1. The **Unboxing Security** Checklist (A Critical First Step)
Before you even power on your **Ledger Nano hardware wallet**, you must perform a physical **security** audit. This essential step confirms your device has not been tampered with during shipping, guaranteeing a clean slate for your **crypto management**. The integrity of your **Ledger Wallet** hardware is the foundation of its security model. Always check for the three key signs of tampering, as the device is designed to be shipped without factory seals to ensure full transparency.
Packaging Integrity
Ensure no unusual tape, glue, or signs of re-sealing are present on the box.
Empty Recovery Sheets
The included **Recovery Phrase** sheets must be completely blank. A pre-written phrase is a scam.
Firmware Status
The device screen should prompt you to set it up or restore, not ask for a pre-set **PIN code** or **Recovery Phrase**.
2. The Core Setup: Generating Your **Private Keys**
The most crucial part of **Ledger Wallet** ownership is the offline generation and secure storage of your **24-word Recovery Phrase**. This phrase is your master key, granting **secure access** to all your **crypto assets**—past, present, and future—regardless of the physical device's status. Follow these sequential steps meticulously.
Step A: Setting the Mandatory **PIN Code**
The **PIN code** is your local defense against unauthorized use of the physical **Ledger Wallet**. You will choose a 4- to 8-digit code using the physical buttons on the device. **Crucially**, you enter and confirm this code directly on the Ledger screen—your computer is not involved, ensuring the process remains **offline**. Remember this code, but do not write it near your **Recovery Phrase**. Three incorrect entries will wipe the device for **security**, requiring the **Recovery Phrase** to restore **access**.
- **Requirement:** 4-8 digits, selected and confirmed on the device.
- **Purpose:** Protects the device itself while connected to **Ledger Live**.
Step B: Recording the **24-Word Recovery Phrase** (The Master Key)
This is the single most important action you will take. Your **Ledger Wallet** will display 24 random, unique words, one by one. You MUST write these words down, in the correct order, on your provided physical sheets. This phrase is the cryptographic seed that generates all your **private keys**. It must remain **offline** at all times.
- **Method:** Use a pen and the provided paper **Recovery Phrase** cards.
- **NEVER:** Take a photo, store it in a cloud drive, email it, or type it into any device connected to the internet.
- **Verification:** The device will prompt you to verify several words (e.g., word 12 and word 20) before finalizing the setup, ensuring you have written it down correctly.
Step C: The **Ledger Live** **Genuine Check**
Once your **PIN code** and **Recovery Phrase** are set up **offline**, you can connect the **Ledger Wallet** to your computer and download **Ledger Live** from the official source. The first action **Ledger Live** performs is the **Genuine Check**. This cryptographic verification confirms that your Ledger contains the authentic Ledger operating system and has not been compromised by malware. This step is required before you can install any **crypto assets** applications or utilize the platform for **crypto management**.
- **Connection:** Plug the device into your PC via the USB cable provided.
- **Verification:** **Ledger Live** handles the check automatically, providing a powerful layer of **account security** confirmation.
3. **Private Keys** and The Immutable Rule: Protecting Your **Recovery Phrase**
The entire purpose of the **Ledger Wallet** is to keep your **private keys** isolated from the internet. Your **Recovery Phrase** is the human-readable backup of these keys. Mismanagement of this phrase is the single most common reason users lose their **crypto assets**. Adhering to the following rule ensures your complete **account security** and reliable **secure access** for life.
THE IMMUTABLE RULE
**NEVER** digitize your **Recovery Phrase**. It must exist **only** on paper or metal. Any picture, text file, email, or cloud backup is a direct path for hackers to steal your **crypto assets**.
Advanced **Passphrase** Security (The 25th Word)
For users seeking the ultimate layer of **account security**, the **Ledger Wallet** supports the optional **Passphrase** (also known as the 25th word). This feature adds an extra, self-chosen word to your 24-word phrase, creating a second, hidden set of **private keys** and accounts. Using the **Passphrase** provides plausible deniability and superior protection against physical threats. It is managed entirely on the device, never within **Ledger Live**, reinforcing the hardware's role as the central **security** point for all **crypto management**.
4. Post-Setup **Crypto Management** and Transaction Vetting
Once your **Ledger Wallet** is initialized and connected via **Ledger Live**, managing your **crypto assets** becomes straightforward. However, the cardinal rule of verifying everything on your **hardware wallet** screen still applies to every transaction, ensuring continuous **secure access**.
- **Receiving Funds:** When generating a deposit address in **Ledger Live**, always confirm the exact address is displayed on your **Ledger Nano** screen before sharing it.
- **Sending/Swapping:** Before the transaction is broadcast, you must review and confirm the recipient address, the amount, and the network fee directly on your **hardware wallet's** trusted screen. This prevents address-swapping malware from redirecting your **crypto assets**.
- **Firmware Updates:** All updates are installed via **Ledger Live** but must be authorized on your physical **Ledger Wallet**, safeguarding your **private keys** throughout the process.