Why the Start Page Matters
The address Ledger.com/start is the single entry point the manufacturer publishes for new devices. It exists because a brand-new wallet has no app, no accounts and no settings yet, and the first twenty minutes decide how safe the next five years will be. Bookmark it before your device arrives, and only ever open it by typing the address yourself or using that bookmark.
The whole setup is shorter than most people expect: install one desktop or mobile application, plug the device in, choose a PIN, write twelve or twenty-four words on paper, and confirm. There is no account to create, no credit card, and no email address required at any point.
What Ships in the Box
Seals, tape and shrink wrap are anti-tamper hints, not proof of authenticity. Before you type a single digit, confirm the box contents match the leaflet and that nothing appears pre-used, pre-configured or already holding a phrase.
Setting Up, Step by Step
Download the companion app from the official site
Go to the start address and take the desktop build for macOS, Windows or Linux, or the mobile build for iOS and Android. Install it, then open it. If you are asked to “update firmware” the moment you plug in, that is normal — accept it, because the device will only talk to software that speaks the same language.
Connect the device and set a PIN
Use the cable that came in the box. Choose Set up as new device unless you are restoring an existing wallet. Pick a four-to-eight digit PIN you have never used anywhere else — one that nobody could guess after watching you type it once.
Write down the recovery phrase
The screen shows twelve or twenty-four words, one at a time. Copy them by hand, in order, on the supplied sheet. Check each word twice. This phrase is your wallet: anyone holding it can move everything, and support staff will never ask you for it. Keep it offline, on paper or metal, in a place only you can reach.
Confirm the backup on the device
The app asks you to re-enter a few words using the device buttons. This proves your handwriting is legible and your sheet is complete. Finish the check before you add any funds; skipping it is the most common reason people lose access later.
Install apps and add accounts
In the app manager, install the network apps you actually use — Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and so on. Then choose Add account for each network and give it a clear name such as “Main” or “Savings”. Addresses appear only after this step.
Receive a small test amount first
Open the account, select Receive, and confirm the address shown on your computer matches the address shown on the device screen, character by character. Send a small amount, wait for the first confirmation, then move the rest.
Security Rules Worth Repeating
- The phrase never goes online. No photo, no cloud note, no chat message, no password manager.
- Type the address yourself. Search results and adverts can point at convincing look-alikes.
- Trust the device screen. Confirm every address and fee on the hardware display, not the monitor.
- Keep the PIN and the phrase apart. Storing them together defeats both.
- Test your backup once. Restore onto a spare device or a reset unit before you rely on it.
Troubleshooting the Common Hiccups
| Symptom | What usually fixes it |
|---|---|
| Device not detected | Swap the cable, try another port, unlock the device first. |
| App stuck on “searching” | Close other wallet software that may be holding the connection. |
| Firmware update fails | Use a direct port, not a hub, and keep the device awake during the transfer. |
| Address looks wrong | Reinstall the network app and re-add the account; never approve an unverified address. |
| Phrase sheet damaged | Restore from a second copy or a metal backup; do not improvise. |
Restoring Instead of Setting Up
Replacing a lost or upgraded device takes the opposite path: choose Restore from recovery phrase, then enter the words on the hardware itself using its buttons. Never type a phrase into a website, a browser extension or a support chat. Once restored, the same accounts reappear with the same addresses, and you simply reinstall the network apps and confirm everything looks correct before sending funds from anywhere else.
Staying Clear of Fake Start Pages
Search adverts, sponsored links and shortened URLs are the main danger for new owners. A copycat page can look identical down to the logo and still route you into a wallet drainer. Three habits remove almost all of that risk: reach the site through a typed address or a saved bookmark, check that the address bar shows the exact domain before typing anything, and treat any prompt to “enter your recovery phrase” as a scam, whoever sent it.
Legitimate support never contacts you first, never asks for your words and never requests remote access to your computer. If a message claims your funds are at risk unless you act immediately, close it and open the app yourself instead.
Before You Move Real Money — Quick Checklist
- App installed from the official address only.
- PIN set and memorable, phrase written and stored offline.
- Backup confirmed on the device screen.
- Accounts named and visible in the app.
- Small test transfer received and confirmed.
- Start address bookmarked for future firmware updates.
Work through it once and the setup is done for good. From then on your routine is simple: plug in, unlock, confirm on the screen, unplug.