Trezor.io/Start

Welcome. This presentation-style guide walks you through securely starting up your hardware device from the moment you open the box to sending your first transaction, plus safety, advanced options, and recovery preparedness.

Dark • Boxed • Presentation • Accessible

Device preview

[YOUR TREZOR DEVICE HERE]

Model, USB-C cable, Quickstart, Recovery card

Quick summary

This document is a careful, step-by-step guide for securely setting up your Trezor hardware wallet. It assumes general technical comfort but walks every step in clear detail: unbox, verify, connect, install, initialize, protect your recovery phrase, and operate safely. It emphasizes offline-first thinking, minimal exposure, and repeatable checklists you can follow when needed.

Who it's for

Owners of hardware devices who value security: from hobbyists holding small amounts to professionals storing high-value assets. If you need to secure crypto long-term, this guide is focused on risk reduction, practical workflows, and auditability.

Navigation tips

Use the left menu to jump between sections. Each section includes "actionable checklists" and "what to watch for" warnings. This is presentation-ready; use the controls at the bottom to step between slides.

Unboxing & Preparation

Start with a clean, private workspace. Avoid public Wi-Fi and cameras. Minimize electronic noise: prefer a laptop with a fresh browser profile or a well-known trusted computer.

Checklist — before you open

- Confirm the device is ordered from an official source.
- Prepare a pen or metal backup tool and paper/steel backup (no photos!).
- Choose a secure location to write your recovery phrase: dry, private, and fireproof if possible.

Inspecting the box

Official devices include tamper-evident seals and packaging elements. Inspect for broken seals or tampering. If suspicious, contact the vendor; do not proceed with a device that looks compromised.

Safety note (short)

A hardware wallet is only as secure as your seed backup and the device's chain of custody. Never enter your recovery seed into a computer or phone, never share it, and never store it as a photo or plaintext file. Use physical storage (paper/metal) in multiple separated locations if necessary.

Accessories

USB cable (match connector type), optional OTG adapters, and a clean browser. A dedicated laptop or offline USB drive can improve security for advanced users.

Accessibility

If you require assistance, it's fine to have a trusted person help — but never reveal your PIN or recovery seed. Supervised assistance is different from revealing secret data.

Connect & Install

Connect your device to a secure computer and navigate to the official start page. Always verify the web address: trezor.io/start. Use HTTPS and check the SSL lock.

Step 1 — Official website

Open a fresh browser window (or private mode) and go to the official start URL. Avoid clicking links from social media or email. Bookmark the official page once verified for later use.

Step 2 — Firmware & Bridge

The start page guides you through installing any required connector or firmware. If prompted to update firmware, do so only after verifying the page and the vendor's instructions. Firmware updates are signed — ensure your device displays signature checks where applicable.

Advanced note

For extra safety, verify the firmware release checksum using official channels. Advanced users should consider using an air-gapped machine to verify firmware signatures.

When to pause

Stop if you see confusing prompts, warnings about incompatible firmware, or if BIOS/OS asks for unusual permissions. Double-check on another device or consult official docs before proceeding.

Device PIN vs Passphrase

During setup you'll create a device PIN for unlocking. Optionally you can enable a passphrase (additional secret) to derive more wallets from the same seed. Passphrases are powerful but also riskier if forgotten; treat them like an extra key.

Initialize & Firmware

Initialization creates the master seed and configures PIN and settings. Take it slow. You control when the seed is revealed for writing — never let a phone or computer see it.

Factory reset / Fresh start

If the device has been previously used, perform a factory reset. Confirm on-device prompts and never proceed if the device behaves unexpectedly.

Generating the seed

The device will generate a sequence of words (BIP39-style) to serve as your recovery phrase. Write each word carefully, in order, and double-check for spelling. Use the supplied recovery card or your own high-quality paper/metal backup.

On-device verification

Many devices show the words on the device screen only. Cross-check on-screen words against what you wrote down. If mismatch occurs, restart the initialization process and generate again.

PIN selection

Choose a PIN that's memorable but not trivial. Avoid obvious patterns (1234, 0000). The device will scramble numbers on-screen in many models to avoid shoulder-surfing attacks — confirm before entering.

Firmware updates

After initialization, install signed firmware updates as recommended. Firmware updates may require device verification prompts — follow them exactly and never bypass checks.

Common mistakes during initialization

Photographing the seed phrase.
Entering the seed into a computer or web form.
Using a phone to store seed words.
Storing the seed next to your computer in plain sight.

Recovery Seed — Deep Dive

The recovery seed is your lifeline. Losing it or exposing it compromises your funds permanently. Secure it like a bank vault key.

What is a seed?

A seed is a human-readable set of words that encodes the private keys for your wallets. Devices typically use BIP39 or similar standards. Anyone with your seed can recreate your wallet — treat it as highly sensitive.

Backup strategies

Single backup: Store in a locked safe or safe deposit box. Multiple backups: Distribute pieces across geographically separated secure locations. Metal backups: Recommended for long-term resilience to fire/water damage.

Shamir/Passphrase options

Some systems support Shamir Secret Sharing or using a user-defined passphrase (25th word). These are advanced: SSS splits the seed into multiple shares that can be recombined. Passphrases effectively create separate wallets from the same seed — powerful but catastrophic if forgotten.

Testing your backup

Test your backups by performing a restore on a spare device or emulator — not on the primary device. This validates the backup is legible and complete without exposing the main wallet to risk.

