Trezor.io/Start — Official Setup Guide

A concise, step-by-step, and colorful walkthrough to get your Trezor hardware wallet up and running. Includes handling, safety, and troubleshooting—formatted for easy export to slides or an office document.

Length: ~1500 words · Sections: 10 · Headings: h1–h5

1. Welcome — What is Trezor?

Overview

Trezor is a hardware wallet that stores private keys offline, providing strong protection against online threats. This guide walks you through the official start URL (trezor.io/start), core handling practices, and step-by-step setup for first-time users.

Why use a hardware wallet?

Hardware wallets keep keys isolated from your computer and the internet, reducing the risk of malware, phishing, and key theft. They are the recommended solution for securing meaningful sums of crypto.

2. Unboxing & First Inspection

Check the seal

Before you power the device, inspect the packaging for tamper-evident seals. Only accept a device with intact packaging from trusted vendors or the official Trezor store.

What's inside?

  • Device (Model: Trezor One / Model T)
  • USB cable
  • Recovery seed cards & manual
  • Stickers and warning sheet

3. Handling & Physical Safety

Safe handling practices

Always keep the device in a clean, dry place. Avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures, moisture, or physical shocks. Do not share your PIN or the recovery seed with anyone.

Seed security

Write your recovery seed on the card provided (or another durable medium) and store it in a secure, offline location. Consider a fireproof safe or geographically separated copies for redundancy.

4. Visit trezor.io/start

Open the official page

Go to trezor.io/start to download the official Trezor Suite and follow guided setup. Always verify the URL and SSL lock in your browser to avoid phishing pages.

Tip: Do not download third‑party tools — use only the official installer.

5. Device Initialization

Connect & update firmware

Connect the Trezor to your computer using the supplied USB cable. Trezor Suite will guide you to update firmware if needed — accept only signed updates through the official app.

Create a new wallet

Follow the prompts to create a new wallet. You'll set a PIN on the device and be shown the recovery seed. These steps must be completed offline on the device screen when possible.

6. PIN and Optional Passphrase

Choosing a secure PIN

Choose a PIN that's memorable to you but hard to guess. If someone observes the PIN entry, they could access the device when physically available.

Advanced: Passphrase (hidden wallet)

A passphrase acts as a 25th word to create hidden wallets. It increases security but requires discipline — if forgotten, funds become inaccessible. Use passphrases only if you understand the risk.

7. Recording & Storing the Recovery Seed

Write it down by hand

Record the 12/24-word seed exactly as shown. Do not store it electronically (photos, cloud notes, or email). Use the supplied recovery card or a metal backup for durability.

Test restore process

Optionally, perform a test restore on a spare device or emulator to validate your backup. This ensures you can recover funds if the device is lost.

8. Sending & Receiving Crypto

Verify addresses

Always verify receiving addresses on the Trezor screen before sending. Trezor Suite and other supported apps will show the address; the device display is the source of truth.

Best practices

  1. Start with a small test transaction.
  2. Double-check network fees and destination addresses.
  3. Use account labels to stay organized.

9. Troubleshooting & Common Questions

Not recognized by computer?

Try a different USB port/cable, reboot, and ensure Trezor Suite is updated. If issues persist, consult the official support pages or community forums.

Lost seed or PIN?

If you lose your seed and PIN, recovery is impossible. If you have the seed but forget the PIN, restore to a new device using the seed.

10. Final Checklist & Resources

Before you finish

  • Confirm your firmware is up to date.
  • Test a small transaction.
  • Store the recovery seed securely and offline.
  • Never share your PIN or seed.

Official resources

Start page and downloads: trezor.io/start · Support & knowledge base: trezor.io/support

This document is formatted with h1–h5 headings for easy export to HTML slides or Office formats. Use your browser’s print-to-PDF or copy-and-paste into PowerPoint for an editable slide deck.