How to Set Up a Ledger Nano X: Step-by-Step (2026)

Hardware wallet setup has a reputation for being intimidating. It isn’t. The steps below take about 20 minutes. The only part that requires care is the seed phrase — don’t rush it.

Before you start

• Buy only from ledger.com directly or an authorised reseller. Never buy a used or resold Ledger from eBay or Amazon Marketplace — supply-chain attacks are a documented risk.
• On first boot, Ledger should display a “Welcome” screen and prompt you to set up as a new device. If it shows a pre-configured seed phrase or a PIN screen without going through setup — return it immediately.
• Have a pen and a blank sheet of paper (or metal seed backup plate) ready before you start.

Step 1: Plug in and verify authenticity

Connect the Nano X to your computer via USB-C (or pair via Bluetooth with the iOS/Android Ledger Live app). The device will display a welcome animation.

Ledger devices run a Genuine Check — when you open Ledger Live, it verifies the device’s cryptographic certificate against Ledger’s servers. If the check fails, the device may have been tampered with.

Step 2: Set your PIN

Choose a 4–8 digit PIN. The PIN protects the device if someone physically gets hold of it. After 3 incorrect attempts, the device wipes itself.

• Don’t use your birthday or a simple pattern.
• You’ll enter this PIN every time you use the device.
• The PIN is not your recovery phrase — losing the PIN but keeping your seed phrase still allows full recovery.

Step 3: Write down your 24-word seed phrase

This is the most critical step. Ledger will display 24 words, one at a time, on the device screen.

Write each word down in order, on paper. Do not:

• Type them into your phone
• Take a photo
• Store them in a password manager
• Screenshot the screen

After writing, Ledger prompts you to confirm by selecting each word in order. This verifies you wrote correctly.

Store the physical paper somewhere secure. Many users use a fireproof safe. For high-value holdings, consider a steel plate seed backup (Cryptosteel, Bilodal).

Step 4: Install the Bitcoin (or Ethereum) app in Ledger Live

Open Ledger Live on your computer. Go to My Ledger → search for “Bitcoin” → Install. Each blockchain requires its own app. You can install multiple apps simultaneously up to the device’s storage limit (~100 apps on Nano X).

Step 5: Add an account and receive your first crypto

In Ledger Live: Accounts → Add account → select Bitcoin → follow the prompts. This generates a fresh receiving address from your hardware wallet’s keys.

Recommendation: Before transferring a large amount, do a test run:

1. Send a small amount (e.g. $20 in BTC) to your new Ledger address
2. Verify it arrives in Ledger Live
3. Send it back to your exchange to confirm withdrawals work
4. Only then transfer your main holdings

This end-to-end test costs $1–2 in transaction fees and eliminates the most common beginner mistake (wrong address type, wrong network).

Thinking about Trezor instead? Read our full Ledger vs Trezor comparison to see how both devices compare on security, coin support, and everyday usability before you decide.