The Importance of **Ledger Live** for Your **Initial Setup**
Your Unified **Crypto Management** Hub
**Ledger Live** is the mandatory, all-in-one desktop and mobile application designed specifically for **Getting Started** with your **Ledger Device**. It serves as the primary interface for everything you need: setting up your device, installing crypto applications, checking your portfolio balance, and sending or receiving **Digital Assets**. Crucially, while Ledger Live manages the user interface, it **never** holds your **Private Keys**. The **Private Keys** always remain locked and encrypted within your **Hardware Wallet**. This architectural separation ensures maximum security, adhering to the core principle of **Self-Custody** from the moment you begin the **Initial Setup**.
The **Secure Connection** established by **Ledger Live** verifies the authenticity of your **Ledger Device** and its firmware, protecting you from sophisticated tampering attacks during the critical **Getting Started** phase.
Understanding True **Self-Custody**
The goal of the **Initial Setup** is to empower you with **Self-Custody**. This means you, and only you, have control over your **Digital Assets**. Your **Ledger Device** and the **Recovery Phrase** are the two components that make this possible. **Ledger Live** guides you through the process of generating your **Recovery Phrase**—a 24-word sequence that is the master backup key to your funds. The **Getting Started** guide ensures you understand that this phrase must be written down, kept offline, and never shared. Losing your **Ledger Device** is recoverable if you have the **Recovery Phrase**; compromising your **Recovery Phrase** means compromising your **Digital Assets**.
The **Setup Process** is designed to engrave this critical security distinction, making the **Recovery Phrase** the absolute bedrock of your **Crypto Management**.
Your Step-by-Step **Initial Setup** Guide: **Getting Started**
Download **Ledger Live** and Check Authenticity
Start by downloading the **Ledger Live** application only from the official source referenced in this **Getting Started** guide. Install the application and then connect your new **Ledger Device** (whether a **Ledger Nano S** or **Ledger Nano X**) to your computer. The application will immediately perform an **Authentication Check**. This is a mandatory security step in the **Initial Setup** where **Ledger Live** communicates with the Ledger server to verify that your **Hardware Wallet** is a genuine, non-tampered device. This crucial **Secure Connection** ensures the integrity of your **Setup Process** before any sensitive actions take place, protecting your future **Digital Assets**.
Select and Set Your **PIN Code**
Your **PIN Code** is the four-to-eight-digit code you will enter on your **Ledger Device** every time you want to unlock it. The **Getting Started** instructions require you to select this code directly on the physical **Hardware Wallet** screen. **Ledger Live** guides you through this, but the actual entry is only done on the device, never on your computer. This provides robust physical security against unauthorized access to your **Digital Assets** if the device is lost or stolen. Choose a strong, memorable code for this essential phase of the **Setup Process** to secure your **Ledger Device**.
The Most Critical Step: Securing Your 24-Word **Recovery Phrase**
The generation of the **Recovery Phrase** is the single most important action in your entire **Initial Setup**.
Your **Ledger Device** will generate and display a unique 24-word **Recovery Phrase** (or **Seed Phrase**) on its small screen. This phrase is the sole backup of your **Private Keys**. You must carefully and accurately write these 24 words down on the provided **Recovery Sheet**, maintaining the correct order. **Do not take a picture, store it on a computer, or save it in the cloud.** It must remain **offline** and physically secure. The **Setup Process** emphasizes that anyone who finds this **Recovery Phrase** can access and spend your **Digital Assets**, regardless of whether they have your **PIN Code** or **Ledger Device**. Mastering the secure storage of this key is the cornerstone of effective **Self-Custody**. The **Getting Started** guide provides clear warnings on how to protect this phrase to ensure the long-term security of your funds.
**Ledger Live** will prompt you for a **Recovery Phrase** verification step, asking you to confirm certain words on your **Ledger Device**. This is a final **Security Check** to confirm you transcribed the phrase correctly before you complete the **Initial Setup**.
Update Firmware and Install Crypto Apps
With your **PIN Code** and **Recovery Phrase** securely established, the final stage of the **Initial Setup** is preparing your **Ledger Device** for **Crypto Management**. Use **Ledger Live** to check for and install the latest firmware updates—always a necessary **Security Check**. Then, use the Manager section within **Ledger Live** to install the specific cryptocurrency applications (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) needed for the **Digital Assets** you intend to hold. These applications are simply interpreters that allow your **Ledger Device** to sign transactions for specific blockchains, maintaining the **Secure Connection** throughout the process.
Add Your Accounts and Start Receiving **Digital Assets**
The **Getting Started** process culminates in adding your crypto accounts. In **Ledger Live**, navigate to the 'Accounts' section, select the coin application you just installed on your **Ledger Device**, and the app will generate a public address. This public address is what you share to receive **Digital Assets**. You are now fully configured for **Self-Custody** and **Crypto Management**. Your **Initial Setup** is complete, and your **Secure Connection** is active. The ability to monitor your **Cryptocurrency Portfolio** and make secure transactions is now fully functional, protected by your **Ledger Device** and **PIN Code**.
Complete Your **Initial Setup** and **Protect Your Crypto** Today!
The **Getting Started** journey requires **Ledger Live**—download the official application to establish the necessary **Secure Connection** and begin your **Self-Custody** journey.
Download **Ledger Live** for Free