How to Set Up and Use Ledger Wallet

This guide explains how to start using a Ledger device with the Ledger Wallet app, the new name for Ledger Live. It covers installing the app, connecting the device, setting a PIN, writing down the recovery phrase, checking that the device is genuine, and finally adding accounts and getting ready to receive crypto. You can use it as a guide for Ledger Nano S Plus, Nano X, Flex, Stax and Nano Gen5. The screens on the device may differ slightly from model to model.

What Ledger Wallet does and what the Ledger device does

Ledger Wallet is an app for viewing accounts, installing each network's app, creating receiving addresses and preparing transfers. The Ledger device holds the private keys and is used to confirm transactions. Seeing your balance in the app does not mean your private keys are stored on your computer or phone.

Some account data and settings in Ledger Wallet are stored separately on each computer or phone. If you change computers, change phones or reinstall the app, you may need to add your accounts again. Adding accounts again in the app does not create a new wallet, as long as you connect a device that uses the same recovery phrase.

What to prepare before setup

1. Your Ledger device and the right cable for your model
2. A computer or phone with Ledger Wallet installed from the official source
3. A pen and a sheet for writing down the recovery phrase. Do this somewhere private, with no security cameras and no one else able to see
4. At least 20 to 30 minutes, so you can finish every step without rushing

Before opening the box, check that the packaging and the device show no signs of anything unusual, but do not judge security by the seal alone. The Genuine Check step in Ledger Wallet is a technical check and matters more.

How to set up Ledger Wallet on a computer

Step 1: Open the app and choose to connect your device

1. Open Ledger Wallet and choose Get started
2. On the home screen, choose Connect
3. Choose the Ledger model you are using, then click Select

Step 2: Choose how you want to set up

Ledger Wallet asks how you want to use the device. Choose the option that fits your situation.

• Set up a new device: Use this to create a new wallet. The device generates the private keys and shows a new recovery phrase
• Connect your device: Use this when this Ledger is already set up and you want to connect it to the app. Then go straight to the Security Checklist
• Restore your recovery phrase on a new device: Use this to restore an existing recovery phrase on a new Ledger device
• Restore using Ledger Recover: Only for people who have subscribed to Ledger Recover and want to restore through that service

Step 3: Set a PIN on the Ledger device

Choose a PIN of 4 to 8 digits to unlock the device each time. Avoid codes that are easy to guess, such as 1234, a birthday or repeated digits, and never keep your PIN in the same place as your recovery phrase.

On a Nano, use the left and right buttons to scroll through the digits and press both buttons together to confirm. On touchscreen models such as Flex, Stax and Nano Gen5, follow the instructions on the device screen. During this step, trust what the Ledger shows, not messages from other windows or websites.

Step 4: Write down the full recovery phrase and check it

When you set up a new device, the Ledger shows your recovery phrase on its screen one word at a time. Write the words down in order, read them back, and complete the word confirmation step the device asks for. This phrase can restore every asset in that wallet. Anyone who sees all the words can move your assets out without needing your Ledger device.

Ledger has no reason to ask you for your recovery phrase, whether someone claims it is for support, account verification, a firmware update or fixing a stuck transaction. If any web page or person asks you to enter all the words, stop immediately.

Step 5: Check that the device is genuine

Once the device is ready, complete the Security Checklist then choose Check my Nano or the device check option the app shows. Ledger Wallet asks the device to produce cryptographic proof and checks it with Ledger's servers.

On a Nano, press both buttons together when the device asks for permission. On touchscreen models, confirm on the device screen. Wait until the app says the device is genuine and ready to use. If the check fails, do not transfer any assets to the device, and contact SIAMBC first.

Step 6: Decide whether to use Ledger Recover

Ledger Recover is an optional subscription service, not a required step for using a Ledger. If you want to subscribe, check the details, fees and terms in full first. If you do not want it, close the window with the X and carry on with setup as normal. Skipping this service does not affect how you use the device or the recovery phrase you look after yourself.

Step 7: Set a password to lock Ledger Wallet, if needed

You can set a password for opening the Ledger Wallet app on your computer. This suits computers that other people also use. The password stops others from viewing your account information in the app, but it is not your device PIN and not your recovery phrase.

If you forget the app password, you may need to reset Ledger Wallet and add your accounts again. Your assets on the blockchain will not be lost, because the keys are still tied to your recovery phrase and your original Ledger device.

Step 8: Choose whether to send error reports

Ledger Wallet lets you choose to send anonymous error data to help improve the app. You can change this later: open the profile menu, choose Settings then go to the General tab and scroll to Bug Reports

How to set up Ledger Wallet on a phone

Before you start, check that your Ledger model supports the way your phone connects. Models with Bluetooth can pair wirelessly, while some models use a USB-C cable with devices that support it. Follow the connection options Ledger Wallet shows for your model.

