A friendly, step-by-step presentation to set up and secure your Ledger hardware wallet. Designed to be copy-pasted into slides or a printable handout. Colorful headings (H1 → H5) make it easy to skim.
Hardware wallets like Ledger store your private keys offline so attackers cannot reach them over the internet. For anyone who holds cryptocurrencies for the long term or in meaningful amounts, hardware security is a crucial layer of protection.
New Ledger owners, people moving savings to crypto, or those preparing a safe backup and recovery plan. No prior hardware wallet knowledge required.
Start at the official Ledger setup page: Ledger.com/start. Always use the official site when downloading Ledger Live or checking setup guides.
Download Ledger Live only from the official start page. Install, open, and follow the prompts. Ledger Live is the app that helps you manage accounts and firmware.
If your Ledger is lost, stolen, or damaged, the 24-word seed restores access to your funds. Never store it digitally, photograph it, or share it with anyone.
Within Ledger Live, go to the Manager and install the apps for the blockchains you use (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.). Each app consumes space on the device—choose the ones you need.
Always verify the receiving address on your hardware device's screen before sending funds. Software can be compromised; the device confirms addresses independently.
Test a recovery on a spare device (if comfortable) using the written seed — not recommended for novices without guidance. Always ensure the written seed is accurate before wiping or discarding the original device.
Keep your Ledger firmware up to date via Ledger Live. Firmware updates can include critical security fixes and new features.
Phishing websites, fake support numbers, and social-engineering attempts. Always verify domain names and never enter your seed phrase into any website or app.
Advanced users can add a passphrase (25th word) — this creates separate hidden wallets. It increases security but also increases risk if you forget the passphrase.
For custodial redundancy, consider storing a recovery seed in a separate, secure offsite location. For large holdings or institutions, follow formal key-management policies.
Regularly review devices and recovery storage. Keep an inventory of where backup pieces are stored and who (if anyone) has access, and rotate physical security as needed.
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