How to set up a hardware wallet

Before you start

Buy directly from the manufacturer, never second-hand or from a marketplace. Check the packaging and any tamper seal. If the device arrives with a pre-printed seed phrase, it is a scam: stop and contact the maker.

Steps

1. 01Download the companion app from the maker's website. Check the URL character by character and, if offered, verify the download's signature.
2. 02Connect the device and let the app verify its firmware is genuine.
3. 03Choose "create new wallet". The device generates the seed itself, using its own randomness. Never import a seed from a website, an app or a piece of paper that came with the device.
4. 04Write the 12 or 24 words in order on paper, exactly as shown on the device screen. Double-check spelling against the word list if the device offers it.
5. 05Complete the device's verification, which asks you to confirm some or all words.
6. 06Set a PIN. Many devices offer an optional passphrase (a "25th word"); skip it until you understand it fully, because a forgotten passphrase is a lost wallet.
7. 07In the app, generate a receive address. Confirm the address shown on the device screen matches the one on your computer. Send a small amount from your exchange and wait for confirmation.
8. 08Send a small amount back. Confirm the destination on the device screen before approving.
9. 09Store the paper safely. Consider stamping the words into metal once the amount justifies it.

Check your work

Imagine the device is lost. Could you recover from the paper alone? If you are not sure, test it: reset the device and restore it from the words with a small balance on it.