**Ledger® Live Wallet** – **Getting Started**™
The official guide for initializing your **Ledger Device**, securing your **Digital Assets**, and integrating with the **Developer Portal**. Begin your journey to uncompromising **Wallet Security** today.
Your 4-Step Guide to **Getting Started** with the **Ledger Wallet**
Install **Ledger Live** **App**
Download the official **Ledger Live App** from the verified source (desktop or mobile). This application is the gateway to managing all your **Digital Assets** and interacting with the wider DeFi ecosystem. Never use third-party **App** links; always verify the source for maximum **Wallet Security**. The **Live App** will guide you through the initial **Ledger Device** firmware check and connection process.
Initialize **Ledger Device**
Connect your new **Ledger Device** (Nano S Plus, Nano X, etc.) to your computer. The **Ledger Live App** will prompt you to choose "Set up as new **device**." This initializes the cryptographic memory and prepares the **Wallet** for its primary **security** measures. Follow the prompts carefully on the **device** screen itself, which is the most **secure** interface.
Secure Your **Recovery Phrase**
This is the single most critical step in **Wallet Security**. Your **Ledger Device** will display a 24-word **Recovery Phrase** only once. Write it down **physically** on the provided sheet. **NEVER** store it digitally. This **Recovery Phrase** is the master key to your **Digital Assets** and allows for **recovery** of your **Wallet** if the **device** is lost. Dedicate time to this crucial **Getting Started** step.
Install **Digital Assets** **Apps**
Use the Manager section within the **Ledger Live App** to install the specific **crypto** **Apps** you need (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana). Each **App** allows your **Ledger Device** to interact with that specific **blockchain** securely. Once the **App** is installed on your **device**, you can then add the corresponding account to your **Ledger Live Wallet** interface, completing your **Getting Started** process and enabling **asset management**.
Uncompromising **Wallet Security**: The Foundation of **Ledger Live**
At the core of the **Ledger Wallet** ecosystem is the Secure Element chip, a technology used in passports and credit cards. This chip securely stores your private keys, ensuring they never leave the **Ledger Device**. When you use the **Ledger Live App** to manage your **Digital Assets**, the transaction is prepared on your computer but must be physically signed and confirmed on the **Device** screen using the private key stored within the Secure Element. This physical isolation is the key to preventing online threats and is the bedrock of **Ledger Security**. This process makes **Getting Started** safe for even novice users.
The importance of the **Recovery Phrase** cannot be overstated. It is a cryptographic backup of your private keys. Losing the **Recovery Phrase** and access to your **device** means permanently losing your **Digital Assets**. Conversely, if your **Ledger Device** is stolen, but your **Recovery Phrase** is secure, you can easily **recovery** your entire **Wallet** onto a new **device**. **Ledger Live** provides a constant **security** check, ensuring your **App** and **device** firmware are always up-to-date, mitigating known vulnerabilities. This continuous vigilance is essential for superior **Wallet Security** and managing your growing portfolio of **crypto** **Digital Assets**.
For developers and advanced users, the **Ledger Live** architecture offers transparent transaction signing. Every piece of data your **Ledger Device** signs is displayed on its trusted screen, ensuring that "What You See Is What You Sign" (WYSIWYS). This is crucial for verifying complex DeFi interactions and safeguarding against blind signing risks. The **Ledger Wallet** system is designed for professional-grade **Digital Asset** **Security** from the moment you begin **Getting Started** with the **Live App** and your new **device**.
Furthermore, the **Ledger Live App** acts as a centralized dashboard for diversified **Digital Assets** **asset management**. It allows you to check balances, send, receive, stake, and swap various **crypto** currencies all from one **secure** interface. Critically, **Ledger Live** maintains a non-custodial relationship: while it provides the interface, the access control remains strictly with your **Ledger Device** and your **Recovery Phrase**. The **Live App** is simply a window to the **blockchain** protected by the best hardware **Security**.
This layered approach to **Wallet Security**—physical isolation via the **device**, cryptographic backup via the **Recovery Phrase**, and transaction transparency via the **Live App**—is what sets **Ledger** apart. When you finish **Getting Started**, you have not just a **Wallet**, but a comprehensive, **secure** system for long-term **Digital Asset management**. We encourage every user to fully understand their **Recovery Phrase** and **PIN** to maximize the benefits of this integrated **Security** solution. The continuous development of the **Ledger Live App** reflects our ongoing commitment to leading the industry in hardware **Wallet Security**.
Understanding phishing risks is paramount to long-term **Wallet Security**. The **Ledger Live App** is engineered to automatically filter and warn against known malicious addresses and phishing attempts. Always remember that **Ledger** will never ask you for your **Recovery Phrase**. Any request for this sensitive **security** information, whether through email, social media, or even within a compromised **App** interface, is fraudulent. Your physical **Ledger Device** is the ultimate key, making the **Getting Started** phase the most important step in protecting your **Digital Assets** from all online threats.
The **Developer Portal**: Expanding **Ledger Wallet** Functionality
The **Ledger Developer Portal** provides the tools and documentation necessary for integrating custom applications and **Digital Assets** directly into the **Ledger Live** ecosystem. Our platform allows developers to leverage the powerful **Wallet Security** of the **Ledger Device** for novel **crypto** projects, ensuring that your **App**'s users benefit from the gold standard in hardware protection right from the moment they are **Getting Started**.
Integration SDKs
Access our comprehensive Software Development Kits (SDKs) to build and publish **App**s for the **Ledger Device** and integrate with the **Ledger Live Wallet**. These SDKs simplify the complex cryptographic signing process, allowing developers to focus on functionality while the **Device** handles the **Security**. This is essential for bringing new **Digital Assets** support to the **Live App**.
Secure **App** Testing
The **Developer Portal** provides dedicated environments for testing and auditing your custom **crypto** **App**s before submission. Every **App** must pass rigorous **security** checks to ensure it maintains the integrity of the **Ledger Wallet** and the non-custodial nature of **Digital Assets** management. We ensure that every new **App** is safe for the existing **Ledger Live** user base.
Community and Support
Join a thriving community of **Developer**s focused on decentralized **Security** and **Digital Assets**. The **Portal** offers detailed documentation, API references, and direct support to help you through the **App** development lifecycle, from **Getting Started** to final deployment within the **Ledger Live Wallet** ecosystem. Expand the reach and utility of the **Ledger Device** together.