Code**. Three incorrect attempts will lock the device, requiring your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** to restore access.

Phase 3: Generating and Securing the **24-Word Recovery Phrase**

⚠️ Attention: This is the Most Critical Step for **Digital Asset Security**

Your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** (often called the seed phrase) is the *master key* to your crypto. Whoever possesses this phrase owns your assets. Your **Hardware Wallet** generates this phrase randomly and securely. You **MUST** write it down physically and store it safely. Never digitize it.

3.1: Write Down **Recovery Phrase**

The device will now display your 24 words one-by-one. Use the provided paper sheets (or other secure, fireproof media) to meticulously write down each word in the correct order. The sequence of your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is vital. Take your time. This process is the core of your **Device Setup** and the foundation of your long-term **Digital Asset Security**. No software or camera is involved.

Use legible handwriting. Double-check spelling. Misspelling even one word makes the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** useless for restoration.

3.2: Confirm the **24-Word Recovery Phrase**

After writing down the full list, the **Hardware Wallet** will ask you to confirm a selection of the words (e.g., word #12, word #18). This confirmation step ensures you have correctly recorded the **24-Word Recovery Phrase**. This is an absolute security requirement before the **Device Setup** can complete. The device guarantees that the phrase is correct before proceeding, ensuring the integrity of your **Initial Setup**.

This on-device confirmation prevents any mistakes from the **Unboxing Guide** stage. Only proceed when the device confirms the phrase is correct.

3.3: Store Your **Recovery Phrase** Safely

Once confirmed, store your physical copy of the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** in a safe, secure location (e.g., a safe deposit box, a fireproof lockbox). This phrase should be treated like cash and kept secret. Never take a photo, store it on a computer, or upload it to cloud storage. Proper storage of your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is the single most important action in securing your crypto. Your **Digital Asset Security** depends on it.

If you lose your **Ledger Hardware Wallet**, this phrase is the only way to recover your funds. If someone steals this phrase, they can steal your funds.

Completing the **Initial Setup** and Advancing Your **Digital Asset Security**

Upon successful confirmation of the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** and the **Secure PIN Code**, your **Ledger Hardware Wallet** will display the message, "Your device is ready." This marks the successful conclusion of the physical **Device Setup** portion of the **Unboxing Guide**. Now, the device is initialized and ready to be used with the software interface, **Ledger Live**. You must download the official **Ledger Live** application (as detailed in the full installation guide) to finalize the **Initial Setup** and start managing your **Digital Asset Security** portfolio. Connecting the **Hardware Wallet** to **Ledger Live** allows you to install necessary crypto applications (like Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) and view your balances. Crucially, the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is *never* requested or transmitted by the **Ledger Live** software, maintaining the absolute isolation that defines true **Digital Asset Security**. The separation of the master key (the phrase) and the day-to-day access (the **Secure PIN Code**) is a layered defense mechanism.

The core of the **Ledger Hardware Wallet** is the certified Secure Element chip, which is where your private keys are permanently stored and protected from the moment your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is generated during the **Device Setup**. This chip is the key difference between Ledger and other forms of crypto storage. It ensures that the signing of transactions—the core function of spending crypto—occurs in a highly isolated and tamper-proof environment. The complexity of the **Device Setup** steps, especially the on-device verification of the **24-Word Recovery Phrase**, is intentional, reinforcing the security. Even if your computer is compromised by malware, the attacker cannot access the private keys because they never leave the **Hardware Wallet**. This principle underpins the robust nature of your **Digital Asset Security** when using the **Initial Setup** guide correctly. Your **Secure PIN Code** is what unlocks the chip; your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is what restores it completely.

In the context of modern cyber threats, the physical security of your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is more critical than ever. Phishing scams frequently attempt to trick users into entering their **24-Word Recovery Phrase** into a website or software application. A fundamental rule of the **Device Setup** process is this: your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is *only* ever entered back into a **Ledger Hardware Wallet** device itself during a restoration process. It is never entered into a computer, smartphone, or any other digital device. If a prompt or website asks for your **24-Word Recovery Phrase**, it is an attack on your **Digital Asset Security**. The initial commitment you make during the **Unboxing Guide** and the meticulous recording of the **Recovery Phrase** is your self-insurance policy against all forms of digital theft. Ensuring a proper **Secure PIN Code** is set is an excellent daily operational defense, but the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** is the ultimate disaster recovery mechanism.

Once the **Device Setup** is complete and the "Your device is ready" message is visible, you are ready to install the necessary blockchain applications onto your **Ledger Hardware Wallet** using **Ledger Live**. The **Initial Setup** is only half the battle; maintaining proactive **Digital Asset Security** is ongoing. Always ensure your **Ledger Live** application is updated, and periodically check for new firmware updates for your **Hardware Wallet**. These updates, managed securely through the application, ensure compatibility with the latest network security protocols. Mastering the **Device Setup**, securing your **24-Word Recovery Phrase**, and maintaining a strong **Secure PIN Code** are the three pillars of self-custody. We highly recommend every user, immediately after completing this **Unboxing Guide** and initial **Device Setup**, performs a test transaction—sending a very small amount of crypto to a different address and back—to fully understand and confirm the security flow before depositing significant assets. This completes the full **Initial Setup** journey and verifies your total control over your **Digital Asset Security** using your **Ledger Hardware Wallet**.

This official **Unboxing Guide** for **Ledger.com/Start** details the critical steps for **Initial Setup** of your **Ledger Hardware Wallet**. The process ensures maximum **Digital Asset Security** by isolating the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** generation on the device. Users must meticulously write down and confirm the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** and configure a robust **Secure PIN Code** during the **Device Setup**. This rigorous **Initial Setup** methodology guarantees the integrity of your private keys and protects your crypto assets. The final steps involve connecting the **Hardware Wallet** to **Ledger Live** to finalize the **Device Setup** and begin managing your **Digital Asset Security** with confidence. Always keep your **24-Word Recovery Phrase** safe and confidential.