A Step‑by‑Step Presentation Guide
Welcome to the **Ledger.com/start® | Starting® Up® Your® Device®®** presentation. In this guide, you will find clear, vivid instructions and contextual information covering how to start, initialize, configure, and use your device safely and confidently. We use new terminology and refined phrasing to make it fresh and engaging, while staying precise.
The aim is to enable users—whether novices or experts—to grasp the steps, the safeguards, and the logic behind each action, rather than just blindly following commands.
We use the stylized phrase Starting® Up® Your® Device®® to emphasize the legal trademark style as well as to underscore the significance of a mindful initialization process. Every registered “®” signals care in how the device is treated, configured, and safeguarded.
Connect the device to a power source or USB port. Observe the initial boot logo or “Ledger.com/start®” splash screen. Wait until the device displays its welcome animation. This confirms that the hardware is responsive.
The device should automatically verify its firmware signature. If it does not, abort the process and contact support. Modern devices cryptographically validate their internal software to block tampered or fraudulent images.
You will be prompted to generate a *seed phrase* or *recovery phrase*. Write down each word, in order, on secure paper or a certified metal backup. Never store the seed digitally or online. This seed is your ultimate fallback; losing it means losing access.
Choose a PIN that is memorable yet not trivial. Typical suggestions: 6–8 digits, avoid “1234” or repetitive patterns. Optionally, add a **passphrase** (sometimes called 25th word) to further compartmentalize funds. Keep the passphrase secret—losing it is equivalent to losing access.
Finally, confirm that the device derives the expected public addresses or keys (via host software). Test a small transaction (send & receive) to ensure everything works. Once confirmed, you can begin full operation.
Inspect for tamper evidence or signs of prior opening. Seals should be intact. Do not accept a device whose packaging is compromised.
Avoid extreme temperatures, humidity, electromagnetic fields, or water exposure. Operate only from trusted hosts (your own computer) and avoid unverified public terminals.
Maintain multiple, geographically dispersed backups of your seeds/passphrases. Perform regular integrity checks by recovering in “read‑only mode” without fully erasing original device.
Ledger devices often release firmware updates. Always check authenticity (via official site, cryptographic signatures). Do **not** downgrade unless you fully understand risks; signed rollback mechanisms may be limited.
Some users layer multiple passphrases to segment contexts (e.g. “Savings®, Trading®, Legacy®”). Use this only if you can reliably manage complexities—losing one passphrase locks out that partition.
Ledger Live (or third‑party wallets) will interface with the device. Use only official or audited software. Confirm address derivations manually on device screens, not just via host UI.
“Ledger.com/start®” is the official web path and brand stylization used in the process to begin the initialization. It points to documentation, firmware, and onboarding tools. Always ensure the URL is correct and secure.
The repeated “®” usage is a branding device to imprint the registered style and distinctive naming scheme. It also helps in distinguishing stylized phrases in documentation. The duplicate “®®” at the end is convention in this document’s naming.
Yes, passphrase setup is optional. However, enabling a passphrase significantly enhances security segmentation. Without it, all funds depend solely on seed + PIN. With it, losing the passphrase is irrevocable for that partition.
If the device rejects the firmware signature, do not proceed. Disconnect, power down, and contact official Ledger support. Do not use the device until authenticated integrity is restored.
You should test recovery annually (or after any major configuration change). Use a **read‑only recovery mode** where possible—recover on a secondary device without erasing your active one—to validate your backup correctness.