Welcome to the Future of Digital Security

Your Definitive Guide to Self-Custody: The Ledger Experience

🚀 The Ledger Self-Custody Blueprint: Getting Started

This is the definitive pathway to securing your digital wealth. Follow these steps to set up your new hardware signer and the Ledger Wallet companion application.

Phase 1: Secure Device Initialization

  1. **Retrieve Your Device:** Unbox your new hardware signer. Ensure the packaging is tamper-free.
  2. **Connect & Power Up:** Use the provided cable to connect the device to your computer.
  3. **Choose Your Access Code:** Select a strong, unique 4 to 8-digit **personal code** on the device's screen. Confirm it carefully. **Do not use this code anywhere else.**
  4. **Generate Your Master Key (Recovery Phrase):** Your device will display a unique 24-word **Secret Recovery Phrase**. This is the single most critical step.
  5. **Record Offline:** Use the official provided sheets to **write down all 24 words, in order.** Double and triple-check your transcription. This phrase is the ultimate backup and must be stored securely offline.
  6. **Confirm & Verify:** The device will prompt you to verify the phrase word by word, ensuring you have recorded it correctly.

Phase 2: Verifying Authenticity via the Ledger Wallet App

  1. **Download the Official App:** Navigate to the official Ledger site to download the **Ledger Wallet desktop or mobile application**. Only use the direct source.
  2. **Start Setup:** Open the application and choose the **"Set up a new device"** option, selecting your specific model.
  3. **Perform the Genuine Check:** The application will initiate an essential cryptographic check with the device. Press both buttons on your hardware signer simultaneously when prompted to **"Allow Manager"**. This step verifies your device is genuine and running the correct, secure operating system.

Phase 3: Installing Apps and Managing Assets

  1. **Install Core Apps:** In the **Manager** section of the Ledger Wallet application, install the primary application for the assets you wish to manage (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.).
  2. **Create Accounts:** Navigate to the **Accounts** section, choose the asset, and click **"Add Account"**. Your hardware signer will generate the necessary addresses on the blockchain.
  3. **Fund Your Accounts:** You are now ready to send assets from an exchange or another platform directly to the newly generated, verified addresses displayed in the Ledger Wallet application.
  4. **Firmware Updates:** Always keep your device's firmware and the Ledger Wallet application software up-to-date, following the official prompts and instructions exclusively within the authenticated application.
## đź“° The Definitive Path to Digital Asset Self-Custody: Mastering Ledger.Com/Start

Embarking on the journey of digital asset ownership is an exhilarating and crucial step toward financial sovereignty. However, with this freedom comes the paramount responsibility of **self-custody**. The address Ledger.com/Start represents the gateway to this secure world, offering a clear, methodical blueprint for activating your hardware signer and taking absolute control of your digital wealth. This comprehensive guide details every step, ensuring your transition to the safest form of asset management is seamless and secure.

**Crucial Security Alert:** Your **Secret Recovery Phrase** is your master key. It must **never** be digitized, photographed, stored on a computer, or shared with anyone, not even customer support. It is for your eyes only and must remain in its physical, offline form. The security of your entire portfolio depends on this single action.
### Unboxing and The Integrity Check

The first interaction with your new hardware signer sets the security standard. Upon unboxing, meticulously inspect the packaging for any signs of tampering, tears, or prior opening. A genuine Ledger device package is sealed to assure its integrity. Inside, you will find your hardware signer, a connection cable, and **blank recovery sheets**. The blank nature of the sheets is critical—it confirms that the device has not been pre-initialized and is ready to generate your unique, uncompromised master key.

Connect your device to your computer using the supplied cable. The screen will illuminate, presenting the welcome message. This simple act of connection is the start of an intricate, secure process orchestrated by the device's certified Secure Element chip.

### Phase 1: Generating the Master Key

The first significant action is the creation of your **personal access code**. This code is essential for unlocking the physical device and is the initial barrier to entry. Choose a code of 4 to 8 digits that is complex and easy for **you** to remember, but impossible for others to guess. Crucially, this code is entered and confirmed **only on the device itself**, never on your computer. This isolates the most sensitive action away from potentially vulnerable systems.

Following the access code selection, the device will begin the process of generating your **Secret Recovery Phrase**. This sequence of 24 words is the **cryptographic core of your wallet**, the true key that unlocks access to your assets on the blockchain. This phrase is displayed on the device's secure screen and is the only mechanism for restoring your digital funds if the device is ever lost, stolen, or damaged. **Slow down** and use the provided physical sheets to write down each word in sequence. Verify the spelling and order meticulously. This physical record must be stored in a secured, private location—think fireproof safe or safety deposit box—far away from your computer.

### Phase 2: The Essential Authenticity Verification

Once your master key is secured, the next step involves downloading and installing the official companion application, the **Ledger Wallet**. The only reliable source for this software is the primary Ledger website. Once installed and opened, select the option to set up a new hardware signer. The application will then guide you to the **Genuine Check**. This is a proprietary, multi-step process where the Ledger Wallet application connects securely with the cryptographic chip inside your hardware signer. The chip generates a unique cryptographic proof, verifying that your device is genuine and has not been tampered with by any third party. If this check is successful, you have absolute assurance that you are operating with an authentic, secure product.

### Phase 3: Building Your Digital Portfolio

With the device verified, you can now enter the **Manager** section of the Ledger Wallet application. This is where you will install the specific digital asset applications for the currencies you wish to secure (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, etc.). The storage capacity of modern Ledger signers allows for numerous applications to be installed concurrently, providing a centralized control panel for a diverse portfolio.

After installing the necessary apps, navigate to the **Accounts** tab and select **Add Account**. The application will instruct you to connect and unlock your hardware signer. The device will then securely communicate with the blockchain to generate new receiving addresses. **It is essential to understand that your assets are never 'stored' on the device**; the device securely holds the **keys** that control your assets on the public blockchain. When you want to receive assets, you will copy the **verified receiving address** from the Ledger Wallet application and use it on the exchange or platform you are withdrawing from. To send assets, the transaction details will be displayed on the device's secure screen, requiring a **physical confirmation** by pressing the buttons—a final, unhackable barrier against remote attacks.

### Looking Ahead: Firmware and Security Updates

To maintain peak security and functionality, regularly check for and apply **firmware updates** through the official Ledger Wallet application. Firmware updates introduce new features, enhance security, and ensure compatibility with the evolving landscape of digital finance. Always follow the prompts within the authenticated application for these updates. Ledger is constantly working to provide innovative solutions, such as the new **Ledger Stax** with its E Ink touchscreen, designed to make transaction verification clearer and more intuitive than ever. Whether you choose the versatile Nano S Plus or the premium Stax, you are now part of a community committed to the highest standard of security. Congratulations on completing your setup and taking the definitive step toward true financial autonomy.