Trezor.io/Start® — Starting Up Your Device

Welcome — what this guide covers

Congratulations on choosing a Trezor hardware wallet. Trezor devices are designed to give you secure, private control over your cryptocurrency by keeping private keys isolated on the device. This guide covers everything you need to start up your Trezor: unboxing checks, secure initialization, generating and protecting your recovery seed, using the Trezor Suite app, sending and receiving funds, everyday safety habits, and advanced custody options for larger balances. Read fully before starting — careful preparation will save you time and reduce risk.

Before you start — checklist

Buy from an official channel or authorized reseller — avoid second-hand units for first-time seed creation.
Use a secure computer with an updated OS and browser — avoid public or compromised machines.
Have a pen and the supplied recovery card (or a metal backup) ready — plan where you will store backups offline.
Read the entire initialization section before powering up the device.

Unboxing and inspection

Inspect the packaging and tamper seals carefully. Trezor ships devices with tamper-evident materials — if anything looks altered, contact support and do not initialize the device. Confirm the accessory contents (cable, recovery card, quick start guide) match what Trezor lists for your model.

Initialize securely — step-by-step overview

Create vs Restore: On first use, you'll choose to Create a new wallet (generate a fresh recovery seed) or Restore (enter an existing seed). For a new user, always choose Create.
Connect & update: Connect the Trezor to your computer and open Trezor Suite (official app). If prompted, update the device firmware only through the official flow — firmware updates are cryptographically signed by Trezor.
Generate seed on the device: Let the Trezor generate your recovery seed on the device screen. Never accept a seed from another source or type it into a computer.
Write it down: Manually transcribe the words onto the supplied recovery card or onto a secure medium. Double-check spelling and word order carefully; the seed's order matters.
Confirm & test: The device will ask you to confirm several words to ensure the seed was recorded correctly. After setup, consider performing a test restore on a spare device (or a Trezor emulator) using the written seed to verify recoverability.

Important: Never store your recovery seed in photos, text files, cloud backups, or email. Treat the seed as the ultimate key: anyone with it can control your funds.

Choosing a PIN and optional passphrase

Choose a PIN on the device — longer and less obvious PINs are better but balance memorability. Do not store the PIN with your recovery seed. Trezor also offers an optional passphrase (a secret word or phrase that acts as an additional encryption layer). A passphrase creates a hidden wallet: powerful for privacy and plausible deniability but dangerous if forgotten. If you use a passphrase, document your recovery plan carefully — the passphrase is not stored by Trezor.

Using Trezor Suite — basics

Trezor Suite is the official desktop/web interface that connects to your device. Use it to add accounts, check balances, and craft transactions. Always ensure you are at the official Trezor domain and that you're running the latest Suite version. When receiving funds, generate the receiving address on your Trezor and verify the address shown on the device screen matches the address in Suite before sharing it.

Sending funds — verify on device

When you create a transaction, Trezor will display the destination address, amount, and fee on the device screen. Read these details carefully and confirm them on the device — this is the line of defence against host malware that might attempt to alter addresses. For smart-contract transactions, review the contract and, if unsure, do a small test transfer first.

Backup strategies — durability and redundancy

Paper degrades. For long-term durability, invest in a metal backup plate or capsule that resists fire and water. Keep at least two separate backups in geographically distinct, secure locations (for example, a home safe and a bank safety deposit box). For very large holdings, consider secret sharing schemes (e.g., Shamir) or multi-signature setups so no single backup can recover the full wallet.

Troubleshooting common scenarios

If the device is not detected, try a different USB cable or port and ensure the device is unlocked. If Suite won't connect, restart your browser or app and check that the OS has granted necessary permissions. If a firmware update fails, follow the official Trezor recovery instructions — do not attempt unofficial fixes or third-party firmware.

Seed compromise: If you suspect your recovery seed is exposed (someone saw it, a cloud backup leaked, a photo was taken), assume full compromise. Create a new wallet on a new device and transfer funds immediately. Do not reuse the old seed.

Advanced security: multi-sig & air-gapped signing

For institutional use or very large sums, multi-signature wallets distribute signing authority across multiple devices and people, reducing single-point risk. Air-gapped signing (keeping one signing device offline and transferring unsigned/signed transactions via QR or SD card) further hardens custody. Use vendor-diverse hardware for cosigners if possible to avoid single-vendor vulnerabilities.

Everyday habits for long-term security

Keep firmware and Trezor Suite up to date via official channels.
Use a dedicated machine for high-value operations where practical.
Verify addresses on the device for every transaction — make it a habit.
Limit the number of people who know where backups are stored.
Document a clear inheritance or succession plan for your crypto with legal counsel if necessary.

Short FAQ

Can Trezor be hacked remotely?: Remote extraction of keys from a Trezor device is extremely unlikely because private keys never leave the secure element. Most real-world losses happen through compromised backups, supply chain attacks, or social-engineering scams.
Is the recovery seed the same as a password?: No. The recovery seed is a list of words that reconstruct your private keys. Treat it like a physical master key — store it offline and protect it like you would a bank vault key.
What if I forget my PIN?: If you forget your PIN, you can still recover funds using your recovery seed on another Trezor or compatible wallet. The PIN only protects access to the device; it does not affect the seed’s ability to restore funds.

Final words — security is a practice

A Trezor hardware wallet is a strong security tool, but it only protects what you protect around it. Prioritize trusted purchasing, seed durability, on-device verification of transactions, regular firmware updates, and thoughtful backup and recovery planning. If you build these habits into your routine, you’ll turn a secure device into a resilient custody system that stands up to the most common threats.