Congratulations on obtaining a Trezor hardware wallet. The very first time you set up your device is the most security-critical moment you will experience. A proper initialization protects your private keys from the outset, ensures your recovery seed is recorded safely, and establishes habits that keep your funds secure over time. This guide walks you through the official Trezor.io/Start flow with detailed steps, practical tips, troubleshooting guidance, and recommended best practices for both beginners and advanced users.
Type Trezor.io/Start directly into your browser or use a bookmark. Do not click setup links from email or social networks to avoid phishing.
Examine the box and seals. The device will display a welcome message when first powered. If anything looks tampered with, stop and contact official support.
Plug in the Trezor using the supplied cable. The page may prompt to install a local connector (Trezor Bridge) — install only from the official source and allow the connection when prompted.
Select “Create new” for a fresh device, or choose “Recover wallet” if you are restoring from an existing seed. For recovery, enter words exactly in order; spelling and positions matter.
Your device will display a 12, 18, or 24-word recovery seed. Write the words in order on the provided card or a secure backup plate. Do not store the seed digitally or photograph it.
The setup will ask for a few random words from your seed to verify you recorded them. Complete this step carefully — it prevents transcription errors.
Choose a PIN that is memorable to you but hard for others to guess. Trezor enforces increasing delays after incorrect entries to slow brute-force attempts.
A passphrase creates a hidden wallet on top of your seed. Use it only if you understand the risk: losing the passphrase means losing access to that hidden wallet.
Install firmware updates only through the official interface. Firmware updates include security fixes and improvements. Follow on-screen guidance exactly.
Create a Bitcoin or Ethereum account in the Suite and send a small test amount. Always verify receive addresses on the device screen before sharing them.
Protecting your recovery seed and keeping your operational procedures disciplined are the single most important activities you will do as a self-custody user. These practices reduce the risk of accidental loss and make theft far more difficult.
Write down the seed neatly in order. Use multiple physical backups in separate, secure locations and consider metal backup plates for fire and water resistance.
Buy only from official stores or authorized resellers. Check tamper-evident seals and verify the device on first boot.
Set a PIN and optionally a passphrase. Do not store passphrases with the seed; treat them as separate secrets.
Keep your host OS and browser up to date. Download Trezor Suite and Bridge only from official sources.
If you ever need to migrate to a new seed or rotate keys, generate a new seed on a secure device, transfer funds with small test amounts first, and update your backups. For very large balances, consider multi-signature arrangements or splitting holdings across multiple seeds and geographically separated backups for redundancy.
Starting your Trezor device correctly is a small time investment that pays lifelong security dividends. Follow the official Trezor.io/Start flow, handle your recovery seed with utmost care, verify everything on-device, and cultivate disciplined habits. With these practices, your hardware wallet will provide a secure, resilient foundation for self-custody.