Ledger Live Start: A Beginner’s Guide to Setting Up Your Ledger Wallet

As cryptocurrency becomes more mainstream, protecting your digital assets is more important than ever. With hacks, phishing scams, and exchange failures making headlines, self-custody of crypto is increasingly recognized as the safest option. That’s where Ledger, one of the most trusted names in crypto security, comes in—with a combination of secure hardware wallets and a powerful companion app: Ledger Live.

The journey begins at ledger.com/start, the official entry point to setting up your Ledger wallet and installing Ledger Live. This article guides you through every step of the process and introduces the features that make Ledger Live an essential tool for managing your digital wealth.

What Is Ledger Live?

Ledger Live is a desktop and mobile application developed by Ledger. It works hand-in-hand with Ledger’s hardware wallets—such as the Ledger Nano S Plus, Nano X, and Ledger Stax—to offer a secure, all-in-one solution for managing cryptocurrency assets.

With Ledger Live, you can:

All these actions are done while your private keys stay offline, inside your Ledger hardware wallet. This design ensures that even if your computer or phone is compromised, your assets remain safe.

Step 1: Go to Ledger.com/Start

Your setup begins at ledger.com/start, the official setup page. Here, you’ll select the Ledger device you own and be guided through the installation and setup process. It’s crucial to only use this official site to avoid fake apps or phishing attempts.

Once you've selected your device model, you’ll be prompted to download Ledger Live for your operating system. Versions are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Step 2: Install and Open Ledger Live

After downloading Ledger Live:

  1. Open the application and select “Get Started.”
  2. Choose your Ledger device: Nano S Plus, Nano X, or another model.
  3. Select whether you’re setting up a new device or restoring an existing one using a 24-word recovery phrase.

Ledger Live will guide you through every step, including:

This recovery phrase is the only backup of your wallet. If your device is lost or damaged, this phrase is what you’ll use to restore access to your assets.

Step 3: Check Device Authenticity

To ensure you’ve received a genuine Ledger device, Ledger Live will automatically check the hardware for authenticity. This is a critical security step to ensure your wallet has not been tampered with.

Once confirmed, your device is ready for use.

Step 4: Add Crypto Accounts

Now that your wallet is secure and ready, Ledger Live allows you to add accounts for each cryptocurrency you want to manage. You can add multiple accounts for supported coins such as:

Each account you add allows you to receive, store, and send that specific asset securely.

Step 5: Use Ledger Live to Manage Your Assets

With your wallet set up and accounts added, Ledger Live becomes your central hub for crypto management. Key features include:

Step 6: Keep Everything Updated

Ledger regularly releases firmware updates for its hardware wallets and software updates for Ledger Live. Always keep both up to date to benefit from new features, performance improvements, and security patches.

To update:

Security Tips for New Users

Final Thoughts

Setting up your Ledger device and Ledger Live through ledger.com/start is the first step toward total control and security over your crypto assets. With your private keys stored offline and your assets managed through a secure, user-friendly platform, Ledger Live gives you peace of mind in an often unpredictable digital world.

Whether you’re just starting with crypto or transitioning from a custodial exchange to self-custody, Ledger Live makes the process smooth, secure, and accessible. With support for thousands of assets, NFT and DeFi tools, and constant improvements, it’s one of the best platforms available for serious crypto users who value security without compromising functionality.

Made in Typedream