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Set up a Ledger wallet only after checking its purchase source and packaging, then initialize it as a new device, create your own PIN, write the Secret Recovery Phrase from the device screen, and complete Ledger Wallet’s Genuine Check. Never use a PIN or recovery phrase supplied by a seller, and never type the recovery phrase into a phone, computer, app, website, cloud service or support form. A sealed box by itself is not proof of authenticity: the device must pass the cryptographic check and arrive uninitialized.
What you need before starting
Prepare a quiet, private place where nobody can see the device screen or the recovery sheet. You need the Ledger device, its supplied recovery sheet, a compatible phone or computer, an internet connection for installing Ledger Wallet and device software, and enough uninterrupted time to record and verify every word. Keep the recovery sheet away from cameras, smart speakers and other people while you work.
- A legitimate purchase channel: Ledger’s own store or a Ledger-authorized reseller is preferable. Ledger lists official Amazon storefronts in some markets, but an Amazon listing is not automatically authorized; check the seller rather than relying on the marketplace name.
- The official application: Download Ledger Wallet only from Ledger’s official device-setup page or the official iOS or Android store listing. Do not follow a seller’s link, a social-media link, an unsolicited support message or an “urgent update” prompt.
- A private backup location: Your recovery sheet must remain offline and physically protected. Anyone who obtains the words can generally control the accounts restored from them.
Do not connect a package that looks opened, resealed or altered. Photographing the box for a seller or storing serial information is not a substitute for the device checks below; keep the recovery words completely out of any digital record.
Check the seller and package before connecting the device
Why the purchase channel matters
An authorized channel reduces supply-chain risk because fewer unknown parties have handled the device. It does not replace the on-device checks: a box that looks factory-sealed can still be unsuitable if the device was initialized before you received it. Marketplace listings require particular care because multiple sellers can use the same product page.
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- Genuine Check: confirm your signer is authentic during setup with the Ledger Wallet app.
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Red flags that mean you should stop
- The device arrives with a PIN already chosen, a recovery phrase already printed or any instruction telling you to use supplied words.
- Packaging, seals, labels or accessories appear opened, replaced or altered.
- A card, email or chat message asks you to enter the recovery phrase to “activate,” “synchronize,” “verify,” “unlock” or “update” the wallet.
- A seller directs you to an app download that is not the official Ledger Wallet listing.
If any of these conditions applies, do not initialize the device or move funds to it. Contact Ledger Support through Ledger’s official site and explain the condition. Do not send support a photograph or transcription of your recovery phrase.
What to do with a questionable Amazon listing
Ledger identifies official Amazon storefronts in some markets, so Amazon can be legitimate in those regions. The relevant question is whether the specific listing is operated by an authorized seller, not whether Amazon fulfilled the shipment or hosts the page. If the seller cannot be verified, choose Ledger or an authorized reseller instead. If the package has already arrived, rely on the initialization state and Genuine Check as additional tests, while recognizing that those tests do not reconstruct the device’s entire handling history.
Install Ledger Wallet safely
- Open Ledger’s official device-setup page by entering the address yourself, or open the official iOS or Android store and search for Ledger Wallet. Check the publisher and app identity before installing.
- Install the application and open it. Ignore links sent by a seller, social-media account, pop-up, unsolicited “support” contact or urgent-update message.
- Connect the Ledger device as directed by the application. Unlock it only with a PIN that you created yourself; do not enter a seller-provided code.
- Follow the onboarding prompts. When Ledger Wallet offers a current Ledger OS or firmware update, install it through the application’s normal flow.
- Open My Ledger and install the applications for the assets you actually intend to manage. Asset support and application requirements depend on the device model and current software.
Keep the computer or phone display in view, but treat it as a convenience interface. The device’s secure screen is the authority for the recovery words, addresses, amounts and approval prompts.
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Choose and confirm your PIN
During onboarding, the device asks you to create and confirm a PIN. Choose it yourself, keep it private and avoid an easily guessed or reused code. Do not let another person choose it, and do not record it beside the recovery sheet. The PIN protects local access to the device; it is not a replacement for the recovery phrase.
Generate the Secret Recovery Phrase on the device
For a new wallet, the device generates the Secret Recovery Phrase and displays the words on its secure screen. Write each word on the supplied recovery sheet in the displayed order. Work slowly: one missing word, spelling error or position change can produce a different wallet.
