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

Congratulations on taking a monumental step toward securing your digital assets. By choosing a Trezor hardware wallet, you’ve selected the gold standard in self-custody cryptocurrency security. This guide will walk you through the critical first journey of your device—from unboxing to your first transaction. Remember, the security of your crypto hinges on the care you take during these initial steps. Let’s begin.

Phase 1: Unboxing & Initial Inspection Your Trezor package is more than just a box; it’s your security toolkit. Carefully open it and inventory the contents: the Trezor device itself (a Model T or Safe 3), the USB-C cable, recovery seed card(s), lanyard, and instructional stickers. Immediately inspect the device and its holographic seal for any signs of tampering. This seal is your first line of defense. If it is broken, damaged, or looks suspicious in any way, do not proceed. Contact Trezor support immediately. A pristine seal ensures the device left the factory secure and untouched.

Phase 2: Navigating to the Official Source This is the most critical security step. Never search for "Trezor setup" on a general search engine. To avoid phishing sites, always type trezor.io/start directly into your browser’s address bar or use the official link from the Trezor documentation. Bookmark this page. This ensures you are interacting only with Trezor’s genuine software ecosystem, not a malicious clone designed to steal your funds.

Phase 3: Installing Trezor Suite Trezor.io/start will automatically detect your device model and operating system. It will direct you to download Trezor Suite, the official desktop application (or guide you to use the web version if preferred). Suite is your command center—it’s where you manage your portfolio, conduct transactions, and configure your device. Download and install Suite from this official page only. Once installed, open the application and connect your Trezor device using the provided USB cable.

Phase 4: The Heart of Security: Firmware & Seed Creation Upon first connection, Trezor Suite will check and install the latest firmware. This ensures your device has all current security patches and features. After the firmware is installed, the core ritual begins: generating your recovery seed.

Your Trezor will display a series of 12, 18, or 24 random words on its screen—one at a time. This is your Recovery Seed Phrase. It is the master key to your entire wallet. If your device is lost or damaged, these words alone can restore all your accounts on a new hardware or software wallet.

Write these words down by hand on the provided recovery card, in the exact order shown.

Never, ever digitize them: No photos, no cloud notes, no text files.

Double-check for accuracy: One wrong word can make recovery impossible.

Store them like priceless artifacts: Use a fire/water-resistant safe or a dedicated security solution like a Cryptosteel capsule. Never share this phrase with anyone. Trezor will never ask for it.

Phase 5: The Verification Check (The Dry Run) Trezor doesn’t just trust you wrote the words down; it makes you prove it. The device will then prompt you for a Seed Check. It will ask you to re-enter a random selection of the words from your list (e.g., "Please enter word #7," then "word #13"). This verifies your backup is correct and accessible. Only after you pass this check will the setup proceed. This step is non-negotiable.

Phase 6: Personalizing Your Defenses With your seed securely backed up, you now fortify your device.

Set a PIN: Your Trezor will prompt you to create a PIN code, entered on the device screen (or touchscreen for Model T) using the randomized keypad in Trezor Suite. This prevents physical unauthorized access. Choose a PIN only you know, and ensure it’s not guessable (e.g., not 1234).

Name Your Device: Give your Trezor a unique name (e.g., “Vault-1”). This is helpful if you ever use multiple devices.

Enable Passphrase (Advanced Security): For maximum security, consider activating the Passphrase feature (sometimes called a "25th word"). This is an additional, custom word you memorize, creating a hidden wallet. Without it, even a thief with your seed cannot access the passphrase-protected accounts. Treat it with the same gravity as your seed.

Phase 7: Exploring Your New Crypto Vault You’re now ready. Trezor Suite will synchronize and display your wallet dashboard. Your first addresses are generated. Notice: your coins and tokens are not "on" the device; they are forever on their respective blockchains. Your Trezor securely holds the private keys that prove ownership, allowing only you to sign transactions. It’s a vault for your keys, not a physical coin pouch.

Your First Actions:

Receive: Click "Receive" in Suite. Your Trezor will generate a receiving address. Verify that this address matches exactly on both your Trezor device screen and your computer monitor. This confirms no malware is altering the address. Send a small test transaction to this address to confirm everything works.

Explore: Familiarize yourself with Suite’s features—portfolio tracking, coin-specific accounts, buy/sell/swap functions (where available), and the Security Center.

The Trezor Mantra: Verifying on the Device From this moment forward, let this be your rule: Any critical action—sending coins, changing settings, adding a passphrase—must be physically confirmed on the Trezor’s screen. Your computer may be compromised, but your Trezor’s secure display will always show you the true transaction details. If it doesn’t match, cancel immediately.