Purchasing & setting up a Nano S wallet for Ethereum
A guide for crypto novices on purchasing and setting up a hardware wallet (the “Nano S” from Ledger) without jargon or unnecessary detail
This guide was written by my colleague Matthew Botell, our COO. It is intended to provide a crypto novice with a simple, clear guide. In his words …”I’m a relative novice myself, so you won’t get lost in jargon or unnecessary detail”. It covers:
- Buying your wallet
- Installing the Ledger App
- Getting started
- Your recovery phrase
- Setting up Ethereum
- Getting your address
Where to buy my wallet?
At the moment (May 2019) we recommend buying the Nano S from Ledger. This can be ordered directly from Ledger by following this link https://shop.ledger.com/
Currently, it’s the third item on the page as shown below:
Ok, so I’ve received it in the post, what next?
The box contains three important items:
- The Nano S ledger itself
- A cardboard envelope containing your recovery sheet
- The USB connection cable
Firstly, download the Ledger App onto your computer
This can be done by following this link:
https://shop.ledger.com/pages/ledger-live
and selecting the “Download now” button in the centre of the screen.
Tip — If it doesn’t run (it didn’t with me the first time), try a different browser.
Your computer will ask you to allow this app to make changes to your computer — select “Yes”
The installation will probably take about 10 seconds.
Getting started
· You will now see a menu, select “Initiate a new device”.
· Choose “Ledger Nano S”.
· Now connect your Nano S physically to your computer using the USB connection cable provided at the bottom of your box.
· Open the Nano S by sliding the coloured portion out from the middle of the silver cover. Holding it with the coloured portion to the left, you will see it contains a small screen and on top, two buttons.
Tip — to confirm anything, you need to press both button at once. Otherwise use the left and right buttons to toggle up and down, it’s all very intuitive, once you’ve been told!
· The screen of your Nano S will now prompt you to create an 8-digit pin. Use the left and right buttons to select the first number you want for your pin and then press both together. This fixes the first number and the process repeats until you have your 8-digit pin — write it down and keep it safe.
· You’ll be asked to confirm the pin. Just use the buttons in the same manner.
Your recovery phrase
· Take out the “Recovery sheet” from the cardboard envelope in the box.
· On the back side you will see 1–24 spaces.
· This piece of card and the 24 words you will write on it is extremely important. If you use your Nano S, you can still buy a new one and access your accounts if you have kept the 24 words and their order safe.
· Press both buttons on the Nano S and your first word will appear on screen with a “1” at the top. Write this word in the space “1” on your card.
· Select the right button on your Nano S to see the second word.
· Repeat the process until all 24 words have been written down.
· When finished, press both buttons together.
Confirm your recovery phrase
· Press both buttons together.
· The screen will say “Confirm word #1” and show a word. It won’t be the word you have on your card in place 1, so you need to scroll forward or backwards with the left ( to go backwards ) or right ( to go forwards ) until the word on the screen matches the word you have written in position 1 on your card. To confirm it, press both buttons together.
· Then word number 2 appears on screen and you repeat the process.
Tip — see where the word on screen is in relation to the word you need, to see whether it’s quickest to scroll forwards or backwards.
· Once completed, press both buttons together. You may need to do this more than once.
Now back to your computer screen
A small security check list now appears on your screen.
Did you choose your pin yourself? Answer Yes
Did you save your recovery phrase yourself? Answer yes
Is the ledger device genuine — check now Click on check now
Back to your Nano S screen
Allow ledger manager on your device Press the right button to accept
Back to your computer screen
The screen will now confirm your device is genuine Press continue
The screen will now ask you to enter a password twice.
Tip — Read the rules if it doesn’t accept it, it needs to contain a non-numeric or letter symbol for example.
Your device is now ready!
Now we need to set up Ethereum on your Nano S
· On your computer screen, select “manager” from the menu
· Again, we need to allow ledger manager on your device by clicking the right button on your Nano S when prompted.
· You will now see the below screen.
· Select “Ethereum” and “Install”
· Press “Continue”
· On your Nano S, navigate using your buttons to the Ethereum App (it should be on the screen immediately)
· On your computer screen, press “Continue” and the computer and Nano S will synchronize
Choosing your account name
Your computer screen will now prompt you to name your account.
IMPORTANT — there is a hard to see tick box which you must click on for the account name to take.
My portfolio
On your computer screen, by clicking on “Portfolio” in the menu, you will see a summary of your open position.
Where can I find the address that the wallet has created?
On your computer screen, select “Receive” from the menu.
Select your account name and press continue (maybe more than once)
Your address appears — it’s approximately 60-digits. You can cut and paste it, or use the copy button at the bottom of the screen to copy it to another place.
