Trezor.io/Start™ | Starting Up Your Device™ | Trezor™

A clear, color-coded, and accessible presentation-style guide designed to walk you through powering up, securing, and using your Trezor hardware wallet. This single-file HTML is formatted for screen presentation and printing if needed.

Introduction

Welcome to Trezor

Congratulations on choosing Trezor. This presentation-style guide is intended for first-time setup, best security practices, and common troubleshooting. It’s written in plain language and structured so you can present each section as a slide during an onboarding session.

What you’ll learn

  • Unboxing and hardware overview
  • First-time setup (firmware, PIN, seed)
  • Restoration and backup strategies
  • Common pitfalls and troubleshooting
  • Security best practices and advanced features

Who this is for

This guide suits new Trezor owners, support agents, meetup hosts demonstrating hardware wallets, and security-conscious individuals who prefer a carefully documented setup flow.

Step 1

Unboxing & Device Overview

Carefully open the box and confirm that the security seal is intact. Inside you'll typically find the device, a USB cable, recovery seed cards or sheets, and quick-start documentation. Verify the model printed on the package matches what you expect.

Hardware tour

  • Screen: Small but readable; displays transaction details during use.
  • Buttons: Used to confirm or cancel actions directly on the device.
  • USB port: Connects to your computer or phone for setup and use.
Important: Never purchase a second-hand hardware wallet unless you fully trust the seller. A used device may be compromised.
Step 2

Preparation & Safety Checks

Before powering on, prepare a clean, private workspace and ensure your computer is free of untrusted individuals and public networks. Use a personal device you control, with up-to-date system and browser software.

Checklist

  1. Stable power and internet connection
  2. Latest browser version (preferably Chrome, Brave, or Firefox)
  3. Official Trezor website bookmarked: trezor.io/start
  4. Recovery seed card and pen (the metal backup is encouraged if you have one)

Tip: Always access Trezor setup pages via the official domain and avoid clicking links from an email or chat unless you have verified them.

Step 3

First-Time Setup (Power On & Firmware)

Connect your Trezor to the computer. The device will display a prompt to start the setup. Follow on-screen instructions on the device itself — never blindly accept actions initiated only by the computer.

Firmware

During the first connection you may be prompted to install or update firmware. This is normal. Use only firmware offered by the official interface. Verifying firmware signatures is handled by the official app and the device.

On-device confirmations

When asked to confirm operations, use the Trezor buttons. The device is the single source of truth for transaction details; the computer is a convenience layer only.

Step 4

Setting a PIN

After firmware installation, set a secure PIN on the device. PINs are entered by tapping positions on the device — the mapping between numbers and positions is randomized each time to prevent shoulder-surfing and keyloggers on the host.

Best practices for PINs

  • Use a PIN at least 6 digits long if possible; longer is better.
  • Do not write your PIN on the recovery card or store it digitally.
  • Consider a PIN that contains non-repeating positions — avoid simple patterns.
Recovery seed is the backup: The PIN protects local access but the recovery seed is the ultimate backup to restore funds to another device if the Trezor is lost.
Step 5

Generating & Storing Your Recovery Seed

The recovery seed (sometimes called seed phrase or mnemonic) is a human-readable list of words generated by your device. It is the most critical element of recovery — anyone with access to it can control your funds.

How the seed is generated

The device generates the seed offline in its secure element. Record the words exactly and in order on the supplied recovery card. Never take a photo of the seed or type it on a computer or phone.

Storage recommendations

  • Store at least two copies in geographically separate, secure locations.
  • Consider using a steel backup plate for long-term durability.
  • Do not store the seed digitally (no photos, no cloud drives).
Good practice: Use an offline, tamper-evident envelope for long-term storage and inform a trusted executor (not via email) about the recovery plan for legacy access.
Step 6

Verify Your Backup

Use the device’s built-in verification tool to confirm that the recorded seed matches the seed stored in the device. This prevents human transcription errors which are surprisingly common.

