Ledger.com/Start® | Getting started with Ledger Wallet

Ledger.com/start: Your First Step to Secure Digital Ownership

Starting your journey with Ledger hardware wallets and the Ledger Wallet app is straightforward. The official starting point, ledger.com/start, serves as the portal to download the essential software that transforms your hardware device into a powerful, secure command center for your digital assets.

This article guides you through what Ledger.com/start offers and how to begin securing your crypto.

What is Ledger Wallet?

Ledger Wallet is the official software application (formerly known as Ledger Live) that pairs with your Ledger hardware wallet. It's far more than just a balance checker; it's an all-in-one platform where you can manage, grow, and interact with your digital assets.

With Ledger Wallet, you can view your portfolio, buy and sell crypto, swap assets across different blockchains, stake coins to earn rewards, and manage your NFT collections—all from a single interface. However, its most critical role is to work in tandem with your Ledger signer (the hardware device). Every transaction you initiate in the app must be physically verified and approved on your device's secure screen, ensuring your private keys never leave the safety of the offline hardware.

Key Features You Unlock

Once you've downloaded Ledger Wallet from ledger.com/start and connected your device, you gain access to a suite of advanced features designed for security and ease of use:

• Clear Signing & Transaction Check: These are your primary defenses against scams. Clear Signing translates complex smart contract data into human-readable text on your device's screen, so you know exactly what you're approving. Transaction Check acts like an antivirus, scanning transactions in real-time for known malicious patterns and warning you before you sign.
• Direct Purchases and Cross-Chain Swaps: You can buy crypto directly with fiat currency through integrated partners or swap assets across chains (e.g., Bitcoin for Ethereum) without ever sending your funds to a centralized exchange.
• Staking and Portfolio Growth: Through the app's Earn dashboard, you can securely stake supported assets to earn rewards while maintaining full self-custody.
• Ledger Sync: This feature lets you seamlessly and privately synchronize your wallet data across your computer and smartphone, so you can pick up where you left off on any device.

Getting Started: A Simple Process

Beginning with Ledger is a simple three-step process:

1. Get a Ledger Device: Choose a hardware wallet that fits your needs, from the budget-friendly Nano S Plus ($79) to the mobile-enabled Nano X ($149), or the premium touchscreen models Flex and Stax.
2. Visit Ledger.com/start: This is your official download hub. Select your computer's operating system to download the Ledger Wallet application.
3. Set Up Your Device: Follow the in-app instructions to initialize your hardware wallet, set a strong PIN, and write down your 24-word recovery phrase. This phrase is the ultimate backup for your assets and must be stored offline in a secure place.

Why Start with Ledger?

The combination downloaded from ledger.com/start bridges the gap between usability and uncompromising security. While software wallets (hot wallets) are convenient, they are connected to the internet and vulnerable to remote attacks. Ledger's solution uses a Secure Element chip (the same technology found in passports and credit cards) to keep your private keys completely offline, far from hackers' reach.

This means you can confidently explore the crypto ecosystem—trade, earn yield, or collect NFTs—with the peace of mind that your assets are protected by one of the most robust security models available. Ready to take control? Your journey begins at ledger.com/start.