Treat your Ledger recovery phrase as exposed. Anyone who has it can control the accounts derived from it, and changing your Ledger PIN will not make that phrase secret again. Do not enter it again anywhere—not in a purported Ledger Support page, an app, a recovery tool, or on a computer. First move any assets that remain to accounts you control that are not derived from the exposed phrase; then retire the old accounts and set up a new phrase.
1. Move any remaining assets immediately
Use a destination you control that is independent of the exposed phrase. Ledger lists an exchange account, a software wallet, or an account derived from a different recovery phrase as examples, but does not rank them or identify one as safest for everyone. Choose a destination you can verify and that supports the assets and networks you need.
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When moving tokens, leave enough of the network’s native asset in the old account to pay transaction fees. Ledger specifically gives ETH and BNB as examples of native assets that may be needed for fees. Its instructions do not provide chain-by-chain transfer steps, so check the requirements for the relevant network and token before sending. Verify the destination address and network carefully.
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Ledger’s official instructions do not promise recovery of crypto an attacker has already transferred. A device reset or a support contact cannot reverse an on-chain transfer.
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2. Retire the emptied accounts
Once the assets have been moved, remove or rename the old accounts so you are less likely to send future funds to addresses controlled by the exposed phrase. If you need a record of past activity, export the transaction history before removing accounts.
3. Reset the Ledger device and create a new phrase
After protecting the assets still under your control, reset the device. Ledger says a reset removes the private keys, apps, and settings stored on the device. It does not move funds or make an exposed phrase safe: assets left in accounts derived from that phrase remain at risk.
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Update the device’s operating system, generate a new recovery phrase, and create new accounts derived from that new phrase. Keep the new phrase secret and offline. Then transfer your assets from the temporary destinations into the new accounts, checking the network and destination details for each transfer.
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Never type the new phrase into Ledger Wallet, another software application, a website, or a computer. A page or message claiming to be Ledger Support does not make it safe to share your phrase. Ledger’s guide suggests considering a phrase-storage solution for keeping the replacement phrase safe; it does not endorse a particular brand or model.
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- Connect effortlessly with Ledger Wallet: pair your secure Ledger signer with the all in one Ledger Wallet crypto app to manage thousands of digital assets across multiple devices and accounts with Ledger Sync from a single, secure dashboard.
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- This is what security feels like: Ledger touchscreen signers all come with a private, offline, PIN-protected backup, Ledger Recovery Key, to never lose access to your assets.
Why a fake site puts the phrase—not just the device—at risk
A recovery phrase can give someone control over the accounts derived from it without having your Ledger device or PIN. If you typed the phrase into a phishing site, assume it has been copied. Changing the device PIN only changes access to that device; it does not invalidate the exposed phrase or protect funds still controlled by it.
For the official sequence and Ledger’s guidance, see Ledger Support’s article on changing a recovery phrase and creating new accounts, updated August 28, 2026. It does not compare the security or suitability of temporary destinations, give chain-specific transfer instructions, or guarantee recovery of funds already taken.
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