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

Ledger Flex setup is best done step by step, from checking the box contents to completing your first test transaction. If you have just received a Ledger Flex, this guide will walk you through installing Ledger Wallet, running Genuine Check, creating a new wallet, writing down your Secret Recovery Phrase, and setting up your recovery options.

We follow Ledger’s current setup flow for Ledger Flex and the company’s official documentation. Ledger Wallet’s interface and individual button labels can change between releases, so we use exact menu names only where they are stable and genuinely useful for completing a step.

Ledger Live is now called Ledger Wallet. If you see Ledger Live in an older video or guide, it refers to the previous name of the same companion app. Download it only from Ledger’s official download page.

Ledger Flex setup: what to know before you start

Ledger Flex stores and uses your private keys inside the Secure Element. The touchscreen Secure Screen is also controlled by the secure chip, so critical transaction details should be verified on the Flex itself, not only in the app on your phone or computer.

For normal use with Ledger Wallet, Flex connects to a computer over USB-C or to a smartphone over Bluetooth. NFC on Flex is used for other features, including Ledger Recovery Key and Ledger Security Key, and is not the primary connection method for Ledger Wallet.

In hardware terms, Flex has a 2.84-inch E Ink display with a 480 × 600 resolution and 16 shades of gray, an ST33K1M5 Secure Element certified to CC EAL6+, a 200 mAh battery, dimensions of 78.4 × 56.5 × 7.7 mm, and a weight of 57.5 g. E Ink uses very little power, so Flex can sit unused for a long time without charging, while the lock-screen image remains visible without constant power.

What you need for setup

• Ledger Flex and the accessories included in the box.
• USB-C to USB-C cable for charging and connecting to a computer.
• A smartphone or 64-bit computer running a supported operating system. Ledger Wallet is available for Windows, macOS, Ubuntu LTS, iOS, and Android. Chromebooks are not supported for Flex; before installing, check the current minimum OS requirements on Ledger’s official download page.
• A pen and the included Recovery Sheet for writing down the 24 words.
• A stable internet connection for downloading Ledger Wallet, running Genuine Check, updating Ledger OS, and installing blockchain apps.
• A private place without other people or cameras around. Do not rush when you write down your Secret Recovery Phrase.

Step 1. Unbox the device and check the contents

Inspect the box before you start the setup. Ledger Flex packaging may have two sealing strips, but the packaging itself should not be treated as proof of authenticity. If the box is clearly damaged, resealed, or shows signs of tampering, stop and find out why before continuing.

Ledger’s key authenticity check is Genuine Check inside the genuine Ledger Wallet app. It cryptographically verifies the device’s Secure Element. We will run it before creating a new wallet.

What should be in the box

• Ledger Flex.
• USB-C to USB-C cable.
• One blank Recovery Sheet for writing down the 24 words.
• Ledger Recovery Key — an NFC card with its own Secure Element and PIN protection; in current Flex packages, it can be used as an additional physical backup.
• Getting-started material with a link to Ledger’s official setup flow.

Step 2. Install Ledger Wallet

Download the app only from the official Ledger Wallet download page. Do not download it through ads, third-party software directories, or links sent by email or message.

You can use either the mobile or desktop version for the initial setup:

• Mobile — convenient if you plan to manage your portfolio mainly from a smartphone. Flex connects over Bluetooth.
• Desktop — Flex connects over USB-C. This is useful if you mainly work with crypto on a computer or use third-party wallets.

Step 3. First power-on, connection, and Genuine Check

1. Turn on Flex. Press and hold the button on the right edge for about one second.
2. Open Ledger Wallet and start setting up a new device. The app will guide you through connecting Flex.
3. On a smartphone, complete Bluetooth pairing by following the prompts. If a pairing code appears on both the phone and Flex, make sure the codes match before you approve the connection.
4. On a computer, connect Flex with the included USB-C cable and select it in Ledger Wallet.
5. Run Genuine Check. Ledger Wallet sends a cryptographic challenge to the device, and the Secure Element returns a signature that Ledger verifies. A successful check confirms that the app is communicating with a genuine Ledger Secure Element.

Step 4. Device name and PIN

After the authenticity check, Ledger will ask you to name the device and create a PIN. The name is only for convenience, especially if you own more than one Ledger.

The Flex PIN can contain 4 to 8 digits. A longer random code that you do not use anywhere else is the better choice. Avoid birthdays, phone numbers, 1234/12345678, or other obvious sequences.

The PIN is entered directly on the Ledger Flex screen. Your computer or smartphone should never ask you to type the device PIN into its own interface.

Step 5. Create a new wallet and write down the 24 words

If you are creating a wallet for the first time, choose Set it up as a new Ledger on the device. The options to restore from an existing Secret Recovery Phrase or Ledger Recovery Key are only needed if you are moving an existing wallet to this device.

