Trezor.io/Start® | Starting Up Your Device | Trezor®

Overview

Welcome to Trezor.io/start. A hardware wallet is the strongest practical way to protect your private keys. This guide gives clear, step-by-step instructions to set up your Trezor device for the first time, covering everything from checking the package seal to creating a recovery seed and installing the official software. Read each step carefully — security is cumulative and small details matter.

What you need before you start

• A computer (Windows, macOS, Linux) or supported Android device with a compatible cable.
• Your sealed Trezor box — ensure the tamper-evident seals are intact.
• An up-to-date web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) or the Trezor Suite app downloaded from the official site.
• A secure, private place to write down and store your recovery phrase. Do not store the recovery phrase digitally.

Step 1 — Verify package and device authenticity

Before connecting the device, inspect the packaging. Official Trezor hardware is shipped with tamper-evident seals and printed safety information. If anything looks tampered with, contact Trezor support immediately and do not proceed. Authenticity checks help prevent supply-chain attacks.

Step 2 — Connect to Trezor Suite or Trezor web start

Visit Trezor.io/start or open the Trezor Suite desktop app. Follow on-screen instructions to download firmware and connect the device. The official site will guide you through driver installation if required. Always use the official Trezor URLs — avoid third-party mirrors.

Step 3 — Initialize your device and create a PIN

When prompted, choose Create a new wallet. Trezor will guide you through setting a PIN. A PIN protects the device even if stolen; choose a PIN you can remember but that is not trivially guessable. Do not reuse your online account passwords as your device PIN.

Step 4 — Write down your recovery seed (seed phrase)

The device will display a sequence of 12, 18, or 24 words — your recovery seed. Write the words down in order on paper or a metal backup and store it in a safe location. This seed is the master key to your funds — anyone with access to it can restore your wallet. Do not photograph, screenshot, or copy the seed into cloud storage.

Step 5 — Confirm your recovery seed

Trezor will ask you to confirm several words from the phrase to ensure you recorded it correctly. Confirm precisely in the requested order. This redundancy prevents accidental loss of access due to transcription errors.

Step 6 — Update device firmware (if required)

After initial setup, Trezor Suite may prompt you to install the latest firmware. Firmware updates can include important security fixes and feature updates. Only install firmware that is offered through the official Trezor Suite or the official web start flow. Never accept firmware from unverified sources.

Security best practices

Beyond setup, apply these long-term habits:

• Keep your recovery seed offline in at least two geographically separated secure places.
• Enable passphrase support only if you fully understand how it works. A passphrase acts as an extra word added to your seed and can create hidden wallets; losing the passphrase means losing access permanently.
• Beware of phishing: check URLs carefully and never enter your recovery phrase into any website or app.
• Regularly update Trezor Suite and firmware when official updates are available.
• Use additional security layers such as multi-signature wallets if you manage large holdings.

Troubleshooting common issues

If the device isn’t recognized, try different USB ports and cables, restart your computer, and ensure your browser or Suite app is up to date. If a firmware update fails, follow the recovery steps in the official documentation — do not attempt experimental fixes offered by unknown sources. If you suspect compromise, move any remaining funds to a new device after creating a fresh seed on a verified device.

Using Trezor with popular wallets and services

Trezor integrates with many wallets and services. The primary recommended interface is Trezor Suite, which supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many ERC-20 tokens, plus advanced features such as coin control and transaction previews. For specific dapps or third-party wallets, confirm integration details on the official compatibility pages before connecting.

Why hardware wallets matter

Software wallets on connected devices are vulnerable to malware and remote compromise. Hardware wallets store private keys offline, signing transactions on the device so the private key never leaves the secure hardware. This reduces the attack surface and is the reason security-conscious users prefer hardware wallets for long-term storage.

Record of ownership and best practices for transfer

If you transfer ownership of a device, factory-reset it and generate a new seed on the new owner's device. Never hand over a device still configured with your wallet and seed. For inheritance planning, document recovery instructions and the secure location of the seed with trusted custodians or legal arrangements that preserve confidentiality.

Final checklist

• Package authenticity verified.
• Device PIN configured.
• Recovery seed written and verified.
• Firmware updated via official Suite or start flow.
• Secure backup plan documented.

Important: The instructions on this page should be combined with the latest guidance from the official Trezor documentation. If any detail here conflicts with the official site, follow the official site.