Disaster planning

Record instructions for heirs/trusted parties about where backups are and how to restore, without revealing secrets. Use lawyer-escrow or dead-man triggers as appropriate to your risk tolerance and legal jurisdiction.

Long-form guidance

The recovery seed's risk profile calls for formality: register who has access, maintain an inventory of seed copies and locations (without storing the actual words), and periodically audit storage conditions. Use non-digital logs: physical ledgers kept with the backups. If possible, distribute custody using multisig or legal structures for very large holdings. A single-person sole-control model requires extreme care: multiple off-site encrypted copies can be used but are complex and risk leakage if keys are weak.

Security — Best Practices

Security is layered. Device controls one layer, your behavior is another. Use both smartly.

Layer 1 — Device hygiene

Always verify device firmware, keep firmware up to date, never share your PIN or seed with anyone, and regularly audit device settings (such as passphrase enabled/disabled).

Layer 2 — Operational security

Phishing: Only use official domains and bookmarks. Social engineering: Do not disclose holdings or seed details to strangers. Physical: Keep your seed offline and in secure storage.

Layer 3 — Redundancy & Recovery

Use multisig for large portfolios. Multisig spreads risk across devices/providers so a single seed compromise won't lose all funds. Maintain a rotation plan for updating device firmware and backup checks every year at minimum.

Threat modeling

Map likely threats: local theft, remote hackers, coercion, natural disasters. For each, decide mitigations such as hidden backups, encrypted shares, or legal protections (trust, will).

Private browsing & ephemeral systems

Consider dedicated OS images, ephemeral Linux live-disks, or freshly restored systems for sensitive operations. While overkill for everyday users, these steps meaningfully reduce attack surface.

Using the Wallet & Sending Transactions

Once set up, practice by sending small amounts. Verify addresses on-device before sending. Understand fees and address types (legacy, segwit, bech32) for your currency.

Receive

Always generate a new receiving address from the device and verify it on-screen. Copy addresses using the official wallet interface and double-check the first and last 6 characters on device display.

Send

When sending, cross-check the network fee, confirm the recipient address on the device, and send a small test amount if it's a new recipient. For high-value sends, use multisig or staged approvals.

Batching & advanced tx

Advanced users may batch transactions to save fees. Be mindful of privacy: large, complex transactions can leak linking information. Coin control features in some wallets give more granular UTXO selection control.

Fees & confirmation

Understand mempool dynamics. Use recommended fee levels for timely confirmation. If a transaction is stuck, specialized tools and RBF (Replace-By-Fee) may help if supported.

Change & address reuse

Avoid address reuse. Many wallets automatically create change addresses; understand how your wallet labels change addresses and keep track of which addresses you control.

Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to resolve them safely.

Device not recognized

Try a different USB cable, port, or computer. Reinstall the official bridge/connector if needed. Avoid unknown third-party drivers.

Missing funds after restore

Ensure you restored the correct seed type (BIP39 vs other formats), correct passphrase (if used), and correct coin derivation path. Use official documentation to select correct import parameters.

Compromised device suspicion

If you suspect tampering or compromise, move funds to a fresh wallet immediately (generate a new device + new seed on a trusted machine) and then update all backups. Contact vendor support and document the incident. Do not re-use the suspect device for secure holding.

Forgotten PIN

Factory reset is required. You will need your recovery seed to restore funds. This is why multiple, tested backups are crucial.

Seed word errors

Double-check spelling and ordering. If you still can't restore, try likely transcription variants; many words are distinct, but human error can occur. If unsuccessful, consult any trusted backup or alternate record you created at setup.

FAQ

Is my seed device-specific?

No. The seed follows standards and can be used to restore wallets on compatible devices or software that supports the same derivation path and standards (with caveats for non-standard options).

Can I store the seed in a password manager?

Strongly discouraged. Password managers and cloud storage increase exposure risk. Prefer offline physical methods or encrypted vaults under extremely strict control.

What if I die?

Prepare a legal plan that references a physical, secured backup location and instructions, but avoid storing secret values in legal documents viewable to the public. Seek estate-planning advice specialized for digital assets.

How often should I update firmware?

Update when official releases include security fixes or improvements. Confirm release authenticity before upgrading. For mission-critical funds, test updates on a non-primary device first.

Are there offline-only workflows?

Yes. Air-gapped signing workflows use an offline device to sign transactions and an online device to broadcast them. These offer maximal exposure reduction but require additional setup effort.

Appendix & Glossary

Glossary — quick terms

BIP39 — mnemonic code standard for seed words.
Seed/Recovery Phrase — the words that restore private keys.
PIN — on-device numeric unlock code.
Passphrase — optional extra secret used with seed to create new wallet derivations.
Multisig — multiple-signature requirement for spending.
Air-gapped — a system not connected to any network, used for secure signing.

Printable checklist

UNBOX: Verify seals, inventory items.
CHECK: Verify firmware & site (trezor.io/start).
INIT: Generate seed ON-DEVICE, write carefully.
PIN: Choose a secure PIN, enable passphrase if desired.
BACKUP: Make at least two physical, independent backups.
TEST: Test restore on a spare device (no funds necessary).
OP: Use small test sends, verify addresses on-device.
MAINTAIN: Firmware updates, backup audits, legal instructions.

Final advisory

Security is never "done." Build procedures, keep logs (without secrets), and periodically audit your practices. For high-value holdings, consult professionals to create a formal custodial/continuity plan tailored to your jurisdiction and risk tolerance.