A comprehensive guide to safely setting up your hardware wallet. Follow these steps meticulously to protect your digital assets.
Before beginning, ensure the packaging is tamper-free. The security of your assets starts here. Take a moment to verify all contents are present.
ACTION: Connect your Ledger device using the provided USB cable to your computer or a power source. The device screen should light up and display a welcome message (e.g., "Welcome" or "Press button to begin").
Use the buttons on the device (left and right) to navigate the on-screen prompts. Press both buttons simultaneously to confirm an action.
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For maximum security, you **must** choose to set up your Ledger as a **new device** to generate a unique, cryptographically secure 24-word recovery phrase.
ACTION: Select "Set up as new device" on your Ledger screen. This initiates the crucial steps for PIN and Recovery Phrase generation.
Do not restore a phrase you did not generate yourself. Only proceed with a fresh setup.
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The PIN code is your local, physical protection layer. It is required to unlock your device and confirm transactions. Choose a code you can easily remember but is difficult to guess.
ACTION: Set a PIN code between 4 and 8 digits. Navigate using the side buttons and confirm each digit with both buttons pressed simultaneously. You will be asked to confirm the PIN a second time.
Security Tip: Avoid obvious sequences like "123456" or birth dates. A longer PIN (8 digits) offers greater protection.
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⚠️ **THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP.** The 24 words are the master key to your funds. If lost, your crypto is lost forever. If stolen, your crypto can be instantly accessed.
ACTION: Write down each of the 24 words *in order* on the blank Recovery Sheet provided. **Do not take a photo.** **Do not type it on any computer or phone.**
The device will display the words one by one. Double-check your spelling for every single word. The order matters!
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Once you've safely recorded your 24 words, the device will ask you to confirm a random selection of words to verify your record. This ensures you've written them down correctly.
ACTION: Confirm the Recovery Phrase and proceed to the "Processing" or "Dashboard" screen. Download and install the Ledger Live application from the official site to complete the setup.
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