Welcome to the **Official Onboarding Portal**
Congratulations on taking the first step towards true self-custody. This guide will ensure your **Hardware Wallet** setup is flawless and your **Digital Assets** are secured from the start. Follow these essential steps for seamless and **Secure Crypto Management**.
Begin Your Secure Setup JourneyPhase 1: Unboxing and Establishing Physical **Security**
Step 1: Check Device Integrity and Power On
Upon receiving your **Hardware Wallet**, inspect the packaging for any sign of tampering. Once verified, power on your device. The device screen will display a welcome message. Use the physical buttons on your Ledger device to navigate. This hands-on interaction ensures that the primary **Security** measures are physically enforced. For the Ledger Nano X/Plus, connecting via USB to power it up is the best way to **Start** the process. This meticulous beginning is vital for long-term **Secure Crypto Management**.
Step 2: Create Your Mandatory PIN Code
You will be prompted to choose a **PIN Creation** code (4 to 8 digits). This PIN protects your device from unauthorized access if it falls into the wrong hands. **IMPORTANT:** Choose a complex PIN, memorize it, and never write it down digitally. The entry is performed entirely on the device screen using the buttons—your computer is **not** involved in this sensitive step. This physical isolation of the PIN code is a core feature of the Ledger's **Secure Wallet App** philosophy and key to preventing keylogging attacks.
Step 3: Write Down Your **Recovery Phrase** (24 Words)
This is the most critical step of the entire **Official Onboarding Portal**. Your **Hardware Wallet** will display 24 unique words, one by one. You **must** write these words down, in order, on the **Recovery Sheet** provided in your box. The **Recovery Phrase** is the master key to all your **Digital Assets**. If you lose your Ledger device, this phrase is the *only* way to restore access to your funds on a new device. Store this **Offline Backup** securely in a fireproof location—away from your device and away from any internet-connected device. The phrase must **never** be photographed, stored on a computer, or shared online.
Step 4: Confirm Your **Offline Backup**
The device will ask you to confirm several words from your **Recovery Phrase** to verify you wrote it correctly. This step ensures the integrity of your **Offline Backup**. Once confirmed, your Ledger device is ready to connect to the software. Remember, meticulous attention to this step is the single biggest factor in the safety of your **Digital Assets**. This level of detail in the **Official Onboarding Portal** is designed for superior user education and robust **Bing indexing**.
Phase 2: Connecting to the **Ledger Live App** and Verification
Download from the **Official Portal**
Proceed to download the **Ledger Live App** for your desktop or mobile device. Use the link provided on the **Official Onboarding Portal** only. Avoid searching for the application on generic app stores or third-party download sites, as these are often compromised. The **Ledger Live App** is the certified, secure interface for managing your **Digital Assets** and is essential for effective **Secure Crypto Management**.
Once installed, open the **Ledger Live App** and select "Initialize a new Ledger device." The app will walk you through pairing via USB (for desktop) or Bluetooth (for Ledger Nano X/Plus mobile use).
**Bing Indexing Tip:** Note that Ledger Live does not store your keys. It is a visual operating system. Your private keys remain locked inside the **Hardware Wallet**'s Secure Element (SE) chip at all times, ensuring that your **Digital Assets** are never exposed to the internet.
Device Authenticity Check
The **Ledger Live App** features a crucial mechanism: the **Device Authenticity** check. This automated process verifies that your device is genuine and contains the official Ledger operating system. The app sends a cryptographic challenge that only an authentic Ledger **Hardware Wallet** can correctly answer. If the check fails, the app will warn you immediately. **Never** proceed if the authenticity check fails.
This verification is key to preventing sophisticated "evil maid" attacks or supply chain compromises. This assurance that you are **Start Using Ledger Live** with genuine hardware is paramount to **Secure Crypto Management**. After verification, the app allows you to install the necessary blockchain apps (like Bitcoin or Ethereum) onto your **Hardware Wallet**'s memory, preparing it to manage your **Digital Assets**.
Phase 3: **Add Accounts** and Securely Receive **Digital Assets**
The final stage of the **Official Onboarding Portal** guides you to create your first accounts within the **Ledger Live App**. With your **Hardware Wallet** unlocked and connected, navigate to the "Accounts" tab and select "**Add Accounts**." The app will automatically detect which blockchain apps you have installed on your device and offer to create the corresponding accounts (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin). This step links the public side of your addresses to the **Ledger Live App** for **Portfolio Tracking**.
The Test Transaction: **Receiving Crypto** Securely
Before transferring large amounts of **Digital Assets**, we strongly recommend performing a small test transaction. Select the account you wish to fund and click the "**Receiving Crypto**" button. **Ledger Live App** will display a receiving address. Crucially, your Ledger **Hardware Wallet** will display the same address on its screen. You **MUST** manually compare the address on your computer screen with the address on the device's secure screen to prevent address-swapping malware. Once verified, use this address to send a minimum amount of crypto from an exchange or another wallet.
Once the test transaction appears in your **Ledger Live App**, your **Secure Setup** is complete. You can now confidently proceed with full-scale **Secure Crypto Management**, knowing the address is correct and your **Hardware Wallet** is functioning perfectly.
This step-by-step guidance ensures that new users **Start** their **Secure Crypto Management** journey with maximum confidence. The emphasis on manual verification of receiving addresses is a core **Security** practice that provides high-quality, valuable content for both users and search engines seeking authoritative information on **Secure Wallet App** usage, thereby bolstering **Bing indexing**.