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- This is what security feels like: Ledger touchscreen signers all come with a private, offline, PIN-protected backup, Ledger Recovery Key, to never lose access to your assets.
- Keep the device screen and sheet private while writing.
- Do not photograph or scan the words.
- Do not type them into a computer, phone, password manager or cloud note.
- Do not email, message or read them to Ledger Support or anyone claiming to provide support.
- Store the completed sheet offline in a physically protected place that will remain available if the device is lost or damaged.
Ledger’s warning is explicit: “Furthermore, a genuine Ledger signer never asks you to enter your recovery phrase on a computer, phone, app, or website.” Treat any request that conflicts with this rule as a scam, even if it uses Ledger branding or creates a sense of urgency.
Complete the on-device recovery check
The device tests selected words from the phrase so you can catch a transcription error immediately. Select the requested words on the device itself. Do not “confirm” by pasting the phrase into Ledger Wallet or a website.
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If the check fails, stop and compare the sheet with the device’s prompts. Confirm the phrase length (12, 18 or 24 words), exact order, spelling and that every entry belongs to the BIP39 word list. A failed check can be retried. If it continues to fail, assume the backup may be wrong rather than guessing; do not deposit assets until you have a correct backup and have followed Ledger’s recovery procedure.
Run Genuine Check and understand what it proves
The check itself
- Leave the device connected and unlocked in Ledger Wallet.
- Follow the application’s Genuine Check prompt during onboarding, or start the check when Ledger Wallet offers it for the connected device.
- Ledger Wallet sends a challenge to the device.
- The genuine Secure Element returns a cryptographic signature.
- Ledger verifies that signature and reports whether the device is genuine.
A successful result authenticates the device’s Secure Element through cryptography. It is stronger evidence than a sticker, serial number or sealed-looking carton.
The limits of Genuine Check
Ledger cautions that Genuine Check cannot detect every unauthorized physical modification when the original Secure Element remains intact. In other words, a pass does not certify every component, accessory or event in the seller’s handling history. Use the complete chain of evidence: buy through an authorized channel, reject an initialized or altered package, initialize it yourself and obtain a successful Genuine Check result.
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- This is what security feels like: Ledger touchscreen signers all come with a private, offline, PIN-protected backup, Ledger Recovery Key, to never lose access to your assets.
If the check fails or Ledger Wallet cannot complete it, do not use the device for funds. Disconnect it, preserve the purchase details and contact Ledger Support through the official site. Do not attempt an unofficial firmware installation or disclose your recovery phrase while seeking help.
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Verify every transaction on the device screen
Ledger states that private keys remain in the Secure Element and that transactions require physical approval on the device. Before approving any transaction, compare the destination address and amount shown on the device’s secure screen with the transaction you intended to make. Do not rely only on the computer or phone display: malicious software can alter what the companion interface shows.
- Read the complete destination address as presented by the device, not just a shortened preview on the host screen.
- Check the amount and relevant network or asset details shown in the approval flow.
- Reject the transaction on the device if any value differs or if you did not initiate it.
- Approve physically only after the details match your intended payment.
This habit applies after setup as well as during the first test transaction. A genuine device cannot make an incorrect transaction safe if you approve incorrect details.
How the recovery phrase protects access
What the phrase is for
The Secret Recovery Phrase is the offline backup from which a replacement Ledger can restore the accounts associated with the wallet. Ledger describes access as device-and-PIN based rather than account based: “Ledger never holds your assets, and there is no account, email or password — access is through your device and your PIN.” The phrase is therefore the recovery mechanism you control, not a password to submit to an online service.
What to do if the device is lost or fails
- Obtain a replacement Ledger through Ledger or an authorized reseller.
- Initialize the replacement using its on-device recovery option.
- Enter the Secret Recovery Phrase only on the replacement Ledger’s own secure screen, never into an online wallet, phone, computer, app or website.
- Complete the device’s recovery check and Genuine Check, then install the required asset applications through My Ledger.
Anyone who finds the old device still needs the PIN to use it, but possession of the recovery phrase is the more serious risk because it can be entered into another compatible wallet. Keep the phrase protected even when the original device is working normally.
