trezor.io/Start® | Starting™ Up Your Device
Official first-boot walkthrough for Trezór® hardware wallets

Starting up your Trezór® device — step-by-step

Welcome to the official Trezor Start guide. This page walks you through unboxing, verifying authenticity, initializing your device, creating or restoring a wallet, and securing your recovery seed. Follow each step carefully to ensure your crypto remains under your control.

Unboxing & inspection

When your device arrives, confirm tamper-evident seals are intact and that packaging matches the images on the official shop. Only purchase Trezor hardware from authorized sellers to avoid counterfeit risks. Inspect the device for physical damage and verify the model label (Trezor Model T or One).

Power-up & initial verification

Power on the device and connect it using the included USB cable. On first boot, the device will show a welcome screen and a fingerprint or serial that you can cross-check with the packaging and the official Start guide. Do not proceed if anything looks suspicious — contact support.

Open Trezor Suite and follow prompts

Open Trezor Suite (desktop or web). The Suite will detect the device and guide you through firmware verification and setup. Do not use third-party installers — always download Suite from the official site.

Create a new wallet or recover an existing one

You will be offered two choices: create a new wallet (generate a fresh recovery seed) or recover an existing wallet using your seed phrase. If creating new, the device will generate a recovery seed and display it on the device screen — write it down exactly, in order, and store it offline. If restoring, follow the Suite’s recovery flow and enter the seed using the device’s secure input (not the host keyboard).

About the recovery seed

Your recovery seed (usually 12 or 24 words) is the master key to your funds. Write it on the supplied recovery card or use a metal backup plate for durability. Never photograph, store in cloud services, or share your seed. Understand the difference between seeds and passphrases; a passphrase can create a hidden wallet but if forgotten it becomes unrecoverable.

Set a device PIN

Choose a PIN you can remember but that’s not easily guessable. The PIN protects the device when connected to untrusted hosts and is entered on the device itself — the host never learns the PIN. A strong PIN combined with a secure seed provides layered security.

Firmware updates

After setup, check for firmware updates inside Suite. Firmware updates are cryptographically signed by Trezor and may include security hardening and new features. Only accept updates shown in the official Suite UI from trezor.io/firmware.

Test a small transaction

Before transferring large amounts, send a small test deposit to the generated receiving address and verify the received funds. Confirm the receive address on your Trezor device screen — this prevents host-side address manipulation attacks.

Advanced protection: passphrase & Shamir

For higher security, enable a passphrase (creating a hidden wallet) or consider Shamir Backup (if supported) to split your recovery into shares. These options increase protection but also require careful management — losing parts of a Shamir backup or forgetting a passphrase can lead to permanent loss.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Do not enter your recovery seed into any website, chat, or email.
  • Avoid taking pictures of your seed or storing it in digital notes.
  • Do not buy second-hand devices without wiping and verifying thoroughly.
  • Beware of phishing sites — always check the URL before connecting.

Troubleshooting tips

If the device is not recognized, try a different USB cable or port, disable aggressive browser extensions, and ensure you have the latest Trezor Bridge installed for desktop/web connections. For persistent issues consult support or the community forums linked below.

Security checklist

  1. Buy device from an authorized seller.
  2. Verify tamper-evident packaging on arrival.
  3. Set a PIN and record your recovery seed offline.
  4. Confirm addresses on-device before signing.
  5. Keep firmware, OS, and Suite up-to-date.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can I restore my seed on another brand of wallet?
A: Generally, yes if the standards match (BIP39/BIP44/BIP32). Check compatibility before restoring. For highest safety, restore on another verified hardware device or official software that supports your seed format.

Q: Is the PIN stored on the device?
A: The PIN is processed by the device and not revealed to the host — it protects the device and the seed itself.

10 essential links

  1. trezor.io/Start®
  2. Trezor Suite®
  3. Trezor Bridge
  4. Firmware
  5. Buy Official
  6. Support
  7. Developer Guide
  8. FAQ
  9. Trezor Blog
  10. GitHub

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