Set up your Trezor at trezor.io/start — secure hardware custody in minutes

A practical, security-first walkthrough that takes you from unboxing to a hardened recovery strategy.

Why follow trezor.io/start?

The official start flow walks you through firmware validation, PIN creation, and recovery seed generation while minimizing exposure to online threats. Use the steps below exactly as written — each check is designed to prevent supply-chain, tampering, and phishing attacks that target hardware wallets.

Before you begin (quick checklist)

  • Confirm package seal and authenticity stickers — do not proceed if they look damaged or altered.
  • Use a clean computer you control. Avoid public or unknown machines for the initial setup.
  • Have a pen and the included recovery card (or a dedicated metal backup) nearby — write the seed physically; never store it digitally.

Step-by-step: the secure setup

Follow these actions in order at trezor.io/start. The site will detect your device and present only the flows relevant to your model.

  1. Connect the device — plug your Trezor into the USB port. The device screen should show a Trezor logo. If it asks for a PIN before setup, power-cycle and retry; do not assume preconfigured settings are safe.
  2. Install official firmware — follow the prompts on trezor.io/start. The website verifies firmware cryptographically. Only accept firmware signed by Trezor’s official keys, and confirm the fingerprint on the device matches what the site displays.
  3. Create a PIN — choose a PIN you can type reliably but that an attacker cannot guess by observation. Trezor supports variable-length PINs; longer is stronger. Never write the PIN next to your recovery seed.
  4. Generate your recovery seed — the device prints each word on its screen. Write each word in order, double-check spelling, and do not photograph or copy it to any online device. Consider a metal backup for fire, water, and corrosion protection.
  5. Verify the seed — Trezor will ask you to confirm random words from the seed. This ensures the seed was recorded correctly and the device actually holds the private key derived from it.
  6. Install Trezor Suite or use web interface — choose the official Trezor Suite for a desktop workflow or the verified web interface. Always reach the site by typing trezor.io directly; avoid search-result links the first time.
  7. Receive test transaction — before moving large funds, send a small test amount and confirm the receiving address on both the device screen and the Suite/website. Address confirmation prevents address-replacement malware.

Hardening and best practices

A device is only as secure as the operational habits around it. Keep the recovery seed offline, split copies geographically if you need redundancy, and avoid entering the seed anywhere (even when prompted by support). Consider a passphrase for plausible deniability and additional account partitioning — but test passphrase backups thoroughly before relying on them.

Tip: If you use a passphrase, store a clear backup strategy. Losing a passphrase is equivalent to losing funds.

Long-term custody and recovery planning

For long-term holdings, document your recovery instructions in a secure, offline place (e.g., a safe deposit box). Use multi-signature setups if institutional-level protection is required, and rotate firmware only when new features or critical patches are released. Periodically verify you can recover using your seed — a monthly quick check can detect accidental degradations in your process.

Further resources

Always consult official Trezor documentation and support for troubleshooting steps. If you suspect tampering, stop and contact support directly via the contact options on trezor.io — avoid following unverified links or instructions from social media.

Follow official steps and verify every on-screen fingerprint.

Set up your Trezor at trezor.io/start — secure hardware custody in minutes

A practical, security-first walkthrough that takes you from unboxing to a hardened recovery strategy.

Why follow trezor.io/start?

The official start flow walks you through firmware validation, PIN creation, and recovery seed generation while minimizing exposure to online threats. Use the steps below exactly as written — each check is designed to prevent supply-chain, tampering, and phishing attacks that target hardware wallets.

Before you begin (quick checklist)

  • Confirm package seal and authenticity stickers — do not proceed if they look damaged or altered.
  • Use a clean computer you control. Avoid public or unknown machines for the initial setup.
  • Have a pen and the included recovery card (or a dedicated metal backup) nearby — write the seed physically; never store it digitally.

Step-by-step: the secure setup

Follow these actions in order at trezor.io/start. The site will detect your device and present only the flows relevant to your model.

  1. Connect the device — plug your Trezor into the USB port. The device screen should show a Trezor logo. If it asks for a PIN before setup, power-cycle and retry; do not assume preconfigured settings are safe.
  2. Install official firmware — follow the prompts on trezor.io/start. The website verifies firmware cryptographically. Only accept firmware signed by Trezor’s official keys, and confirm the fingerprint on the device matches what the site displays.
  3. Create a PIN — choose a PIN you can type reliably but that an attacker cannot guess by observation. Trezor supports variable-length PINs; longer is stronger. Never write the PIN next to your recovery seed.
  4. Generate your recovery seed — the device prints each word on its screen. Write each word in order, double-check spelling, and do not photograph or copy it to any online device. Consider a metal backup for fire, water, and corrosion protection.
  5. Verify the seed — Trezor will ask you to confirm random words from the seed. This ensures the seed was recorded correctly and the device actually holds the private key derived from it.
  6. Install Trezor Suite or use web interface — choose the official Trezor Suite for a desktop workflow or the verified web interface. Always reach the site by typing trezor.io directly; avoid search-result links the first time.
  7. Receive test transaction — before moving large funds, send a small test amount and confirm the receiving address on both the device screen and the Suite/website. Address confirmation prevents address-replacement malware.

Hardening and best practices

A device is only as secure as the operational habits around it. Keep the recovery seed offline, split copies geographically if you need redundancy, and avoid entering the seed anywhere (even when prompted by support). Consider a passphrase for plausible deniability and additional account partitioning — but test passphrase backups thoroughly before relying on them.

Tip: If you use a passphrase, store a clear backup strategy. Losing a passphrase is equivalent to losing funds.

Long-term custody and recovery planning

For long-term holdings, document your recovery instructions in a secure, offline place (e.g., a safe deposit box). Use multi-signature setups if institutional-level protection is required, and rotate firmware only when new features or critical patches are released. Periodically verify you can recover using your seed — a monthly quick check can detect accidental degradations in your process.

Further resources

Always consult official Trezor documentation and support for troubleshooting steps. If you suspect tampering, stop and contact support directly via the contact options on trezor.io — avoid following unverified links or instructions from social media.

Follow official steps and verify every on-screen fingerprint.