Flex will generate a 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase. The words are created inside the device using a hardware random number generator and encoded as a BIP39 mnemonic. This backup can be used to recover the private keys and accounts derived from them.

• Write the words down in exactly the same order and spelling shown on Flex.
• Do not photograph the screen or create a digital copy of the phrase.
• After writing the words down, complete the confirmation step carefully. This helps catch a missing or incorrectly recorded word before you fund the wallet.
• If you want a backup that can better withstand water or fire, you can also use a metal seed phrase backup. The right choice depends on your storage conditions and threat model, not on a fixed portfolio value.

Step 6. Update Ledger OS

After creating the wallet, check whether a Ledger OS update is available. In Ledger Wallet 4.x, device and app management still lives under My Ledger, although its exact position in the interface may move between releases. If an update is available for Flex, My Ledger may show a Ledger OS update available banner with an Update button.

1. Open My Ledger, connect Flex, and unlock it. Look for the connected-device management section rather than the main Market or Earn screen.
2. If you see Ledger OS update available, Update, or Update firmware, start the update and check the information displayed on the device.
3. Do not disconnect Flex until the update is complete. Keep it powered; restarting during the update can be part of the normal process.

Step 7. Ledger Recovery Key — an additional physical backup

Ledger Recovery Key is an NFC card with its own Secure Element. It lets you create an additional physical backup of your Secret Recovery Phrase and restore a compatible touchscreen Ledger without manually entering all 24 words.

On Ledger Flex, Recovery Key requires Ledger OS 1.4.0 or later. If you do not see the option in Settings, update the device first. Ledger publishes the current requirements on the Ledger Recovery Key setup page.

How to set up Recovery Key

1. On Flex, open Settings → Ledger Recovery Key.
2. Hold the card against the back of the device. During the first read, Flex checks the card; verify the Recovery Key identifier if the device asks you to do so.
3. Create a separate 4- to 8-digit PIN for Recovery Key. Do not reuse the PIN you set for Flex.
4. Follow the prompts on the Secure Screen and tap the card to the device again when Flex asks you to write the backup.
5. Store Recovery Key separately from the Ledger Flex itself and from your paper or metal copy of the 24 words.

Recovery Key complements the 24 words; it does not replace them. A paper or metal copy of the BIP39 phrase remains the most universal recovery method because it does not depend on a specific Ledger model.

Step 8. Ledger Recover: an optional service you can skip

Ledger Recover is a paid optional recovery service. It is not required for normal Flex use and does not activate on its own: recovery material is not created unless you subscribe and approve the process on the device.

Recover does not store your 24 words as plain text. Inside the Secure Element, encrypted recovery material is created, split into three protected fragments, and distributed across three parties. Recovery requires two of the three fragments plus identity verification.

If you want to understand the service model in more detail, read Ledger’s official explanation of Ledger Recover. For a basic Flex setup, you can simply skip this step.

Step 9. Passphrase (“25th word”) — only if you understand the trade-offs

A passphrase is an advanced BIP39 feature that adds your own string of up to 100 characters to the 24 words and creates a different set of accounts and addresses. The name “25th word” is only shorthand: it can be a word, phrase, number, or combination of symbols, and it is case-sensitive.

Ledger supports two main modes:

• Temporary passphrase — entered on the device for the current session and no longer active after the device is turned off.
• Attach to PIN — the passphrase is linked to a separate PIN, and that PIN opens the corresponding set of accounts.

The exact interface for this feature can change, so before enabling it, compare the steps with Ledger’s current passphrase guide.

Step 10. Install blockchain apps and add accounts

Ledger Wallet 4.0 substantially changed the main interface, but the underlying flow is still two-step: first you install the required blockchain app on Flex, then you add the corresponding account in Ledger Wallet.

1. Open My Ledger. Connect and unlock Flex, open the App catalog, find the blockchain you need, and select Install.
2. In the left sidebar, open Accounts → Add account. Choose the asset or network you need, connect Flex if prompted, and follow the instructions until the account is added.

An app on Flex, an account, and a token are not the same thing. The app lets the device work with a particular blockchain, while the account in Ledger Wallet displays addresses, balances, and transaction history derived from your keys. Tokens such as ERC-20 or BEP-20 assets generally do not require a separate app for each token; they use the app and account for the underlying network.

Ledger Wallet 4.0 also makes multichain asset selection more explicit: when the same token exists on several networks, the interface may guide you through token → network → account. Before adding or receiving an asset, check both the asset name and the selected network.

If the device runs low on storage, blockchain apps can be removed and installed again later. Removing an app does not delete your crypto assets or change your private keys — the assets remain on the blockchain, and access returns when you reinstall the required app.

For some networks and workflows, you can also use third-party interfaces such as MetaMask or Rabby for EVM networks, or Sparrow and Electrum for Bitcoin. In that setup, the third-party wallet prepares the transaction, but the signature is produced on Ledger Flex. You should still verify the final details on the Secure Screen.

