Hardware wallet setup & self-custody guide Reviewed for accuracy & security best practice

Self-custody, step by step

Getting started with a hardware wallet — the calm way.

Ledger.com/start is where the setup journey begins: unbox, verify, set a PIN, write down your recovery phrase, then connect the companion app. This guide walks through the whole flow in plain language, with the details beginners get wrong.

Begin the 4-step setup Read the guide
Setup steps
4
Words typed online
0
Keys stored
Offline

A hardware wallet

Bought new, in a sealed box, from a source you trust.

A computer or phone

For the companion app, an internet connection and firmware updates.

Paper and a pen

For the recovery phrase. Paper and metal — never a screenshot.

The flow

Four steps from unboxing to first transfer

Do them in order and don't rush the middle two. Setup takes about twenty minutes; the habits last a lot longer.

  1. 01

    Unbox & verify authenticity

    Check the packaging is sealed and the reference details match. Buy only from the maker or an authorised reseller — a device that arrives pre-configured, or with a recovery phrase already inside the box, is a red flag. Never use one.

    • Sealed box, no tampering
    • Serial details match the packaging
  2. 02

    Set up a PIN on the device

    Choose a PIN you have never used elsewhere and enter it directly on the device's own buttons or screen. The device wipes itself after a handful of wrong attempts, which is a safety feature rather than a fault.

    • 4–8 digits, unique to this device
    • Never stored in a password manager alone
  3. 03

    Write down your recovery phrase

    The device generates the phrase and shows it on its own screen. Copy it onto the supplied paper card, in order, by hand. It is your only route back to your assets — and the one thing no website, app or support agent should ever ask you for.

    • Offline, handwritten, stored securely
    • Consider a metal backup against fire and water
  4. 04

    Install the app & add accounts

    Download the companion app from the official source, connect the device and add the accounts you actually use. Send a small test transfer first, and read every address on the device screen before you approve it.

    • Test transfer before moving real amounts
    • Verify the address on-device, always

What this covers

Everything that keeps a wallet yours

Six areas to understand before you move meaningful value onto a device.

Hardware wallet setup

Initialise the device, set the PIN, generate keys offline and install the companion app — without ever exposing your phrase to a computer.

Cryptocurrency security

Recognise phishing pages, fake support accounts and lookalike download links — the three routes that actually cost people their holdings.

Device management

Keep firmware current, manage apps per asset, and know where the device lives so nothing unexpected gets signed while you're away from it.

Recovery protection

Understand what the recovery phrase can and cannot do, where to store it, and how to test a backup without ever exposing it online.

Self-custody

Holding your own keys means no custodian can freeze or lose your assets — and no one can undo a mistake on your behalf. That trade is the whole point.

Transaction verification

Trust the device screen, not the browser window. Compare address, amount and fees on the hardware wallet before every confirmation, no matter how small.

Field rules

Five always, five never

If you remember nothing else from this page, remember these ten lines.

Always

  • Type the address yourself or use your own bookmark.
  • Verify address and amount on the device screen.
  • Keep firmware updated through the official app.
  • Store the recovery phrase offline, ideally on metal.
  • Send a small test transfer before large amounts.

Never

  • Never type your recovery phrase into any website or app.
  • Never photograph it or keep it in cloud notes.
  • Never accept "support" help in a chat or direct message.
  • Never reuse a device bought second-hand or pre-set-up.
  • Never approve a transaction you cannot read on the device.

From the guide

Ledger.com/start: a practical guide to your first hardware wallet setup

Getting started 4 min read Updated for current app versions

Getting started with crypto self-custody usually begins at Ledger.com/start — the entry point for setting up a hardware wallet and its companion app. The flow is deliberately short, but every step in it matters, and a few minutes of care at the beginning saves a great deal of trouble later.

Begin by unboxing carefully and checking that the device and its packaging are genuine: a sealed box, matching reference details, and software downloaded only from the official source. Then choose a PIN you have never used anywhere else. The device locks itself after a handful of wrong attempts, which is a feature rather than a fault.

Your recovery phrase never belongs online. Whoever holds those words controls the assets — and no support desk can reverse a mistake.

The most important moment is the recovery phrase. It is generated on the device itself, shown on its own screen, and written down on paper. It should never be typed into a website, a chat, a spreadsheet or a photo library.

From there, open the companion app, add your accounts and send a small test transaction before moving meaningful amounts. Read every address on the device screen before approving it, update firmware through official channels only, and treat security as a routine rather than a one-off task. Self-custody rewards patience more than speed.

Questions

Beginning, answered

Is Ledger.com/start the official setup page?

Yes — it is the entry point published by the device maker for downloading the companion app and starting device setup. Reach it by typing the address yourself or from your own bookmark; never follow it from an email, advert or direct message.

Should I ever type my recovery phrase online?

Never, in any form — not as text, not as a photo, not into a "wallet restore" page or an app. No legitimate setup flow or support agent will ask. If a page requests it, close the page: it is an attempt to take your assets.

What happens if I lose the device?

Your assets live on the blockchain, not inside the device. With your handwritten recovery phrase you can restore access on a replacement device. Without it, no company or support team can recover the funds.

Do I need a hardware wallet for small amounts?

That is a judgement call. For holdings you would be upset to lose, moving keys offline removes an entire category of risk — exchange failures, compromised browsers and stolen logins. Start with a small test amount and scale up as you get comfortable.

How do I know a download is genuine?

Download only from the official source you navigated to yourself, check the address bar character by character, and verify the installer against the checksums published with it. Keep the app updated from inside the app rather than from search results.

Ready when you are.

Twenty minutes of careful setup, then years of holding your own keys.

Go to step one Re-read the field rules