Ledger Flex setup: step-by-step guide from unboxing to your first transaction

This Ledger Flex setup guide follows a real device, from its first power-on and authenticity check to creating a wallet, adding a Bitcoin account and verifying a receiving address. We then cover passphrases and explain how to make your first transfer.

We recommend using a computer for the initial setup: the larger screen makes it easier to read the instructions alongside your Flex. We used Ledger Wallet on a computer with Ledger Flex connected by USB. The steps below follow that sequence. You can connect the mobile app later without creating a new recovery phrase.

Ledger Flex setup: what you need

Ledger Flex is a hardware wallet with an E Ink touchscreen. Private keys are stored in the device’s secure chip, while crypto assets are recorded on the blockchain. Ledger Wallet displays your accounts, balances and history; Flex lets you verify addresses and sign transactions.

• Ledger Flex and a USB cable that supports data transfer. The included cable is USB-C to USB-C. If your computer has USB-A ports, use a suitable cable or adapter.
• A computer running a supported version of Windows, macOS or Linux. Check the system requirements on the official download page.
• A stable internet connection for the Genuine Check, Ledger OS updates and installation of the apps for your chosen networks.
• A pen and a blank Recovery Sheet. Write down your phrase in private, away from cameras and other people.

Step 1. Unbox Flex and check the contents

1. Inspect the packaging. If you see signs of opening, resealing or damage, ask the seller about them before setting up the device. Even intact packaging does not replace the authenticity check in Ledger Wallet.
2. Take out the device. Check the casing, screen and USB-C port for damage or unexpected components.
3. Check the recovery sheets. They must be blank. A new Ledger does not come with a prewritten recovery phrase or a PIN set by the seller.

What’s in the box

The box contains Ledger Flex, a USB-C to USB-C cable, recovery sheets and documentation. Contents vary by batch: newer bundles also include a Ledger Recovery Key, while earlier ones may not. Compare the contents with the description of the bundle you purchased.

Step 2. Turn on Flex and choose desktop setup

Press and hold the button on the right edge for about one second. If the device does not turn on, connect it to a USB power source to charge. The screen will display Welcome to Ledger Flex, your digital signer.

Welcome screens and the desktop setup option

1. Tap the Flex screen to continue. The Tap to continue prompt means you should touch the display.
2. On the setup options screen, select Ledger Wallet app for desktop. In this guide, we use Ledger Wallet on a computer to set up Flex.
3. Read the message about ledger.com/start. Flex will ask you to install Ledger Wallet on your computer. Tap the screen to continue.

Prompts to continue in Ledger Wallet

Read Follow the setup instructions displayed on Ledger Wallet and tap the screen to continue. Flex then displays a prompt for users who already have the app installed; it mentions My Ledger. In our version of Ledger Wallet, connection starts with the Connect button. Once you have read the introductory screens, leave Flex on and move to your computer.

Step 3. Download and install Ledger Wallet

Downloading from Ledger’s official website

1. On your computer, open ledger.com/start. Check that the domain is ledger.com. Do not download installers through ads or messages about an “urgent update.”
2. Click Download on the official Ledger Wallet page and choose the version for your operating system.
3. Install the app and open it. Connect Flex to your computer with a USB data cable if you have not already done so.

Installation and connection do not require you to enter your 24 words, PIN or passphrase on the computer. Enter secret information only on Flex itself.

Step 4. Connect Ledger Flex in the app

Using Connect in Ledger Wallet

On the Ledger Wallet home screen on your computer, click Connect. Keep Flex connected by USB.

Selecting Ledger Flex

In the What’s your Ledger? window, find Ledger Flex and click Select beneath it. The app will move on to the device check.

Step 5. Complete the Ledger Genuine Check

Starting the check in the app

Ledger Wallet will display the Ledger Genuine Check screen to check the device’s authenticity and Ledger OS version. Click Check Ledger Flex. Flex itself may display an explanation of the Genuine Check at this point; that is not yet the result.

Allowing a secure connection on Flex

1. On Flex, read Allow a secure connection with Ledger? This request appears in response to the check you have just started in the official app.
2. Tap Allow on the device. Keep the USB cable connected and wait for the result in Ledger Wallet.
3. Check that the app shows Ledger Flex is genuine. It will then either offer a Ledger OS update or let you continue with setup.

Step 6. Update Ledger OS if prompted

Starting the update in Ledger Wallet

After a successful Genuine Check, OS update … available will appear beside OS Check if an update is available. Click Update Ledger Flex OS. The app will prepare the update and start transferring it to the device.

