Let’s begin by downloading the IOTA wallet.

Visit https://github.com/iotaledger/wallet/releases and download the latest release. (As of the writing of this article [July 8th] is “Mainnet Release: v2.3.0”)

Windows users: Download the .exe file https://github.com/iotaledger/wallet/releases/download/v2.3.0/IOTA.Wallet.Setup.2.3.0.exe

Mac users: Download the .deb file

https://github.com/iotaledger/wallet/releases/download/v2.3.0/IOTA.Wallet-2.3.0.deb

Follow the download wizard to install the appropriate software as listed above. When you open the program, you’ll see the option of running the full node or the light node.

If you don't know the difference between a full node and light node, it's best to start by using the light node. Click on the “light node” option. These instructions will continue down the light node path.

Only advanced users should run a full node. Full nodes must have 24/7 uptime and find + maintain 7-9 healthy neighbors. Visit this section for more details on full node setup.

Now that you’ve selected “light client”, you should be looking at the light wallet on your screen.

Now generate a random 81 character seed using only A-Z and the number 9. It is imperative that your seed be an 81 character random assortment of A-Z and 9. Use one of the options below generate your seed:

https://github.com/eukaryote31/iota-seed-gen

https://knarz.github.io/seedgen/

Windows (PowerShell)

-join ([char[]](65..90+57..57)*100 | Get-Random -Count 81)

Linux

cat /dev/urandom |tr -dc A-Z9|head -c${1:-81}

Mac

cat /dev/urandom |LC_ALL=C tr -dc 'A-Z9' | fold -w 81 | head -n 1

Click for KEEPASS instructions.

Visit this section to learn more about seeds.

Now that you’ve generated and SAVED your seed (Keepass [http://keepass.info/\] is popular with the community for saving seeds. Another option is writing the seed down on a piece of paper and storing it in a safe location. You should refrain from storing your seed in a plain text file on your computer.), you’ll be able to use that seed to login to any IOTA client on any device in the world! Don't ever lose it.

"How safe is my seed?"

Either type, or copy/paste your seed into the “Seed” textbox. It’ll look like:

img

The seed checksum located to the right of the seed (“KBZ” in the picture above) will give you quick verification that your seed has been input correctly. The checksum will be the same every time you enter your seed. Feel free to save or memorize this checksum so that you can verify that your seed is input correctly at one quick glance.

Now click “LOGIN”

You’ve now got access to your IOTA wallet! Remember that as long as you save your seed, you’ll have access to your IOTA balance associated with that seed.