Step-by-step presentation style instructions using clear visuals and short, actionable tips. Great for first-time hardware wallet users. 🚀
When your Trezor arrives, treat the box like evidence: check seals, packaging, and accessories. Genuine devices ship with tamper-evident elements. If anything looks tampered with, stop and contact Trezor support — don’t proceed. Keep the included USB cable, recovery card, and documentation together.
Connect the device to your computer using the supplied cable. Open your browser and go to trezor.io/start. The official site will guide you to Trezor Suite (web or desktop app). Always verify you’re on the official site — bookmarks help prevent phishing.
Most new devices will require a firmware installation. Trezor Suite will detect this and prompt you. Installing firmware is essential — it contains the security code for your device. Do not unplug the device during installation. Follow prompts carefully and confirm actions on the physical device screen.
After firmware, choose “Create new wallet.” Trezor will generate a recovery seed (list of words). This seed is your ultimate backup — write it down on the provided recovery card, in order, without mistakes. Store it offline in a safe place (safe, bank deposit box, or metal backup).
Set up a PIN on the device. A PIN protects the device itself from being used if lost or stolen. Choose a PIN that you can remember but is not trivially guessable. The PIN entry is randomized on the device screen to prevent keyloggers or shoulder-surfing attacks from revealing it.
Advanced users can add a passphrase — an extra word or phrase which functions as a 25th recovery word. This offers plausible deniability and extra security, but it greatly increases complexity: losing the passphrase = losing funds. Use only if you understand the trade-offs and can securely store the passphrase.
Before transferring large balances, send a small test amount to your new Trezor address. Confirm the address on both your computer and the device screen — they must match. Once confirmed, you can safely move larger amounts. Consider transferring in stages for extra caution.
Store your recovery card and device in secure locations. Consider metal backups to protect against fire or water. Keep firmware up to date via Trezor Suite and never share your recovery words or PIN. Periodically check your backups and ensure access methods remain known to you.