Your Journey to **Secure Crypto Management** Begins Here.

Unbox, Power On, and Inspection

Carefully unbox your Ledger Nano device. Inspect the packaging for any signs of tampering or damage. Your device should be completely sealed. Use the provided USB cable to connect your Ledger Nano to your computer. The screen will illuminate and display a welcome message (e.g., "Welcome" or "Welcome to Ledger Nano X").

Crucial Check: Never proceed if the device comes with a pre-written **Recovery Phrase** or if it prompts you to enter a phrase immediately upon connection. An authentic, brand-new device must always ask you to set up a new PIN first. This is the first critical step in ensuring the security of your **hardware wallet**.

Use the buttons (or touch screen, depending on your model) to navigate through the on-screen instructions until you reach the main setup menu.

Set a Mandatory, Secure PIN Code (4-8 Digits)

The **PIN code** protects unauthorized physical access to your device. Choose the option "Set up as new device" and immediately select a PIN of 4 to 8 digits. Use the buttons on your device to select each digit and confirm the sequence. This PIN is your daily security barrier.

You will need to re-enter and confirm your chosen PIN code. Once confirmed, the device proceeds to the most critical stage: **Recovery Phrase** generation.

Generate and Record Your **24-Word Recovery Phrase**

This phrase is your single, absolute backup. It is the cryptographic key from which all your **asset portfolio** accounts (Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, etc.) are derived. Your Ledger Nano will display the 24 words one by one. You must write them down in order on the physical **Recovery Sheet** provided in the box.

Absolute Security Rule:

• Offline Only: The phrase must never be photographed, typed into a computer, stored in cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud), or saved as a digital file. This is the only way to ensure the phrase remains outside the reach of online malware.
• Write Clearly: Print each word legibly, checking spelling carefully. A single typo or misplaced word will render your backup useless.

Mandatory Verification and Finalization

After you have written down all 24 words, your Ledger device will initiate a verification test. It will ask you to confirm specific words (e.g., "Word 10 is...") by scrolling through and selecting them using the device buttons. This step is mandatory and ensures you have correctly recorded the phrase. This rigorous, on-device check is a vital part of the secure initialization process.

Once verification is complete, the device will confirm, "Your device is ready." At this point, the secure element has been initialized, and your **private keys** are safely generated and locked within the hardware.

Note on Restoration: If you are restoring a previously used wallet, you would select "Restore from Recovery Phrase" in Step 2, and the device would guide you through entering the 24 words using the hardware buttons only. This process proves the integrity of your backup.

Connect to **Ledger Live Desktop** and Authenticate

The final step is to connect your initialized device to the companion software: Ledger Live. If you haven't already, download the official **Ledger Live Desktop** application. Once installed, start the application and follow the on-screen prompts to set up a new device.

Ledger Live will perform a **Cryptographic Attestation** check. This is an essential security step that verifies your Ledger hardware is genuine and running official firmware—it cannot be bypassed. This process ensures that the device you are holding is truly a Ledger product, providing the foundation of **secure crypto management**.

After the genuine check passes, you can use the Ledger Live Manager to install the specific blockchain applications (like the Bitcoin or Ethereum app) needed for your **asset portfolio**. Congratulations, your **hardware wallet** is now securely configured and ready for use!