Trezor.io/start — Get Started with Your Trezor Device

Welcome to the world of self-custody. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps to initialize your new Trezor hardware wallet securely. Remember: you are your own bank. Security and attention to detail are paramount.

Start Setup Security Checklist

CRITICAL WARNING: Never Share Your Seed

Your 12 or 24-word Recovery Seed is the master key to your crypto assets. Anyone who obtains this phrase can steal your funds. NEVER:

Type it on a computer or phone.
Take a photo or screenshot of it.
Store it in the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
Tell anyone what it is, including us. We will never ask for it.

The only time you will enter your seed is directly into your Trezor device if you need to perform a full recovery.

Step 1: Unboxing and Physical Inspection

The first step is a physical security check to ensure your device has not been tampered with during shipping. This process is crucial because a compromised device could compromise your security before you even begin.

1.1 Inspect the Packaging Seals

Trezor uses specialized tamper-evident seals. For the Trezor Model One, inspect the holographic seal over the USB port. This seal should be perfectly intact, showing no signs of being peeled, cut, or damaged. For the Trezor Model T, the packaging itself uses a strong magnetic seal and a unique holographic sticker that is designed to tear if opened. If any seal is broken, compromised, or looks like it has been replaced, DO NOT USE THE DEVICE. Contact Trezor support immediately and provide photos of the compromised packaging.

1.2 Check the Hardware

Confirm that the device itself is pristine. Look for any scuffs, scratches, or signs of previous use. Ensure the screen (if applicable) is clear and the USB port is clean. Your Trezor device is delivered blank—it contains no pre-installed firmware. This is a key security feature. If your device appears to have a pre-installed seed or PIN, it is a counterfeit or compromised unit.

*Word Count Check: Approximately 250 words*

Step 2: Connecting the Device and Installing Trezor Suite

2.1 Initial Connection

Take the provided USB cable and connect your Trezor device to your computer.
Your device screen will typically display a message like "Go to trezor.io/start" or "Welcome."
Open your web browser and navigate directly to suite.trezor.io. This is the official web interface.
While the web interface is functional, Trezor strongly recommends downloading the desktop application, Trezor Suite.

2.2 Downloading Trezor Suite

The Trezor Suite application provides a more secure and reliable environment for managing your cryptocurrency. Unlike the web version, the desktop application is less vulnerable to phishing attacks or malicious browser extensions.

Go to the official Trezor website and download the application for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Always verify that you are downloading from the correct, secure URL and that the installation file size matches the official information provided on the Trezor site. Once downloaded, install the software and launch it. The Suite will automatically detect your connected Trezor device.

2.3 Initializing Firmware

Since your device is new and blank, Trezor Suite will prompt you to install the latest official firmware. This is a critical security step. The Suite will verify the firmware signature cryptographically to ensure it is authentic and has been released by SatoshiLabs (Trezor's parent company). Always allow the Suite to install the recommended, latest version. Do not install firmware from any other source.

*Word Count Check: Approximately 450 words total*

Step 3: Creating Your New Wallet and Generating the Recovery Seed

When prompted by Trezor Suite, choose the option to **"Create New Wallet."** This process generates your unique, irreversible Recovery Seed (or "seed phrase"). This seed is the single most important piece of information for securing your funds.

3.1 Understanding the Recovery Seed (The Master Key)

Your Recovery Seed is a sequence of 12, 18, or 24 random English words (Trezor Model T defaults to 12 words, Model One can use 24). These words conform to the BIP-39 standard, which means they are pulled from a pre-defined list of 2048 words. The combination of these words acts as the mathematical key to all your private keys, and therefore, all your cryptocurrency holdings. If your physical Trezor device is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can use this seed phrase on any compatible wallet (another Trezor, Ledger, etc.) to restore access to your funds.

3.2 The Secure Display Process

The seed words will be displayed **ONLY** on the screen of your physical Trezor device. They will **NEVER** appear on your computer screen. This is a fundamental security feature designed to prevent keyloggers and screen-capture malware from stealing your seed.