Step 1: Choose to set up a new device or access an existing wallet

1. Open Ledger Wallet on your phone and tap Get started
2. Choose Set up your Ledger if the device is new or has just been reset
3. Choose Access your wallet if the device is already set up and you want to connect it to the app

Step 2: Choose your model and follow the instructions on the device

Choose the Ledger model you have in your hand, then choose Set up as new device to create a new wallet, or Restore from recovery phrase to restore an existing wallet. Setting the PIN and the recovery phrase must be done on the Ledger device, just as when you set up on a computer.

Step 3: Complete the Security Checklist

Once the device is ready, go through the security checklist in Ledger Wallet and confirm the prompts on the Ledger screen. If you answer any question with not sure, or notice anything unusual, do not rush to transfer assets to the device. Stop and contact SIAMBC first.

Do I need Ledger Sync?

Ledger Sync is a service for syncing your Ledger account data between your computer and your phone, with the Ledger device at the center of the encryption. It is optional and not needed to store assets or sign transactions. If you do not use it, you can still add accounts on each computer or phone separately.

What to do after setup

1. Install network apps on the Ledger

Open the device management menu in Ledger Wallet and install the app for each network you want, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. These apps let the device understand each network's transaction format. Removing an app from the device does not delete your assets, because the assets are on the blockchain and the accounts can be recovered with the same keys.

2. Add accounts in Ledger Wallet

Choose Accounts and add accounts for the assets you want. The app scans for accounts linked to the keys in your Ledger device. If you have used this wallet before, your previous balances appear again once syncing has finished.

3. Check the address on the device before receiving

When you choose Receive, compare the address in Ledger Wallet with the address on the device screen, character by character, and confirm on the Ledger only if they match. This step protects you from malware that changes the address on your computer or phone.

4. Receive a small amount first

For your first transfer, send a small amount and wait for it to arrive in your account. Once you are sure you have chosen the right network and address, send the rest. Watch out for assets with similar names on different networks, because choosing the wrong network can make recovery difficult or lose you money.

Common mistakes

• Entering the recovery phrase on a website or in an app: the genuine Ledger Wallet never asks you to type the whole recovery phrase into a computer or phone
• Choosing restore when you wanted a new wallet: read the options before you confirm. Creating a new wallet gives you a new recovery phrase, while restoring uses your existing one
• Skipping Genuine Check: make sure the check passes before you receive large amounts
• Forgetting your PIN: entering the wrong PIN several times can reset the device, and you will need your recovery phrase to restore it
• Thinking that removing an account loses your coins: removing an account from Ledger Wallet only removes it from the app list. It does not delete any assets on the blockchain

Frequently asked questions

Are Ledger Wallet and Ledger Live the same app?

Yes. Ledger Wallet is the new name for the app formerly called Ledger Live. Its main job is still to connect to your Ledger device and manage your accounts with it.

Can I set up a Ledger without subscribing to Ledger Recover?

Yes. Ledger Recover is an optional subscription service. You can skip it and look after your recovery phrase yourself.

If I change my phone or computer, will I lose my assets?

No. Your assets are on the blockchain. You may need to install Ledger Wallet and add your accounts again on the new computer or phone, using the Ledger device that holds the same keys.

What should I do if I lose my Ledger?

Use your recovery phrase to restore on a supported, trusted device. If you think someone else may have seen your recovery phrase, create a new wallet and move your assets as soon as possible.

Where should I keep my recovery phrase?

Keep it offline, somewhere only you can reach, protected from fire, water, loss and copying. Never keep it as a photo, a file, an online note or a chat message.

Will SIAMBC or Ledger ever ask for my recovery phrase?

Neither of us will ever ask, under any circumstances, and nobody has any reason to know your recovery phrase. Anyone who asks for it is a scammer. No exceptions. That applies whether they claim to be SIAMBC staff, use Ledger's name, or say it is for a warranty claim, identity verification, a firmware update or account recovery.

Summary

Starting to use a Ledger safely does not end with setting a PIN. The key steps are to download Ledger Wallet from the official source, choose the setup option that fits your situation, write down the recovery phrase from the device screen, run Genuine Check, and check the address on the Ledger every time before you receive or send assets.

Once you understand that Ledger Wallet manages your accounts while the Ledger device holds the keys and approves transactions, you can tell app problems apart from the security of your keys more clearly, and solve problems without risking exposing your recovery phrase.

Steps and menu names last checked: 28 August 2026. Screens may change with new versions of Ledger Wallet and the firmware of each model. If what the app shows does not match this guide, check Ledger's official documentation before continuing.