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Set up Ledger Atom as a new device, let it generate your 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase on its Secure Screen, and verify every receiving and sending address on the device itself. For transfers, match the blockchain network exactly, use a small test transaction first, and approve only the transaction details shown on Atom. Those steps address the two most serious hardware-wallet risks: losing recovery access and signing a transaction that was altered by malware.
What Ledger Atom does
Ledger describes Atom as a connected device with everyday apps in Standard Mode and a separate Secure Element running Ledger OS. The general-purpose environment handles connected applications, while Ledger OS and the Secure Element control the private keys and decide whether a transaction can be signed. Sensitive signing operations are isolated from the connected environment.
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Ledger Wallet runs on Atom and provides crypto-management functions such as buying, swapping, staking, sending and receiving. The exact assets, blockchain networks, service providers and features available to you depend on support and jurisdiction. Ledger’s 2026 product information says Ledger Wallet supports more than 15,000 assets across more than 100 chains, but that headline does not mean every asset or service is available in every country or account.
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Before you initialize Atom
Buy through a trustworthy channel
Obtain the device from Ledger or an authorized seller. When the package arrives, inspect it before connecting the signer or entering any information.
- A device that arrives with a PIN already completed should not be used.
- A package containing a prewritten recovery phrase should not be used.
- Do not accept a setup process that asks you to type a supplied phrase into a computer or phone.
Your own device must generate the recovery phrase during initialization. A preselected PIN or phrase means someone else may already have access to the wallet.
Prepare a private setup location
Choose a place where nobody can see the Secure Screen or the recovery sheet. Keep cameras, phones and cloud-synced note applications away from the sheet. The phrase is the backup that can restore the wallet, so treat it as more sensitive than a password.
Set up Ledger Atom as a new wallet
- Start the new-device flow. Turn on Atom and choose the option to initialize it as a new device. Do not restore an existing wallet unless you already possess that wallet’s recovery phrase and intentionally want to regain access.
- Create a device PIN. Choose a PIN of four to eight digits directly on Atom. Do not reuse a PIN that is easy for someone nearby to guess, and do not write the PIN on the recovery sheet or store both together.
- Generate the Secret Recovery Phrase. Atom creates a 24-word phrase inside its Secure Element. Read each word only from Atom’s Secure Screen and write it on the supplied recovery sheet in the exact order shown.
- Check spelling and order. Write one word per position. A single misspelled, missing or transposed word can prevent recovery of the intended wallet.
- Confirm the phrase on the device. Atom will prompt you to select or enter words to prove that the copy is accurate. Complete this check on the device rather than relying on a screen in Ledger Wallet.
- Complete the authenticity check. Finish the genuine-device or authenticity check shown during setup. Do not skip a warning or substitute a phrase supplied by a seller.
- Install or open Ledger Wallet. Pair Atom with Ledger Wallet only after the device has completed its own initialization. Use the wallet to create accounts for the assets and networks you actually plan to use.
Protect the 24-word recovery phrase
The phrase is the master backup for the wallet. Anyone who obtains all 24 words can generally restore the wallet elsewhere, while losing the phrase can leave you without a way to recover access if Atom is lost or fails.
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- Keep the written phrase offline in a private, physically protected location.
- Never photograph it, type it into a phone or computer, paste it into a website, or upload it to cloud storage.
- Never disclose it to customer support, a seller, a friend or anyone claiming to be Ledger.
- Ledger states that it will never ask for your 24 words. A request for the phrase is a stop-and-verify signal.
- Do not keep the phrase beside Atom or the PIN where one theft would expose every recovery item at once.
Optional backup choices
Atom supports Ledger Recovery Key and optional Ledger Recover. These are backup choices that supplement careful custody of the recovery phrase; selecting one does not make it safe to photograph, type or disclose the phrase. Decide how you will regain access before depositing a large balance, and document the location of any backup in a way that does not reveal the phrase itself.
Check asset and network support before transferring
Ledger Wallet’s support list is broad, but support is conditional. Confirm the exact asset, blockchain network and service you intend to use in your account. An asset name can exist on several networks, and an exchange may present multiple withdrawal networks with similar labels.
| Check | What to confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Asset | The token or coin selected in Ledger Wallet matches the asset you are depositing or withdrawing. | Similar names can refer to different assets or token contracts. |
| Network | The network shown for the Ledger account is the same network selected at the exchange or sender. | A mismatch can leave funds absent from the expected account. |
| Account | The Ledger Wallet account belongs to the intended asset and network. | Choosing the wrong account can send funds to an address you did not plan to use. |
| Jurisdiction | The service, asset and transaction feature are available where you live. | Availability varies by asset, chain, service provider and jurisdiction. |
How to receive cryptocurrency into Ledger Atom
Receiving means giving a sender an address controlled by your Ledger account. You do not need to expose the recovery phrase or private key to receive funds.
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- Open Ledger Wallet. Choose Receive.
- Select the exact asset and account. If the asset is available on more than one network, select the intended network and account explicitly.
- Generate the receive address. Ledger Wallet displays an address for that account.
- Verify on Atom. Compare the address in Ledger Wallet with the address shown on Atom’s Secure Screen. Check the characters from the beginning through the end, not just the first and last few characters.
- Share only the verified address. Copy or scan the address after the device confirms it. If the software address and Secure Screen disagree, stop; do not send funds until the discrepancy is resolved.
- Match the sender’s network. When withdrawing from an exchange, select the same blockchain network used by the Ledger account. Do not choose a network merely because its fee is lower or its name looks similar.
- Use a test transfer. For a first deposit, send a small amount and wait for it to appear in the intended Ledger account before moving the full balance.