Installing the update

1. Wait for Ledger Wallet to transfer the files. The Ledger Flex OS update window shows Prepare update, Install update and Restore settings. During the transfer, the app displays Transferring update to Ledger Flex.
2. Wait for Loading update to finish on Flex. When Update Ledger OS? appears with the version number, tap Install on the device itself.
3. Keep the cable connected until the process finishes. Do not close Ledger Wallet during installation. Wait for the update to complete and Flex to restart.

Checking again after the update

Another Genuine Check may be required after the update. If Ledger Wallet starts the check again, approve the secure connection on Flex with Allow. Continue once the app shows two successful checks: Ledger Flex is genuine and Ledger OS is up to date. Click Continue to setup.

A separate procedure for updating an uninitialized device is described in Ledger’s support guide. Updating does not require you to enter your recovery phrase in Ledger Wallet.

Step 7. Name Ledger Flex and set a PIN

Ledger Wallet will show Let’s get started and ask you to continue on Flex. Enter the name and PIN on the device’s touchscreen; the computer app provides guidance.

Naming the device

1. On Flex, tap Set name. Enter a name using the onscreen keyboard. In our example, it is Lwallet.
2. Tap Confirm name and continue setup. The name helps you tell devices apart. Avoid including personal details or information about your assets.

A PIN of 4 to 8 digits: Choose my PIN

1. On Flex, read Choose your PIN. Tap the screen, read the warning about three incorrect attempts and tap Choose my PIN.
2. Enter your own code of 4 to 8 digits. For a wallet you will use to hold funds, an unpredictable 8-digit PIN is preferable. The keypad layout may change, so check the digits rather than relying on their positions.
3. Tap the checkmark ✓ and enter the PIN again. Once confirmed, Flex will let you choose between creating and restoring a wallet.

This PIN unlocks Flex itself. You do not enter it in Ledger Wallet on your computer.

Step 8. Create a new wallet and confirm the 24 words

Creating a new wallet

On your computer, Ledger Wallet explains the difference between creating a new wallet and restoring one. On Flex, read the introductory message, tap to continue and select Set up as a new Ledger device. This is the option we use in the guide: the device generates a new 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase.

Restore using a Secret Recovery Phrase or backup restores access to an existing wallet. Choose between creating a new wallet and restoring one according to what you need.

Writing the 24 words on your Recovery Sheet

1. On Flex, read the message about the new Secret Recovery Phrase. Follow the Tap to continue prompts to reach the words.
2. When Flex shows Write down these words on your Recovery Sheet, record the first group. In our example, Flex displays four numbered words at a time. Write each word in the field with the matching number.
3. Tap Next and record the following groups. Keep the English spelling and the order of all 24 words. Check each group before moving on.
4. Once you have recorded all the words, proceed to verification. If you are unsure about your notes, use See the words again before starting the check.

Verifying the words: Start checking

1. On Flex, tap Start checking beneath Let’s check that all 24 words are written correctly.
2. For each number, select the correct word from the options. For example, Select word no.1 asks you to choose the first word in your written phrase. Complete each prompt on the device. Do not enter the words in Ledger Wallet.
3. Wait for Secret Recovery Phrase confirmed. Tap the screen to continue. This confirms the phrase; the Recovery Key option and the remaining setup steps come next.

Put your Recovery Sheet somewhere safe. You can also copy the words onto a metal seed phrase backup. Keep Flex separate from your backups so that a single theft or fire cannot take both the device and every way to restore access.

If you need to restore an existing wallet instead

To restore an existing wallet, select Restore using a Secret Recovery Phrase or backup when choosing the setup method. Choose recovery phrase restoration and specify its length: 12, 18 or 24 words. Enter the first letters and select each word only on Flex until the device confirms the phrase. Then add accounts for the relevant networks in Ledger Wallet. A wallet protected by a passphrase also requires that exact passphrase.

Step 9. Skip Ledger Recovery Key for now

Skipping Recovery Key setup

1. On Flex, read the offer to create an additional backup. Tap the screen to continue.
2. At the “Do you have a Ledger Recovery Key?” prompt, select I’ll do this later. We skipped this part of the initial setup. If you have a card and want to set it up now, choose I have a Recovery Key.

After selecting I’ll do this later, you can continue setting up the wallet. You can add Recovery Key later; the card is not required to create a Bitcoin account.

