Official Guide for **Ledger Device Setup**
Welcome to the essential starting point for your **Ledger Nano X** or **Ledger Nano S Plus**. Follow these critical, on-device steps for **PIN Code Creation**, recording your **24-Word Recovery Phrase**, and performing the mandatory **Genuine Check**. Achieve full **Digital Asset Security** with the world's leading cold storage solution.
Begin Your Device SetupThe integrity of your **Unboxing Experience** is the first line of defense in **Digital Asset Security**. When you receive your **Ledger Nano X** or **Ledger Nano S Plus**, carefully inspect the packaging. There should be no signs of tampering, pre-opening, or damage. Ledger devices, unlike some competitors, do not rely on physical holographic seals—instead, they rely on the **Genuine Check** verified by Ledger Live later. However, the packaging itself should appear factory-sealed. If anything seems suspicious, do not proceed with the **Ledger Device Setup** and contact official Ledger Support immediately.
Inside the box, you will find your hardware wallet, a USB cable, and several blank sheets for recording your **24-Word Recovery Phrase**. These sheets are critically important. During the **Hardware Wallet Initialization** process, you *must* use these sheets to record your master seed. Note the key difference: the **Ledger Nano X** offers Bluetooth connectivity, while the **Ledger Nano S Plus** is a wired-only connection. Regardless of your model, the core security steps remain identical, centered on the **Secure Element** chip that generates your keys.
Connect your **Ledger Nano X** or **Ledger Nano S Plus** to your computer or a power source using the provided USB cable. The device will power on and display welcome messages. You will use the two physical buttons (or the navigational pad on the Nano X) to move through the menus and select options. The buttons are your *only* interface for inputting sensitive information, ensuring that your computer cannot log your keystrokes, a key part of our **Digital Asset Security** protocol.
The device will prompt you to "Choose PIN Code." This is a mandatory step in your **Hardware Wallet Initialization**. Your PIN should be between 4 and 8 digits long. **Crucially, the PIN is entered *only* using the device's physical buttons**, scrolling through the numbers and confirming with both buttons simultaneously. This PIN code protects your device from unauthorized physical access. If you lose your device, the PIN is the first line of defense; if you enter the wrong PIN three times, the device will wipe itself, requiring restoration using your **24-Word Recovery Phrase**. Choose a complex PIN, but one you can easily remember, for optimal **Ledger Device Setup** security.
Following **PIN Code Creation**, you will be presented with the most important step in **Hardware Wallet Initialization**: the generation of your **24-Word Recovery Phrase**. Your **Ledger Nano X** or **Ledger Nano S Plus** will display these 24 words one by one. **You must write them down meticulously**, using the recovery sheets provided, and ensure the spelling and order are 100% correct. This phrase is the unencrypted master key to all your crypto assets. It provides full **Digital Asset Security** because only you possess this physical record.
During the **Ledger Device Setup**, under no circumstances should you digitize this information (no photos, no cloud storage, no typing). The entire value of this **Seed Phrase Management** lies in its offline, air-gapped security. Write it down, double-check it, and then store it securely away from your device.
After recording all 24 words, your Ledger device will initiate a verification process. It will ask you to confirm specific words (e.g., Word 10, Word 18). You must use the device buttons to scroll and select the correct word from your physical sheet. This step is critical: it forces you to prove that you accurately recorded the **24-Word Recovery Phrase**. Only once the device confirms your verification is successful is the **Hardware Wallet Initialization** considered secure. This rigorous process is the cornerstone of Ledger's unparalleled **Digital Asset Security** offering.
Once the device confirms that "Your device is ready," the physical **Ledger Device Setup** is complete. The final, essential step in this **Hardware Wallet Initialization** is performing the **Genuine Check** using the official Ledger Live software.
The **Genuine Check** is a cryptographic challenge-response protocol performed automatically when you first connect your **Ledger Nano X** or **Ledger Nano S Plus** to Ledger Live. The software communicates with the **Secure Element** chip inside your device to ensure it contains the legitimate Ledger firmware. This is the definitive verification that your hardware is not counterfeit or compromised. Only proceed with fund management after Ledger Live confirms your device is genuine. This guarantees your **Digital Asset Security** before you transfer any assets.