Welcome to the trusted starting point for your **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X**. Follow our secure, step-by-step guide to initialize your **secure hardware wallet**, protect your **crypto assets**, and embark on your journey of true **digital security**.
Begin Initialization ProcessThe Ledger setup process is deliberately thorough to ensure maximum **digital security**. Before you move any **crypto assets**, you must complete these four critical steps. This is the difference between simply holding crypto and truly owning your **private keys**. Your **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X** is an investment in self-custody; let's set it up right.
The very first step is obtaining the official **Ledger Live** application. This is your gateway to managing your **secure hardware wallet**. Always download directly from the official Ledger website. Avoid third-party links or unverified app stores. **Ledger Live** serves as the user interface (UI) for your **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X**, but it's important to understand that your **private keys** always stay offline on the device itself. The software is just for display and transaction signing coordination.
Get Ledger Live App →Connect your **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X** using the provided USB cable. **Ledger Live** will prompt you to set up your new device. The device screen will display instructions, which you navigate using the physical buttons. It is critical that you trust only the screen of your **Ledger hardware wallet** during the **initialization** process. This device screen shows the uncompromised truth about the transactions you sign and the **24-word recovery phrase** you are about to create.
You will be asked to choose a PIN code (4 to 8 digits) on the **Ledger** device itself. This PIN protects physical access to your device. If someone steals your **Ledger hardware wallet**, they cannot access your **crypto assets** without this PIN. Choose a strong PIN, but ensure you can remember it. This is your first line of defense in **digital security**. Note that the PIN is not the ultimate backup; the **24-word recovery phrase** is the true key to your funds, allowing recovery if the device is lost.
The most vital step for true self-custody and **digital security**. Your device will generate a **24-word recovery phrase**. You **MUST** write this down on the provided sheet and store it **offline**. This phrase is the cryptographic seed that holds your **private keys**. If your **Ledger Nano X** is lost, damaged, or stolen, this phrase is the *only* way to recover access to your **crypto assets**. Treat it like the combination to a bank vault. Once you verify the phrase on the device, your **initialization** is complete, securing your funds.
The **24-word recovery phrase**—often called the **seed phrase**—is not merely a password; it is the master key from which all your **private keys** are derived using a cryptographic standard (BIP39). This means that every single bitcoin, Ethereum, or other **crypto assets** address generated by your **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X** is mathematically tied back to this sequence of words. Understanding its significance is fundamental to advanced **digital security**. Your **Ledger hardware wallet** itself is just a trusted tool that prevents those **private keys** from ever leaving its secure chip.
**NEVER DIGITIZE.** We cannot stress this enough: The moment you type your **24-word recovery phrase** into a computer, smartphone, camera, or cloud service (like Google Drive or email), you instantly compromise your **secure hardware wallet** and negate the purpose of having a **Ledger**. Malware, keyloggers, and cloud breaches are all pathways that hackers use to steal digitized seeds. The absolute best practice for preserving your **digital security** is to write the phrase down **offline** and ensure it remains physical, stored in a fireproof safe or a metal backup solution. This ensures your **crypto assets** are truly guarded against all forms of cyber theft.
During the **initialization** process, the **Ledger** device generates this phrase completely randomly and internally within its Secure Element chip, meaning even Ledger cannot know your phrase. This generation process guarantees the highest level of cryptographic randomness. Furthermore, the device then asks you to verify the phrase by manually re-entering a few words, confirming you've written it down correctly. This verification is crucial to finalize your **Ledger device setup**. Do not skip this step! Many losses occur because users miswrote one word during the initial setup.
Consider this phrase the nuclear option for recovery. If your **Ledger Nano X** is crushed, water-damaged, or lost in a fire, you simply purchase a new **secure hardware wallet** (it doesn't even have to be a Ledger!) and input the **24-word recovery phrase**. Instantly, your new device regenerates all your old **private keys**, and your **crypto assets** reappear in **Ledger Live**. This incredible power—the ability to recover millions in **digital assets** with just a piece of paper—is why the phrase must be guarded above all else. This process, often called restoration, proves that your funds are on the blockchain, and the phrase is the key to unlocking them, not the physical **Ledger hardware wallet** itself. Securely manage your **recovery phrase** for ultimate peace of mind.