- Confirm receipt. Check the destination account and the network transaction status. Keep the transaction record so you can distinguish a pending transfer from a wrong-account or wrong-network problem.
Why Secure Screen verification matters
Malware can replace an address displayed by a computer or phone. Verifying the address on Atom’s Secure Screen gives you an independent check of the address that the signer is using, rather than trusting the connected computer alone.
How to send cryptocurrency from Ledger Atom
Sending is irreversible in the ordinary sense of blockchain transactions, so use a deliberate review sequence. The person or service receiving the funds, the asset, the network and the amount must all be correct before approval.
- Open the send flow. In Ledger Wallet, choose Send.
- Choose the asset and receiving network. Select the asset you intend to spend and the network on which the recipient expects it.
- Choose the account to debit. Confirm that the account contains the intended balance.
- Enter or scan the recipient address. Recheck every character and confirm that the address belongs to the intended recipient. A QR code reduces typing errors but does not prove that the recipient is trustworthy.
- Enter the amount. Check the denomination and decimal places. Make sure the amount leaves enough balance for the network fee.
- Review the fee and speed choice. Ledger Wallet presents a network-fee or speed choice where supported. A faster option may cost more; select the option that matches your urgency and budget.
- Select Review. Connect and unlock Atom, then open the requested blockchain application.
- Read the Secure Screen. Compare the recipient, amount, asset and other transaction details on Atom with the instructions you intended to send. Treat any mismatch as a reason to reject the transaction.
- Approve only an exact match. Confirm on Atom after the Secure Screen shows the correct details. Atom signs the transaction inside its Secure Element.
- Wait for confirmation. Monitor the network status and check the destination. If you are unsure whether the transaction was submitted or confirmed, verify its status before attempting another send.
| Before approval | After approval |
|---|---|
| Recipient address is verified and belongs to the intended person or service. | Record the transaction identifier or status shown by Ledger Wallet. |
| Asset, account and network match the recipient’s instructions. | Wait for network confirmation rather than assuming a pending transaction failed. |
| Amount and fee leave the required balance. | Check the destination account before sending a second transaction. |
| Secure Screen details exactly match the software review. | If anything is unclear, stop and verify status instead of approving another transaction. |
What if the wrong network was selected?
When withdrawing from an exchange to Ledger, a network mismatch can cause the assets not to appear in the Ledger account you expected. The address may look valid while still belonging to a different network context. Do not assume that a missing balance means the funds are gone, and do not immediately send a replacement withdrawal.
- Stop further transfers to the same destination until the network is identified.
- Check the withdrawal record at the exchange, including the exact network, asset and transaction status.
- Check the Ledger account and the relevant network transaction status to determine whether the transfer is pending, confirmed or directed elsewhere.
- Compare the selected network with the network of the Ledger account you intended to use.
- If the status is unclear, resolve that status before making another transaction. A second transfer can create a separate problem and does not repair the first one.
The correct remedy depends on the asset, network, exchange and transaction state. The general safety rule is to identify the chain and status first; never try random recovery steps or reveal your recovery phrase to someone offering help.
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If Atom is lost, damaged or no longer works, Ledger recommends restoring access on another Ledger device with the Secret Recovery Phrase. Keep the phrase offline and use a replacement hardware signer when possible. Ledger warns against entering the phrase into an online wallet.
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- Obtain a replacement Ledger device through Ledger or an authorized seller.
- Initialize the replacement as a restoration of an existing wallet, not as an unrelated new wallet.
- Enter the recovery phrase only on the replacement hardware device when the device’s own recovery flow requests it.
- Recreate the required Ledger Wallet accounts and verify that the expected balances and addresses appear.
- After restoration, consider whether the lost device, exposed PIN or missing backup requires additional security action.
If you suspect that anyone has seen or copied the phrase, treat the wallet as compromised. Do not continue to use it for long-term storage while assuming the phrase is private.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical transfer checklist
- Atom was initialized by you, with no pre-completed PIN or phrase.
- The 24 words were generated on Atom, written in order and confirmed on the device.
- The phrase is offline, private and not stored in a photo, file or cloud account.
- The asset, account and network are supported and correctly selected.
- The receive address was checked on Atom’s Secure Screen.
- A first deposit used a small test amount.
- The send address was independently checked before approval.
- The amount, fee and speed choice were reviewed.
- The Secure Screen matched the recipient, asset, amount and network.
- Transaction status and destination were checked before any repeat send.
Common setup and transfer mistakes
Using a supplied recovery phrase
Do not use a phrase printed on a card or provided by a seller. Reset the process and initialize Atom so the Secure Element generates the phrase.
Trusting only the computer screen
The connected screen can be manipulated. For receiving, verify the address on Atom. For sending, approve only the details displayed on Atom’s Secure Screen.
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Network fees are not the deciding factor when depositing. The network must match the Ledger account and the sender’s withdrawal selection.
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Skipping the test transfer
A small first transfer gives you a chance to catch an account or network mismatch before risking the full balance.
Sending again while the first transaction is unresolved
Check the transaction status and destination first. Repeating a withdrawal or send can create a second transaction without fixing the original issue.
What Atom’s security model does—and does not—protect
Atom isolates private-key use in its Secure Element and requires the device to authorize signing. That design helps prevent a connected computer from silently substituting transaction details or extracting the private key. It cannot decide whether the recipient is honest, whether you selected the correct network, whether a website is legitimate or whether you will protect the recovery phrase. Secure operation still depends on checking the device screen and maintaining offline phrase custody.
For current support, feature availability and regional restrictions, rely on the asset and network options shown in Ledger Wallet and Ledger’s current product information. Do not infer availability from the general total of supported assets and chains.
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