A clear, security-first walkthrough for setting up a desktop portfolio, connecting a hardware wallet, and building confident day-to-day habits.
01Download from a trusted source
Begin at Ledger’s official website and navigate to its Ledger Live download page yourself. Check the web address carefully before downloading. Avoid sponsored search results, unsolicited messages, third-party download mirrors, and links shared in social posts. A convincing logo or familiar product name does not prove a download is genuine. Install the version that matches your computer, then allow the application to complete any available updates before you continue.
02Set up and verify your device
Connect your Ledger hardware wallet using a trusted cable or supported connection. Follow the instructions shown on the device screen, not instructions from a caller, website, or pop-up. If the device is new, initialize it yourself and write down its recovery phrase offline in the order displayed. Never photograph, email, type, or share that phrase. Ledger support will never need it. If a device arrives with a recovery phrase already written down, do not use that phrase.
03Add accounts and understand balances
Once the application recognizes your unlocked device, add accounts for the networks you use. Ledger Live can organize supported crypto accounts in one place, while the private keys remain protected by the hardware wallet. Your dashboard balance is an estimate based on market prices and network data; it can change quickly and may not include every token or unsupported network. Take a moment to confirm the asset and network are compatible before receiving funds.
04Review every transaction carefully
For a receive transaction, generate an address for the correct account and compare the full address on your computer with the address displayed on your device. For a send transaction, double-check the destination, network, amount, and fees on the hardware wallet screen before approving. Blockchain transactions are generally irreversible. Consider making a small test transfer first, and never approve a transaction you do not understand or did not initiate.
05Keep your wallet and computer safer
Use a screen lock, install operating-system security updates, and keep Ledger Live current. Protect your recovery phrase as if it controls the assets themselves: store it privately in a secure offline location and keep it away from cameras and cloud backups. Do not enter it into a computer or mobile app, even if a page claims your wallet needs to be synchronized or restored. Be cautious of urgency, giveaways, unexpected support requests, and remote-access tools.
06Make this dashboard your starting point
Use Portfolio to review the sample balances and account breakdown, Accounts to focus on assets, Activity to inspect recent transaction records, and Swap to explore the interface. This preview is an interactive product demonstration: the displayed portfolio and history are illustrative, and no wallet is connected. It cannot create addresses, sign transactions, or move funds. In a real setup, actions must be verified through your own device and the official application. This page is an independent getting-started experience and is not an official Ledger download page.