Write Down: Use the provided recovery seed card and a pen to transcribe the words onto the card.
Double-Check: After writing down all the words, immediately re-read them carefully against the Trezor screen. Pay close attention to spelling and the numerical order of each word. Errors in transcription are a leading cause of loss.
Security Rule: You must create a minimum of two copies and store them in geographically separate, secure locations (e.g., a home safe and a bank vault/deposit box).
Longevity: Consider moving your seed phrase from paper to a more robust, long-term storage solution like a stamped metal plate, which is resistant to fire and water damage.

Once you confirm to Trezor Suite that you have safely written down the words, the device will proceed to the confirmation step. Do not proceed until you are 100% certain your seed is recorded correctly and stored securely.

*Word Count Check: Approximately 850 words total*

Step 4: Confirming the Recovery Seed and Setting the PIN

4.1 Seed Confirmation (Verification)

To ensure you wrote down the seed correctly, Trezor Suite will ask you to confirm a few specific words (e.g., "What is word number 5?"). You will enter these words by clicking the corresponding buttons on your computer screen. However, you will look at the **randomized matrix** displayed on your physical Trezor device and compare it to the fixed 3x3 grid on the computer screen. This process verifies your memory without risking malware interception of the seed itself.

4.2 Setting the PIN

The PIN (Personal Identification Number) is a crucial secondary layer of protection. It prevents unauthorized access to your Trezor device if the physical device falls into the wrong hands.

Randomized PIN Entry: Similar to the seed confirmation, the number pad on your computer screen is constantly randomized. You will look at your Trezor's physical screen to see the layout of the numbers (which location corresponds to 1, 2, 3, etc.) and then click the corresponding *position* on the computer screen's grid.
PIN Length: Choose a PIN of 4 to 9 digits. The longer the PIN, the stronger the protection. We recommend 6 digits or more.
Exponential Delay: If an unauthorized person attempts to guess your PIN, the device introduces an exponentially increasing time delay between attempts, making brute-force attacks infeasible.

After setting and confirming your PIN, your device is now initialized, secured with firmware, and backed up with your recovery seed. You are ready to start using it.

*Word Count Check: Approximately 1100 words total*

Step 5: Receiving and Managing Cryptocurrency

5.1 Generating Your First Address

Within the Trezor Suite, navigate to the desired cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) and select the Receive tab. The Suite will generate a new, unique deposit address for that asset.

5.2 Address Verification (Mandatory Security Check)

Before copying and using the address, the most crucial step is to **verify the address on your Trezor's physical screen.** The Suite will automatically prompt the device to display the address. You must manually compare the address displayed on your computer screen to the one on the Trezor screen, character by character (or at least the first and last few characters). This is the final check against potential malware that could try to swap the genuine address for an attacker's address on your computer.

5.3 Making a Small Test Transaction

It is highly recommended to send a very small, minimal amount of cryptocurrency (a "dust" amount) to your newly generated address first. Wait for this transaction to confirm on the blockchain and ensure the balance appears correctly in your Trezor Suite. Once confirmed, you can be confident that your setup is correct and safe for larger transfers.

*Word Count Check: Approximately 1300 words total*

Final Security Checklist: Stay Vigilant

Seed Storage: Is your Recovery Seed written down and stored in at least two highly secure, separate locations (e.g., a home safe and an offsite location)?
No Digital Copies: Are you absolutely certain you have no digital copies (photo, cloud file, email) of your Recovery Seed?
Address Verification: Do you **always** verify the recipient address on the physical Trezor screen for **every** transaction (both sending and receiving)?
Software Source: Are you only using the official Trezor Suite desktop application or the verified web interface suite.trezor.io?
Phishing Awareness: Do you understand that no legitimate crypto service, exchange, or wallet company will ever ask you for your Recovery Seed?