Welcome to the definitive guide for initializing your new Ledger hardware wallet. Follow these secure, step-by-step instructions to protect your crypto assets from the start.
Carefully unbox your Ledger Nano S/X. Power on the device. For the Nano X, press and hold the button near the USB port until the Ledger logo appears. For the Nano S, plug the device into your computer using the supplied USB cable. The device will display 'Welcome to Ledger Nano X/S'.
The first step is setting a PIN code (4 to 8 digits). This code protects physical access to your device. Use the left/right buttons to scroll through digits and both buttons simultaneously to confirm a digit. Choose a strong, unique PIN, but make sure it is something you can remember.
This is the most critical step. The device will display 24 words, one after the other. Write them down in order on your provided Recovery Sheets. DO NOT take a picture or store this phrase digitally. Use the 'Confirm your Recovery Phrase' process to verify that you have written all 24 words correctly. Failure to do so could result in the permanent loss of your funds.
Download and install the official Ledger Live application from the official website (link provided below). Open the app and select 'Initialize a new device'. Follow the on-screen prompts to pair your device and perform the 'Genuine Check®' to ensure your hardware is authentic.
Once authenticated via Ledger Live, navigate to the 'Manager' section. Here you can install the necessary cryptocurrency apps (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana) onto your device. After installation, go to the 'Accounts' section to add your first accounts and generate your receive addresses.