Complete Setup Guide
Follow these steps carefully to initialize your device via Trezor.com/start
Unboxing & Verification
Before you even plug in your device, inspect the packaging. Trezor devices come with tamper-evident holographic seals. If these seals appear broken, removed, or tampered with in any way, do not use the device. Contact support immediately.
Inside the box, you should find the device, a USB cable, a lanyard, and recovery seed cards. Ensure all contents are present. This physical verification is the first line of defense in your security journey.
Connecting to Trezor.com/start
Open your web browser and navigate to the official URL. This page will direct you to download the Trezor Suite desktop application. While there is a web version, the desktop application is generally recommended for enhanced security and stability.
Connect your Trezor device to your computer using the provided USB cable. The device screen should light up, displaying the Trezor logo or a welcome message. If the device has pre-loaded firmware or shows a warning, disconnect it and contact support.
Installing Firmware
Your new Trezor device usually ships without firmware installed to ensure you are always using the latest, most secure version. Trezor Suite will detect the device in "Bootloader" mode and prompt you to install the firmware.
Click "Install Firmware" and wait for the process to complete. Do not disconnect the device during this process. Once installed, the device will reboot, and Trezor Suite will verify the authenticity of the firmware signature.
Wallet Creation & The Recovery Seed
This is the most critical step. Select "Create New Wallet". You will be prompted to choose between a Standard backup (12 or 24 words) or a Shamir backup (Model T only).
Security Critical
Your recovery seed is the only way to recover your funds if your device is lost or damaged.
- Write it down on the provided paper cards.
- NEVER take a photo of it.
- NEVER type it into a computer or save it to the cloud.
- NEVER share it with anyone, including support staff.
The device will display a sequence of words. Write them down in the exact order. The device will then ask you to verify the words to ensure you wrote them correctly. This offline generation ensures your keys never touch the internet.
Setting a PIN & Passphrase
PIN Protection: You will be asked to set a PIN code. This protects your device from unauthorized physical access. Choose a strong PIN that is not easily guessable (avoid 1234 or 0000). The layout of the numbers on the device screen changes every time you enter it to prevent keyloggers from tracking your mouse movements.
Passphrase (Advanced): For an extra layer of security, you can enable the Passphrase feature. This acts as a "25th word" to your recovery seed. Note that if you forget this passphrase, your funds in that specific hidden wallet are unrecoverable. It is recommended only for advanced users.
Finalizing & Adding Accounts
Once the setup is complete, you will enter the Trezor Suite dashboard. Here you can enable different cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) by toggling them in the settings.
You can now receive funds by clicking "Receive" and verifying the address on your Trezor device's screen. Always verify the address on the physical device screen before sending any funds; this protects you against clipboard hijacking malware.
Congratulations! You have successfully navigated Trezor.com/start and secured your digital financial future.