Welcome to the **Ledger Getting Started Hub** at **Ledger.com/Start**
The **Ledger Getting Started Hub** is your single, secure point of entry for activating your **hardware wallet**. We don't just provide instructions; we provide a complete educational pathway designed to instill the foundational principles of **Secure Crypto Management**. Begin your non-custodial journey here and establish your **cold storage** foundation.
1. The Absolute Integrity Guarantee: Starting Only at **Ledger.com/Start**
In the world of **crypto assets**, security begins with link trust. The most common attack vector is phishing. The **Ledger Getting Started Hub** is meticulously maintained at the official URL, and every instruction ensures that the device you hold is genuine and untampered with.
Official Phishing Prevention
The **Ledger.com/Start** URL is your cryptographic key to safety. If you are guided here via email, social media, or a search result, **ALWAYS** manually check the address bar. A compromised start can lead to counterfeit software designed to steal your **recovery phrase**. **Secure Crypto Management** demands vigilance from step one.
*Focus: Official URL verification, protecting **private keys**.*
The Genuine Check Mandate
The **initial setup** process integrated into the **Ledger Live Desktop** application includes a non-optional cryptographic verification known as the **Genuine Check**. This process ensures your **hardware wallet** contains Ledger's factory-installed firmware and that its **Secure Element** is intact. This confirms your device has not been replaced or altered by a malicious party, safeguarding your future **crypto assets**.
*Focus: **Genuine Check**, **hardware wallet** authenticity, firmware security.*
2. Personalized Journey: Are You Setting Up or Restoring?
The **Ledger Getting Started Hub** recognizes that users have different needs. The **initial setup** involves one of two distinct, critical paths: initializing a new device or restoring an existing one. It is paramount that you choose the correct path to maintain the integrity of your **Secure Crypto Portfolio**.
Path A: Setting Up a New Device
This path is for brand new devices that have never been used. Here, the device generates a **new** **Recovery Phrase** (24 words). Your main task is meticulous, offline recording of this phrase. This step establishes your **cold storage** foundation. You must never skip the device's own verification check of the phrase.
*Action: Generate new **private keys**. Essential for **initial setup**.*
Path B: Restoring a Device
This path is for users who already have a **Recovery Phrase** from a previous Ledger or compatible **hardware wallet**. You will enter your existing 24 words directly into the device's screen. This action restores access to your existing **crypto assets**. **Crucially:** your old phrase must be confirmed *only* on the device, never on your computer.
*Action: Enter existing **Recovery Phrase**. Essential for **Secure Crypto Management** continuity.*
3. The Educational Core: Recovery Phrase Discipline (The Master Key)
Understanding the **Recovery Phrase** is the highest form of **Secure Crypto Management**. The **Ledger Getting Started Hub** dedicates extensive resources to this topic because it is the single point of failure—or restoration—for all your **crypto assets**.
- Understanding Hierarchical Deterministic (HD) Wallets: Learn that the 24 words are the master seed from which all your **private keys** and public addresses are mathematically derived. Protecting this seed is protecting your entire **Secure Crypto Portfolio**.
- The Principle of **Cold Storage**: The only way to interact with your **private keys** is through the device's buttons. Your **Recovery Phrase** must be maintained in physical **cold storage** (paper, metal) and never be exposed to an online device or camera.
- The PIN Code's Role: The PIN protects the device locally; the **Recovery Phrase** protects the funds globally. The PIN is your defense against a thief; the Phrase is your defense against fire, flood, or device loss.
- The Verification Test: The device forces you to verify the written words to ensure you transcribed them correctly. This is the last safety net before you send **crypto assets** to your new **hardware wallet** accounts.
**WARNING:** If the **Ledger Getting Started Hub** or any software prompts you to enter your **Recovery Phrase** onto your computer screen, it is a sophisticated scam. Stop immediately and physically disconnect your **hardware wallet**.
4. Device Activation: Connecting to Ledger Live Manager
Once the physical setup (PIN and **Recovery Phrase**) is complete, the **Ledger Live Desktop** application takes over. The Manager tab is the gateway for device maintenance and account creation.
Firmware Management
The Manager is where you update the core operating system (firmware) of your **hardware wallet**. **Secure Crypto Management** requires you to keep this updated, always verifying the update is official through the Manager.
Install App Modules
Before you can add **crypto assets** accounts (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum), you must install the specific app module for that blockchain via the Manager. This is the device's instruction set for managing that coin's transactions.
Add Accounts Safely
After installing the app, the "Add Account" function in Ledger Live uses the **hardware wallet** to generate your public receiving address—the final step in your **initial setup** from **Ledger.com/Start**.
You Are Now the Sole Custodian of Your **Crypto Assets**
The **Ledger Getting Started Hub** provided you with the blueprint for true self-custody. By following the secure path initiated at **Ledger.com/Start**, you have established a fortress around your **private keys**. Maintain the **cold storage** discipline, protect your **Recovery Phrase**, and explore the digital economy with unparalleled peace of mind.
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