Ledger Setup Checklist: Verify, initialize and protect access

Start with the source and the device

If you have just received a Ledger device, begin with the seller and packaging. Use Ledger's official store or a reseller you independently confirmed as authorized in your region. Marketplaces can show multiple sellers on one page, so check who is actually selling the item. If packaging appears opened, altered or suspicious, do not initialize it; contact support through a route you locate yourself.

Packaging and appearance are not enough to prove authenticity. Ledger describes a Genuine Check in its official companion software. Download software only from Ledger's official website or official mobile app listing, then follow the current verification process. A result from an unofficial app or seller-provided link is not meaningful evidence.

Before initializing

Set aside uninterrupted time. Find current official setup instructions for your exact device and region, and confirm your phone or computer and intended networks are supported. Do not follow steps from a direct message, search advertisement or unverified video if they conflict with the official guide.

A legitimate new-device setup should guide you through creating a PIN and a new Secret Recovery Phrase on the device itself. Do not use a phrase printed in the box, supplied by a seller or sent by support. Never enter your phrase into a website, computer, phone note, screenshot, cloud drive or chat. Anyone who gets it may be able to restore the wallet elsewhere.

During setup

• Follow current official instructions for your device model.
• Create a PIN that is not reused and cannot be guessed from public information.
• Record recovery information only through the device's setup process, and verify each word and its order using the device's confirmation steps.
• Keep the phrase private and offline. Do not photograph, email, type or upload it.
• Complete authenticity verification in official companion software before relying on the device.
• Install only the applications you need through the official management flow.

This checklist explains decisions; it does not replace current model-specific instructions. Screens and setup behavior can change. Follow the official guide for exact steps and stop if the device asks you to use a phrase you did not generate yourself.

Plan for recovery before funding

The device is replaceable; access depends on the keys and backup arrangement. Decide where the recovery backup will be protected from unauthorized access, accidental disposal and likely physical hazards in your situation. Avoid keeping the device and its only backup together. Consider what a trusted person should know in an emergency without giving them the phrase.

If the phrase is lost or exposed, treat that as a serious access incident. Use official instructions to move to a fresh wallet if exposure is suspected, and do not trust unsolicited recovery services. Never share the phrase with Ledger support or anyone claiming to troubleshoot your device.

Before your first transfer

Confirm that the asset, network and receiving account match. Start with a small amount only when you understand the fees and what a test can and cannot establish. A test transaction does not prove a future transaction, recipient or application is safe. Read the device screen slowly and reject a request that does not match your intent.

You are better prepared when you can explain where your recovery phrase came from, where it is stored, how you will verify a transaction and what you would do if the device is lost. If any answer is unclear, pause before moving funds.

Official references

See Ledger's current guidance on securely buying a Ledger signer and how its devices process transactions. Check the exact device's current setup instructions before acting.