Trezor.io/Start® — Starting Up Your Device | Trezor®

Quick checklist before you begin

• Do you have the physical device, original USB cable, and packaging?
• Use a trusted personal computer (avoid public machines) with an up-to-date browser.
• Have a safe place to write and store your recovery seed (paper and/or metal backup).
• Go to trezor.io/start for official downloads and instructions — avoid third-party links.

Security first: starting on a secure, private machine and using official downloads reduces the risk of supply-chain or phishing attacks.

Unboxing & physical inspection

1. Inspect the outer packaging for tamper evidence. Trezor ships with clear tamper indicators; if anything appears opened or altered, contact support immediately.
2. Inside the box you should find the hardware device, USB cable, user guide, and recovery card. Verify accessories match what's listed in the box contents.
3. Registering devices: some users prefer to register serial numbers in personal inventories — this can be useful for support or provenance checks.

Download Trezor Suite from Trezor.io/Start

Use trezor.io/start to access the official web Suite or desktop installers. The Suite provides the recommended user experience for device setup and management.

1. Open a secure browser and navigate to trezor.io/start. We recommend typing the URL directly or using a trusted bookmark.
2. Choose your device model (Trezor Model T or Trezor One) and platform (desktop or web).
3. Download the desktop installer for your OS if you prefer local applications; otherwise use the web Suite for convenience.
4. Advanced users: verify checksums or signatures if Trezor publishes them for additional assurance.

Avoid installers or links provided in unsolicited emails or search results that point to unknown domains — phishing is common in the crypto space.

Install & run Trezor Suite

1. Run the downloaded installer and follow on-screen instructions. Grant permissions only if you recognize the installer.
2. On macOS, you might need to approve the app in System Preferences → Security & Privacy post-installation.
3. Open Trezor Suite and select Create new wallet or Recover wallet depending on whether you have a previous seed.

Device initialization (on-device)

Important: Initialization actions (PIN selection and seed generation) are performed on the Trezor device itself to minimize exposure of sensitive secrets to your computer.

1. Connect the Trezor device to your computer using the included USB cable. If using a touchscreen model, follow on-device prompts; for button-based models, use the buttons to navigate.
2. In Trezor Suite choose Create new device. The Suite will guide you and display prompts to confirm actions — always verify what appears on the device screen.
3. Set a PIN on the device. Choose a non-trivial PIN and memorize it; avoid using personal dates or predictable sequences.
4. The device will generate a recovery seed (12/18/24 words depending on options). Write each word in order on the provided recovery card or other durable medium. Confirm the words when prompted.

Do not enter your recovery seed into any computer, phone, or website. Never photograph or store the seed digitally.

Secure backup strategies for your recovery seed

Your recovery seed is the master key to your funds. Consider the following backup strategies depending on how much risk and complexity you're comfortable with:

• Paper backup: Write the seed on the supplied card and store it in a safe or lockbox. Simple and cost-effective.
• Metal backup: Use a stainless steel seed backup (e.g., Cryptosteel, Billfodl) to protect against fire and water damage.
• Geographic redundancy: Store duplicate backups in separate secure locations to guard against local disasters — but be mindful of splitting secrets introduces new risks.
• Shamir/advanced backups: For enterprise or very high-value holdings, consider Shamir Secret Sharing (if supported) or multisig strategies that distribute trust across multiple devices/holders.

Avoid writing the seed on anything that will be stored in online/cloud services. If someone obtains the seed, they can import it and control your funds.

Adding accounts and managing assets

After initialization, add accounts for supported cryptocurrencies in Trezor Suite to view balances and transaction history.

1. In Suite go to Accounts or Add account.
2. Select the coin (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) and follow Suite prompts. Some chains may require opening a specific app on the device (Model T) or using a third-party integration.
3. Label accounts for organization — e.g., Savings, Trading, Cold Storage.

Removing an account in Suite does not delete funds; the chain still holds them. Accounts are regenerated from the recovery seed when re-added.

Receiving funds — always verify addresses on-device

1. In Suite select Receive for the account you want to receive into.
2. Suite will show a receiving address. The Trezor device will display the same address — verify they match and confirm on-device.
3. Share the confirmed address with the sender. Consider a small test transfer if unsure.

Verifying addresses on-device prevents malware from substituting addresses displayed on your computer.

Sending funds — double-check details on-device

1. Click Send in Suite, enter recipient address and amount, and select network fee if applicable.
2. Review the transaction summary in Suite. The device will display the destination address and amount — confirm those details exactly before approving.
3. Approve the transaction on-device to sign and broadcast it. Without device approval, no signature is created.

If the device shows a different address or amount than Suite, do not approve — cancel and investigate immediately.

Firmware updates: when and how

Firmware updates improve security and add features. Apply updates only through Trezor Suite or official channels, and follow instructions carefully.

1. Do not perform firmware updates on a compromised or public computer.
2. When Suite notifies of an update, ensure your recovery seed is backed up before proceeding (updates should not erase seeds, but safety first).
3. Follow on-screen steps and confirm operations on-device. Keep the device connected until the update completes.

Never install firmware from unknown sources. Only apply signed updates from Trezor's official channels.

Common troubleshooting

Device not recognized

• Try a different USB cable and port (some cables are charge-only).
• Restart Trezor Suite and your computer. Reinstall Suite from trezor.io/start if necessary.
• Ensure Trezor Bridge is installed and running if using the web Suite.

Forgotten PIN

After several incorrect PIN attempts, the device will wipe itself (this is a security feature). Restore using your recovery seed on the device to regain access.

Lost device and seed

If you lose both device and seed, funds are unrecoverable. Protect your seed carefully and consider redundant, secure backups.

Advanced topics & next steps

• Consider passphrases (optional extra secret) for hidden wallets — powerful but increases recovery complexity.
• Explore multisig solutions and third-party integrations for advanced custody and operational flexibility.
• Test your recovery process by restoring to a spare device using your seed — do this with small amounts first.