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Respond to a suspected phrase exposure
If you photographed, typed, uploaded, messaged or otherwise disclosed the phrase, treat the wallet as compromised. Do not wait for an unauthorized transaction and do not try to “change” the old phrase; a recovery phrase cannot be edited.
- While you still control the device, create a new wallet so the device generates a new Secret Recovery Phrase.
- Write and verify the new phrase offline using the same on-device process.
- Move assets from accounts controlled by the exposed phrase to accounts controlled by the newly generated phrase. Verify every destination and amount on the device screen.
- After the transfers settle, reset the device and set it up as new according to Ledger’s current recovery procedure, or follow Ledger Support’s current instructions.
- Never disclose the old or new phrase to support, a seller or anyone else.
If you no longer control the device or cannot move assets, use Ledger Support’s official procedure immediately. Do not enter the phrase into an online wallet as a shortcut.
Troubleshoot common setup failures
| Symptom | Safe response |
|---|---|
| The box or device appears opened, altered or already initialized | Stop. Do not use a supplied PIN or phrase. Contact Ledger Support and the seller through official channels; do not deposit assets. |
| The app came from a message or an unfamiliar website | Uninstall it, then obtain Ledger Wallet from Ledger’s official setup page or the official iOS/Android store listing. |
| Recovery check fails | Check whether the phrase has 12, 18 or 24 words; compare order and spelling; verify BIP39 membership; retry on the device. Persistent failure means the backup may be wrong. |
| Genuine Check fails or will not complete | Do not initialize the wallet for funds or install unofficial software. Disconnect it and contact Ledger Support through the official site. |
| You cannot find an asset application in My Ledger | Confirm that the device model, current Ledger OS/firmware and Ledger Wallet version support the asset. Install only through My Ledger and consult current Ledger documentation. |
| A transaction address or amount differs on the device | Reject it physically. Recheck the transaction on the host application and investigate the computer or phone before trying again. |
| The device is lost or has failed | Restore on a replacement Ledger with the Secret Recovery Phrase on the replacement device only. |
Selecting a Ledger model without weakening security
Model choice affects usability and compatibility, but it does not change the non-negotiable setup rules: authorized purchase, self-chosen PIN, a phrase generated and displayed by the device, successful Genuine Check and verification of every transaction on the secure screen. Confirm model-specific specifications and availability for your country and product generation at the time of purchase.
| Comparison point | Questions to answer before buying | Evidence status |
|---|---|---|
| Secure-screen type and readability | Can you comfortably read full addresses, amounts and approval prompts on the device? | Varies by model; current model specification is not stated here. |
| Operating systems and connectivity | Does it support your phone or computer and the connection method you intend to use? | Varies by model and software version; verify current compatibility. |
| Firmware and asset compatibility | Are the assets you plan to manage supported by the model’s current Ledger OS and My Ledger applications? | Asset and firmware support change; check current Ledger documentation. |
| Physical backup and recovery options | Can you store the recovery sheet safely and access a replacement device if needed? | Your storage arrangement, not a model-specific figure, determines this requirement. |
| Size and portability | Will you carry it or keep it in a secure location, and can you operate its controls privately? | Model-specific dimensions are not stated here. |
| Purchase channel | Is the exact listing operated by Ledger or an authorized reseller in your market? | Check the seller at purchase; an Amazon listing is not automatically authorized. |
Final pre-funding checklist
- The seller was Ledger or a verifiable authorized reseller for your market.
- The package showed no signs of opening or alteration.
- The device arrived without a preset PIN or recovery phrase.
- Ledger Wallet came from Ledger’s official setup page or an official mobile-store listing.
- Ledger OS/firmware was updated through Ledger Wallet, and required applications were installed from My Ledger.
- You chose and confirmed a private PIN.
- The device generated the Secret Recovery Phrase on its secure screen.
- Every word was written in order on the physical recovery sheet and kept offline.
- The phrase passed the device’s word-selection check.
- Genuine Check reported that the device is genuine.
- You know where the physical backup is stored and who can access it.
- You will read the destination address and amount on the device before every approval.
Only after all of these checks pass should you transfer assets. The safest setup is not defined by a sealed package or a familiar marketplace; it is the combination of a trustworthy source, an uninitialized device, a phrase you generated and protected yourself, a successful cryptographic authenticity check and deliberate approval on the device screen.
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