How to add Ledger Recovery Key later

Ledger Recovery Key is a physical NFC card that backs up your recovery phrase. To set it up later, follow these steps:

1. On an unlocked Flex, open Settings → Ledger Recovery Key and start creating a backup, approving the device’s prompts.
2. When prompted, hold the card against the back of Flex. Wait for the check and compare the card’s identifier with the one shown on the device.
3. Set and confirm a separate PIN of 4 to 8 digits for the card. When Flex asks you to save the backup, hold Recovery Key against the device again and keep it there until completion is confirmed.
4. Store the card separately from Flex and your written words. The official Ledger Recovery Key guide shows the procedure in detail.

To restore from a card with a saved backup, choose backup restoration and Ledger Recovery Key on a new or reset compatible Flex. Follow the device’s prompts to hold the card against it and enter the card’s PIN on Flex. After restoration, add your accounts in Ledger Wallet. Do not reset your only working wallet just to test the card.

Ledger Recover is a separate, optional service

Do not confuse Ledger Recovery Key with Ledger Recover. Recover is a separate paid recovery service that requires identity verification. We did not activate it. If the app offers the service, you can skip it: a subscription is not required to add accounts or receive and send crypto. Installing Ledger Wallet or updating the OS does not activate the service.

Step 10. Enable Wallet Sync and finish the initial setup

Syncing Ledger Wallet data

1. In Ledger Wallet, click Continue on Enable sync for your wallet. Wallet Sync helps keep your Ledger Wallet account data in sync across your computers and phones.
2. Follow the app’s instructions and approve the prompts on Flex. Keep the device connected. We enabled sync, after which Sync your wallet was marked Complete in the setup checklist.
3. If you do not need sync now, select I’ll do it later. Sync is optional: you can still set up the wallet and add an account without it.

To see the same accounts on another computer or phone, enable Ledger Sync there and connect that app to the same sync setup. Installing Ledger Wallet alone is not enough. Wallet Sync synchronizes app data and does not replace your recovery phrase. Your private keys stay on Flex, where you approve operations. See the Ledger Sync instructions for details.

Now you’re in control

Once these steps are complete, Ledger Wallet displays Now you’re in control. Select Tap to continue. The device’s basic setup is complete; next, we will add a Bitcoin account and verify its receiving address.

Step 11. Add a Bitcoin account

The Bitcoin app on Flex is used to interact with the Bitcoin network, while a Bitcoin account in Ledger Wallet provides addresses, a balance and transaction history. In our example, Ledger Wallet installed the app automatically while adding Bitcoin. We did not need to open the My Ledger app catalog separately.

Start adding a crypto asset

1. On Home in Ledger Wallet, open Next, finish wallet setup. A checklist of further actions appears. The 2/4 indicator in our screenshot means two of the four items are complete.
2. Click Add crypto. This option offers to receive or buy crypto. We choose Bitcoin and create an account for receiving BTC. You do not have to buy or deposit funds to complete the basic setup.

Selecting Bitcoin and installing the app

1. Make sure Flex is connected and unlocked with the main PIN. In this example, we add the account to the standard wallet, before setting up a passphrase.
2. Select Bitcoin (BTC) in Ledger Wallet’s asset list. Ledger Wallet will start preparing Flex to work with Bitcoin.
3. Wait for the Bitcoin app to install on Flex. The device displays Installing app while this is in progress. Keep the cable connected. If Ledger Wallet asks you to open Bitcoin, open it on Flex.

Confirming Bitcoin 1 — Native SegWit

1. In Ledger Wallet, check the selection on Select the accounts you want to add. In our example, Bitcoin 1 — Native SegWit is selected with a balance of 0 BTC. A zero balance is normal for a new account.
2. Click Confirm in the app. This confirms that you want to add the selected account.
3. Check that Bitcoin is open on Flex. The device shows the Bitcoin name and a description of signing transactions on the Bitcoin network. You can now proceed to the receiving address.

When adding other assets, choose the correct network. For example, USDT on Ethereum uses an Ethereum account, while USDT on Tron uses a Tron account. A token’s name alone does not identify the transfer network. Check support for both the asset and network before depositing funds.

Step 12. Get a Bitcoin address and verify it on Flex

Selecting the account

1. In Ledger Wallet, open Receive. In our setup, the receiving window opened after we added the account. If you closed it, open your Bitcoin account and select Receive.
2. In Account to credit, select Bitcoin 1 — Native SegWit and click Continue. Keep Flex connected and unlocked.
3. If Ledger Wallet asks you to open Bitcoin, do so on Flex. Wait for the app to display the address and send it to the device’s screen.