Step 11. Make your first test transaction

Do not transfer your full balance right away. Start with a small test transaction: an amount that does not create meaningful risk for you but still makes sense relative to the network fee. Confirm that the funds arrive, then test a small outgoing transaction as well.

Receiving

1. Open the relevant account in Ledger Wallet and select Receive.
2. The app will show an address and ask you to verify it on Ledger Flex.
3. Compare the full address on the Flex screen. Do not rely only on the first and last few characters if the device lets you review the complete address.
4. Once it matches, approve the address on Flex and only then copy it for a withdrawal from an exchange or another wallet.

Verification on the Secure Screen protects against malware that replaces an address in the clipboard or changes what your computer interface displays. The Ledger Flex screen is the source of truth.

Sending

1. In Ledger Wallet, select Send, choose the account, enter the recipient address and amount, and review the network fee.
2. When the transaction appears on Flex, verify the address, asset, amount, and every other available detail on the Secure Screen.
3. For supported operations, Ledger uses Clear Signing to show transaction details in a human-readable form. Some EVM transactions can also use Transaction Check, which may flag suspicious risks. These are additional safeguards, not a substitute for your own review.
4. Approve the signature only when every detail matches the action you intended. If the data is unclear or you are being asked to blind sign, reject the request and first determine exactly what the site or app wants you to sign.

Always verify the network separately

Be especially careful with stablecoins and tokens that exist on multiple networks. USDT, for example, is available on Ethereum, Tron, and other networks. The withdrawal network selected on the exchange must match the network of the receiving account. If you are unsure, stop and confirm support for that specific network before sending.

Step 12. Using Ledger Flex day to day

• Store your backups separately. Ledger Flex, the 24-word backup, and Recovery Key should not all be kept in one place where a single theft, fire, or flood could destroy everything at once.
• Do not worry about a dead battery. If Flex has been sitting unused and will not power on, connect it to USB-C first. A drained battery does not erase the private keys.
• Check the physical condition of your backup from time to time. It should remain readable and accessible to you. You can install the Recovery Check app through My Ledger to verify your recorded Secret Recovery Phrase without sending the words to your computer.
• Ledger Sync is optional. If you use Ledger Wallet on multiple devices, Sync can keep app data in sync. Ledger uses the Key Ring Protocol: the data is encrypted with keys tied to your signer, and Ledger says it cannot decrypt that data.
• If your Flex is lost or stolen, restore the wallet from your Secret Recovery Phrase on a compatible device. Recovery Key works with compatible touchscreen Ledger devices over NFC. If there is any chance someone knows the PIN for the lost device, create a new wallet with a new Secret Recovery Phrase and move your assets to the new addresses.
• Flex can also work as a security key. After installing Ledger Security Key, you can use it for FIDO2/WebAuthn authentication and 2FA on compatible services; Flex supports NFC for this use case. For a Ledger-specific setup walkthrough, see our guide “How to Use Ledger as a Security Key for Crypto Exchanges”. For a broader introduction to physical security keys, see “FIDO2 Security Key: How to Protect Google and Other Accounts”.

You can read more about this feature in Ledger’s official explanation of Ledger Sync.

Common mistakes after the initial setup

• Using the wrong network. Before withdrawing from an exchange, verify the network, asset, and address. The token name alone does not guarantee that you selected the right network.
• A fake Ledger Wallet app or website. Download the app through Ledger’s official website. Do not install “urgent updates” from email links, ads, or social media messages.
• Entering the Secret Recovery Phrase online. The 24 words should never be entered into a website, desktop program, mobile app, support form, or chat. If you have already done this, treat the phrase as compromised and move the assets to a new wallet with a new SRP.
• Signing without checking. Do not approve an action simply because the website looks familiar. Read the details on the Secure Screen, and reject blind signing requests you do not fully understand.
• Mixing up the Flex PIN and Recovery Key PIN. They are two separate codes. Three failed attempts reset Flex, while three failed Recovery Key PIN attempts erase the backup from the card.

What to do next

Once you complete the Ledger Flex setup, you have an authenticated device, your own PIN, a correctly recorded Secret Recovery Phrase, current Ledger OS, the blockchain apps you need, and a tested receive-and-send workflow. If you configured Ledger Recovery Key, you also have an additional physical recovery method.

From here, you can move on to more advanced setups: a metal seed backup, a passphrase, separating assets across multiple accounts, using dApps, or keeping a second Ledger as a backup device. If you are choosing another device for a different use case, see our guide “Best Hardware Wallets in 2026: Which One Should You Choose?”. On day one, the number of features matters less than knowing where your recovery access is stored, how to verify an address on the Flex screen, and when not to sign a transaction you do not understand.

If you bought your Ledger Flex from us and have questions during setup, contact Lwallet and we will help you through the basic steps. If you bought the device directly from the manufacturer, contact Ledger Support. No matter who is helping you, never share your Secret Recovery Phrase.