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

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

Welcome to the official startup guide for your Trezor® hardware wallet. Whether you’re new to hardware wallets or tightening your security, this walkthrough covers every essential step — from unboxing to your first secure transaction.

Overview

Trezor® devices are dedicated, open-source hardware wallets engineered to keep your private keys offline and under your control. This guide explains how to safely initialize your device, create and back up your recovery seed, verify device authenticity, and perform your first receive/send operations with confidence.

What you’ll need

  • Your Trezor® device (Model One or Model T) and the supplied USB cable.
  • A desktop or laptop (or supported mobile device) to run Trezor Suite or visit trezor.io/start.
  • Paper and pen (or a metal backup plate) to record your recovery seed — never store seeds digitally.
  • A private, well-lit space to write and verify your seed phrase.

Step-by-step startup

  1. Verify the source: Only use the official URL trezor.io/start or the Trezor Suite app downloaded from trezor.io.
  2. Connect the device: Plug the Trezor® into your computer. The Suite or start page will detect it and guide you through firmware installation if required.
  3. Install firmware: If prompted, install the official firmware. This step is critical — firmware updates include security fixes and authenticity checks.
  4. Create a new wallet: Choose “Create new wallet.” The device will generate a recovery seed (12–24 words). Write the words down exactly and in order. Do not photograph or save them digitally.
  5. Confirm your seed: The device will ask you to confirm select words to ensure the backup is correct.
  6. Set a PIN: Select a secure PIN on the device. Enter it via the device screen — the host computer only shows placeholders, protecting against keyloggers.
  7. Optional passphrase: For additional isolation, enable a passphrase. Treat this like an extra secret — losing it prevents access to its associated accounts.
Important: Trezor® support will never ask for your recovery seed or PIN. If anyone requests them, treat it as a scam.

First transactions

To receive funds, open Trezor Suite and select Receive. Always verify the receiving address displayed in the Suite matches the address on your Trezor® device screen. Send a small test amount first to confirm everything is correct.

To send funds, create the transaction in Suite, review the amount and fees, then confirm the details on your device before approving. All critical transaction data should be checked on the Trezor® screen — not just on the computer.

Security best practices

  • Store recovery seeds offline — on paper or metal; consider geographically separated copies.
  • Use a hardware wallet for long-term holdings; combine with multi-signature for very large balances.
  • Keep firmware up to date via official channels only.
  • Beware of phishing: rely on bookmarks for trezor.io and the official Suite app.

Lost device & recovery

If your device is lost, stolen, or damaged, your recovery seed restores access on a new Trezor® or compatible wallet. If you used a passphrase, you must supply the identical passphrase during recovery. Without the seed (and passphrase, if used), funds are unrecoverable.

Support & resources

For further help, visit trezor.io/support for FAQs, recovery tools, and official contact channels. Only follow instructions from official Trezor® sources.