Comparing the address in the app and on the device

1. In Ledger Wallet, find Address for Bitcoin 1. The app displays the Native SegWit address, a copy button and Show QR Code.
2. Read the entire address on Flex. Compare every character with the address on your computer. If the address spans several sections or pages, check them all. Matching only the beginning and end is not enough.
3. If the addresses match, tap Confirm on Flex. Confirm acknowledges that you have checked the receiving address. It does not sign a transaction.
4. Copy the verified address or display its QR code. For your transfer, use your own address that you have just checked. The address in the illustration belongs to the test wallet and must not be used for your funds.

Ledger Wallet may show a new Bitcoin receiving address after the previous one has been used. This is normal: earlier addresses for the same account remain valid.

Step 13. Set up a passphrase if you need one

A passphrase is an additional secret used with your 24 words to access a separate set of accounts and addresses. It can contain up to 100 characters, and both letter case and spaces matter. You can skip this step for a standard wallet: your main PIN and a securely stored recovery phrase are sufficient.

Setting up a passphrase does not move existing funds or turn the Bitcoin account you just added into a passphrase-protected account. It stays linked to your standard wallet. Add a separate account after activating the passphrase wallet.

Open Settings → Advanced → Set passphrase

1. On Flex, leave the Bitcoin app and return to the home screen. Use Quit app to do this.
2. Open Settings → Advanced → Set passphrase. All the following steps take place on Flex itself.
3. Select Set passphrase and attach it to a new PIN. This is the option we chose during setup. The other option, Set temporary passphrase, applies to a single session and is explained below.

Create a second PIN and confirm the passphrase

1. On the Choose passphrase PIN screen, set a second PIN of 4 to 8 digits. It must differ from your main PIN. Tap ✓ and enter the code again to confirm it.
2. Enter your passphrase using the Flex keyboard. Do not use the short demonstration values shown in the illustrations for a wallet that will hold funds. Keep an exact offline record.
3. On the “Is this correct?” screen, check the entry. If it is correct, tap Yes, it’s correct. To change it, select Edit passphrase.
4. When Flex displays Enter your main PIN to confirm your passphrase, enter your main PIN. This is the code you used to unlock Flex before setting up the passphrase.
5. To open the wallet again, turn Flex off and back on. The second PIN opens the wallet with the attached passphrase; the main PIN opens your standard wallet. Test access again before depositing funds.

Before funding the wallet, check that you can reopen it and enter the exact passphrase from your written record, as described below. This helps confirm that you have the information needed to restore access.

Flex can store one passphrase attached to a secondary PIN. Attaching a new one replaces the previous configuration on the device. Funds remain at the previous addresses, and you need the previous passphrase to access them.

Temporary passphrase: access for one session

This mode lasts for one session; we did not enable it during our setup. According to Ledger’s instructions, the steps are:

1. Unlock Flex with your main PIN. Open Settings → Advanced → Set passphrase → Set temporary passphrase.
2. Enter the exact passphrase on Flex and check every character. Confirm the entry with Yes, it’s good.
3. Enter your main PIN to confirm. Flex will use the accounts associated with this passphrase for the current session.
4. To return to your standard wallet, restart Flex and enter your main PIN. The temporary passphrase is cleared from the active session when you power off or next enter a PIN. To access its accounts again, reactivate it with the exact same entry.

Verify access to the passphrase account before funding it

1. Activate the passphrase with the second PIN or by entering it temporarily. In Ledger Wallet, open Home, scroll down and click Add crypto account or Add, depending on your interface version. Select Bitcoin and open Bitcoin on Flex when prompted.
2. Add a separate Native SegWit Bitcoin account on the account selection screen by clicking Confirm. Give it a clear name that does not reveal the passphrase, such as Bitcoin — passphrase.
3. Open Receive for the new account and verify the address on Flex. Before funding it, record this public address for comparison. Do not use the standard Bitcoin account’s address from step 12 for this check.
4. Restart Flex and activate the same wallet again. Open Receive again for the same account and address type. If the previous address has not yet received funds, it should match.
5. If you attached the passphrase to a PIN, also test your written record. After restarting, unlock with your main PIN and temporarily enter the passphrase from your offline record. Verify the address for this account on Flex again. If it matches the earlier address, your written passphrase recreates the correct wallet.

Ledger Wallet can display accounts from both your standard wallet and your passphrase wallet at the same time. You can sign a transaction only when the wallet that controls that account is active on Flex.