Verification steps

  1. Follow the on-device prompt to confirm words at selected positions.
  2. Do not reveal the seed to anyone during verification.
  3. Only finalize verification once you are confident the copy is correct.
Restoration

Restoring from a Seed

If you need to restore your wallet to a new device, select the restore option during setup and enter your recovery phrase exactly as recorded. Restoring on a new device will recreate the same set of addresses and access to funds.

When to restore

  • Device lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair
  • Upgrading to a newer model
  • Recovery testing when migrating securely
Warning: Never enter the recovery seed on a computer or phone. Only use the device’s on-screen interface for seed entry.
Using Your Trezor

Day-to-day Usage

Use Trezor in combination with a trusted host application or web interface to manage accounts and initiate transactions. Always review the transaction details on the Trezor screen and confirm with the physical buttons.

Common flows

  • Receive: Share your address after checking it on the device.
  • Send: Initiate from your host and verify amounts and addresses on-device.
  • Sign messages and confirmations for integrations that support it.
Security

Security Model & Best Practices

Trezor is designed with a security-first approach: the private keys never leave the device. Combine hardware security with sensible physical and operational security to protect access.

Operational security (OPSEC)

  • Use strong, unique passphrases in addition to the device seed for an extra security layer (optional, advanced).
  • Keep firmware updated to benefit from security fixes.
  • Use separate accounts for different purposes (savings vs. spending).

Threat model highlights

Threats include : physical theft, social engineering, host compromise, and human error. Trezor mitigates many remote threats by keeping private keys offline, but it cannot prevent a user from voluntarily revealing their seed.

Advanced

Advanced Features & Integrations

Trezor supports a number of advanced workflows: passphrase protection (BIP39 passphrase), multisignature via compatible software, and integration with third-party wallets and DeFi tools. These features are powerful but require careful understanding before use.

Passphrase (hidden wallet)

A passphrase adds a word (or phrase) to your seed to create a different wallet. It is functionally a 25th word. If used incorrectly, you might permanently lose access, so document the approach and keep the passphrases secure.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Resolutions

Device not detected

Try a different cable and USB port. Avoid USB hubs during setup; connect directly to your machine. Make sure the device is not physically damaged.

Forgotten PIN

If you forget the PIN, you must perform a device wipe and restore from the seed. This ensures the seed remains the single source of recovery.

Seed mismatch or transcription error

Use the verify backup tool. If mismatch persists, consider generating a new device and moving funds after securing a fresh seed.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Trezor with mobile?

Yes — many mobile phones support OTG connections or Bluetooth-capable bridges depending on the model and third-party integration. Always consult official documentation for model-specific instructions.

Is my seed absolutely private?

The seed is as private as you make it. Avoid exposures like photos, cloud backups, or text files. Physical attackers with access to your seed can take funds regardless of any PIN set on the device.

Glossary

Key Terms

Seed / Recovery phrase
A list of words that encodes the private keys for your wallet.
Firmware
The low-level software on the Trezor that controls device behavior.
Passphrase
An optional extra word or phrase that modifies the seed to create a distinct wallet.
Quick Checklist

One-page Checklist for Immediate Actions

  • Confirm packaging integrity
  • Connect device and update firmware if prompted
  • Set a secure PIN
  • Write down and verify your recovery seed
  • Store backups in secure locations
Appendix

Example Recovery Card Layout & Sample Notes

The recovery card should contain space for the full 12/24/24+ words. Leave additional fields to note the date of creation, device model, and whether a passphrase is used (do not write the passphrase itself on the card).

// Example layout (do not copy real seeds into shared files)
1: ________   2: ________   3: ________   4: ________
5: ________   6: ________   7: ________   8: ________
9: ________ 10: ________ 11: ________ 12: ________
Wrap-up

Final Thoughts

Hardware wallets like Trezor greatly reduce the risk of remote theft by keeping keys offline. Security is a combination of strong device hygiene, thoughtful backup strategies, and cautious online behavior. With these practices, you can significantly improve the safety of your crypto holdings.

Contact & support

For assistance, visit trezor.io/support or reach out to authorized community support channels.