Once your **Ledger Nano S Plus** or **Ledger Nano X** is initialized, **Ledger Live** becomes your daily dashboard for your **crypto assets**. It is far more than a simple wallet viewer; it is a full, integrated ecosystem that allows you to manage over 5,000 different coins and tokens. From viewing your total portfolio value to sending and receiving cryptocurrencies, the **Ledger Live** application simplifies the complex world of decentralized finance while maintaining the highest level of **digital security**. All critical actions, such as sending funds or staking, still require physical verification and signing on your **secure hardware wallet**.
**App Installation and Updates:** To manage specific **crypto assets** (like Bitcoin or Ethereum), you must first install the corresponding app on your **Ledger hardware wallet** using **Ledger Live**. The app installation process is secure and managed entirely through the trusted connection. Furthermore, **Ledger Live** handles all **firmware** updates for your device, ensuring your **Ledger Nano X** is always running the latest **security protocol**. Regular firmware updates are a non-negotiable part of maintaining your **digital security** posture.
**Staking and Earning:** **Ledger Live** provides built-in options to stake certain **crypto assets** (e.g., Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot) directly from your **secure hardware wallet**. Staking allows you to earn rewards on your holdings, but crucially, your **private keys** remain locked away on your Ledger. You retain full control while participating in network consensus and earning passive income. This seamless integration of earning opportunities with top-tier **security** is a core feature of the Ledger ecosystem, making it a powerful tool for serious investors.
**Swapping and Buying:** Through trusted third-party providers integrated into **Ledger Live**, you can buy new **crypto assets** directly into your **Ledger hardware wallet** and swap one crypto for another. This eliminates the need to expose your funds on potentially vulnerable exchanges, significantly enhancing your **digital security**. The entire flow is designed to be streamlined, allowing you to build and manage your portfolio without ever compromising the physical **Ledger Nano S Plus** device where your **private keys** reside.
In summary, **Ledger Live** is the user-friendly interface that connects you to the decentralized web, but the **Ledger Nano X** is the silent cryptographic bodyguard, ensuring no transaction is executed without your direct, physical, and confirmed approval. Together, they offer the definitive solution for managing and protecting your wealth in the new age of **digital assets**. Completing your **initialization** correctly via **Ledger.com/Start** is the first step toward utilizing this powerful combination.
What truly sets the **Ledger Nano X** and **Ledger Nano S Plus** apart is the certified secure chip embedded within the device—the **Secure Element** (SE). Unlike standard microcontrollers found in cheaper alternatives, this chip is the same technology used in passports, credit cards, and highly secure payment systems. It is independently certified with an **EAL5+ rating**, meaning it's designed to withstand sophisticated physical and side-channel attacks aimed at extracting your **private keys** or the **24-word recovery phrase**. This specialized hardware is the single greatest defense layer for your **crypto assets**.
When you connect your **Ledger hardware wallet** to **Ledger Live** for the first time during the **initialization** on **Ledger.com/Start**, the application performs a crucial integrity check called **Cryptographic Attestation**. This is a challenge-response protocol where **Ledger Live** asks the device to prove that it is a genuine, non-tampered, official Ledger product running the authentic Ledger **firmware**. If the device fails this attestation—perhaps due to a malicious software modification—**Ledger Live** will immediately warn you. This is an essential barrier against potential supply chain attacks, ensuring your device's **digital security** from the moment it leaves the factory.
This **security protocol** is why it's crucial to always buy brand-new, factory-sealed products. If you receive a device where the **24-word recovery phrase** is already written on the card, or if the device prompts you to use a pre-set phrase, **DO NOT PROCEED**. This is a blatant attempt at fraud. A genuine **Ledger device setup** requires the device to generate the phrase on its screen *after* you have set a PIN. The focus on verifiable hardware and genuine **firmware** is the cornerstone of Ledger's commitment to protecting your **crypto assets** and maintaining the highest standard of **digital security**.
By choosing Ledger, you are choosing a solution where the **private keys** are physically and digitally isolated. Even if your computer is riddled with malware, the hackers cannot access your funds because the final, critical step—the transaction signature—requires the **secure hardware wallet** to be unlocked, connected, and physically approved by you. This air-gapped protection, reinforced by the **Secure Element** and robust **security protocol**, is the only sure way to maintain custody of your **digital assets**.
Finalize your **Ledger device setup** by downloading the **Ledger Live** application. True self-custody and unparalleled **security** are just a click away.
Download Ledger Live and Complete Initialization