Step 14. Receive and send a small test amount

The following instructions explain your first transfer after setup. We did not transfer funds during our test setup. Start with a small amount, allowing for fees and the minimum withdrawal amount on the sending exchange or wallet. The example below uses the Bitcoin account we added.

Receiving BTC from an exchange or another wallet

1. Verify your own address through Receive as described in step 12. If you are funding a passphrase wallet, activate it on Flex first and select its account.
2. On the sending exchange or wallet, choose a BTC withdrawal over the Bitcoin network. Do not choose a different network just because its fee is lower.
3. Paste your verified address and check it again. Enter a small test amount and confirm the withdrawal on the sending exchange or wallet.
4. Wait for network confirmation. Check the transaction and balance in your Ledger Wallet Bitcoin account. If needed, open the transaction details in a blockchain explorer.

Flex does not sign an incoming transaction when you receive a normal transfer. A website asking you to sign to “activate receiving” is not part of this process.

Sending BTC with approval on Flex

1. Prepare the recipient’s Bitcoin address. To send to an exchange, open the BTC deposit section in your exchange account and copy its current Bitcoin network address. Do not automatically reuse the address from which the exchange previously sent you funds.
2. In Ledger Wallet, open Send and select your Bitcoin account. Paste the address, enter a small amount and check the fee. Bitcoin fees are paid in BTC, so your balance must cover both the transfer and the fee.
3. Continue to review the transaction in the app. Connect and unlock Flex, then open Bitcoin when Ledger Wallet asks. For a passphrase account, activate the corresponding wallet.
4. Read all the details on Flex. Verify the full recipient address, amount and fee. If the details do not match the transfer you intended, reject it.
5. On the final screen, press and hold Hold to sign. Holding the button confirms the signature. Transaction signed on Flex means the device has signed the transaction; it does not yet confirm that the transaction has been broadcast.
6. Wait for Ledger Wallet to send the transaction and for the blockchain to confirm it. Check that the recipient has received the funds. If the transaction is still pending, check its status before sending again.

You do not need to enable blind signing for a standard transfer in Ledger Wallet. If a third-party site asks you to sign data you do not understand, stop and clarify what the transaction does before approving it.

Setup complete: what to check before use

• Authenticity and OS. Flex has passed the Genuine Check, and Ledger Wallet shows that Ledger OS is up to date.
• PIN and recovery phrase. You can unlock Flex, and all 24 words have been written down, confirmed on the device and stored offline.
• Account and address. You have added an account for the correct network in Ledger Wallet and checked the entire receiving address on Flex.
• Optional features. If you enabled Wallet Sync, its status is confirmed in the app. You can add Recovery Key later. Keep an exact written backup of your passphrase and check that you can access its wallet again.
• Transfers. When you are ready to fund the wallet, first test receiving and sending a small amount using the previous section.

Locking Flex and using it after setup

A short press of the button on the right edge locks Flex. For long-term storage, turn it off through the power menu and recharge the battery periodically; Ledger recommends doing this about once every three months. The E Ink image may remain visible after the device is switched off.

A custom lock screen image, as shown in the photo, is optional and is not needed for basic setup. If you also want to use the device to protect sign-ins to online services, see our Ledger Security Key guide.

Common Ledger Flex setup problems

Ledger Wallet cannot detect Flex

Check that your USB cable supports data transfer and try another port. If you have already set a PIN, unlock Flex. Close any other wallet apps or browser tabs that might be using the device. See our Ledger Wallet connection troubleshooting guide for further checks. Do not start troubleshooting by resetting the wallet.

A zero balance or a signing error

A zero balance is normal for a new account. If you expected funds to be there, check the network, selected account and active passphrase. Flex unlocked with the main PIN cannot sign for an account belonging to a different wallet. After restoring a wallet, you also need to add the relevant accounts again in Ledger Wallet.

Funds have not appeared after a withdrawal

Find the transaction hash on the sending platform and check its status on the correct network. If the exchange has not broadcast the transaction yet, Ledger Wallet cannot speed it up. If the transfer is already confirmed, check the address, network and account, then refresh the app’s data. Do not repeat the withdrawal until you know what happened to the first transfer.

You entered the recovery phrase on a website or shared it with someone

Getting help

If you bought Ledger Flex from us and have questions about setup, message us or call +380 96 199 55 55. If you bought directly from the manufacturer, contact official Ledger Support. To investigate, we only need the device model, Ledger OS and Ledger Wallet versions, and the error message. Never share your 24 words, PIN or passphrase, or show them in screenshots.