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Overview

This presentation explains what a Ledger hardware wallet is, why it matters, and walks you through setup, safety best practices, restoring from recovery, and next steps for managing crypto with Ledger Live.

What you’ll learn

Why hardware wallets are important
Preparing for setup
Step-by-step setup with Ledger Live
Security tips & backup best practices
Restoring and troubleshooting

Quick links

Why use a Ledger hardware wallet?

Protect your private keys (what and why)

A hardware wallet stores your private keys offline in a secure element. Unlike hot wallets (phone/apps), private keys never leave the device. This dramatically reduces the risk of online theft, phishing, and malware.

Real-world advantages

Air-gapped key storage — keys are generated and kept on-device.
Transaction approval requires physical action on the device.
Works with Ledger Live and many third-party wallets for flexibility.

Before you start — what to prepare (Checklist)

Essentials

Your Ledger device and the USB cable included in the box.
A computer or smartphone with internet access for Ledger Live.
Pen and the recovery sheet that comes with the device (or a secure backup method).
Time and a quiet space — setup takes ~10–20 minutes.

Safety notes

Buy only from ledger.com or an authorized reseller.
Never enter your 24-word recovery phrase on a computer, phone, or online form.
Ledger staff will never ask for your recovery phrase. Treat it like cash.

Step-by-step setup with Ledger Live

1 — Download Ledger Live

Go to Ledger Live and download the app that matches your platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android). Verify the website URL and the integrity of the download when possible.

2 — Install & open Ledger Live

Install the app, open it, and follow the on-screen onboarding prompts. Choose Set up a new device unless you are restoring from a backup.

3 — Initialize your Ledger device

Connect your Ledger to the computer or phone when prompted. Set a PIN directly on the device using its buttons. The device will then generate a recovery phrase (usually 24 words). Write these words down in order on the provided recovery sheet.

4 — Confirm your recovery phrase

The device will ask you to confirm a few words. This verifies you copied them correctly. Store the recovery sheet in at least two geographically separated, secure locations if possible.

5 — Install apps and add accounts

From Ledger Live, open the Manager and install the apps you need (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum). Then use Add account to create accounts in Ledger Live tied to the apps on your device.

6 — Receive and verify

When receiving crypto, always verify the address on the Ledger device screen before confirming in Ledger Live — this prevents remote address replacement attacks.

Security best practices

Don’ts

Don’t share your 24-word recovery phrase with anyone or type it into websites.
Don’t buy used hardware wallets — used devices may be compromised.

Dos

Use a unique PIN and a strong passphrase (if you enable passphrase feature) for additional protection.
Keep your firmware up to date — Ledger Live will prompt for official updates.
Document where your backup lives and use physical protections (safe, safety deposit box) where appropriate.

Additional reading and official guides: Ledger Support, Ledger Academy, Verify your device.

Restoring or migrating

Restore from recovery phrase

If you have a new Ledger and need to restore an existing wallet, choose Restore device during setup and enter your 24-word phrase on the device when requested. Your accounts will reappear once Ledger Live syncs with the blockchain.

Migrate from another wallet

For large holdings, consider a stepwise migration: move small amounts first to confirm everything works, then migrate larger amounts. Verify addresses and test multiple transactions if needed.

Troubleshooting & support

Common issues

Device not recognized: try a different cable/port and check OS permissions.
Ledger Live errors: update to the latest Ledger Live, check official status pages.
If uncertain, contact official support — never share your recovery phrase.

Official help links (10 important pages):

Next steps & recommended workflow

Daily use

Use Ledger Live for portfolio overview and routine transactions. For DeFi and dApps, connect your Ledger with a trusted wallet bridge (e.g., MetaMask) but keep approvals minimal and review each transaction on-device.

Advanced

Consider a passphrase for an additional layer of deterministic wallets, or use multisig solutions for larger vault-style storage.

Keep learning

Explore Ledger Academy and the official support pages for deeper topics like staking, NFTs, and third-party integrations.