Trezor.io/Start — Official Getting Started Guide™

A clear, secure walkthrough to safely set up your Trezor hardware wallet and protect your crypto. Follow these step-by-step instructions and best practices.

Quick overview

Trezor hardware wallets provide an isolated environment for managing private keys. This guide covers unboxing, initial setup, firmware updates, creating a recovery seed, and daily-use tips. Read every step carefully — security depends on it.

100%
Offline keys
12+
Supported coins
5 min
Average setup

What’s in the box

  • • Trezor device (Model T / Model One)
  • • USB cable
  • • Recovery seed cards
  • • Quick start guide
  • • Tamper-evident seal (if provided)

If anything looks tampered with, do not use the device — contact the vendor or Trezor support immediately.

Step-by-step setup

1

Prepare your workspace

Choose a private, well-lit space. Clear your desk of phones or cameras and ensure no one is watching. Keep your recovery cards and a pen nearby.

2

Connect and verify

Connect the Trezor to your computer using the included cable and open trezor.io/start. On-screen prompts will check device authenticity. Only proceed if the device displays the same code as the website.

3

Install firmware

If prompted, install the latest firmware. Firmware updates are signed and verified — always update before creating a seed.

4

Create a recovery seed

The device will generate a 12–24 word recovery seed. Write it down on the supplied recovery cards — do not photograph, copy to cloud, or store digitally. Confirm the words when asked.

5

Set a strong passphrase & PIN

Choose a PIN you can remember but others cannot guess. Optionally enable a passphrase (acts as a 25th seed word). Understand that a lost passphrase cannot be recovered by Trezor.

6

Install wallet software

Use Trezor Suite or a compatible wallet. Connect and verify account balances, send a small test transaction, and confirm addresses on the device screen before sending.

Security best practices

Never share your recovery seed
Support staff will never ask for it. Anyone with the seed has full control of your funds.
Keep firmware updated
Updates patch vulnerabilities and add coin support; verify updates on device.
Use passphrase wisely
A passphrase improves security but increases responsibility. Consider trade-offs before enabling.
Test restore
Perform a test restore on a spare device or emulator to ensure your seed is correct and readable.

Troubleshooting & recovery

Common issues and quick fixes:

  • • Device not recognized — try a different cable/USB port and ensure drivers are installed.
  • • Firmware failed — retry the update; use Trezor's official instructions if problems persist.
  • • Lost device — restore from your recovery seed on a new device immediately and move funds if possible.