Trezor.io/Start® | Start Your Device Securely | Trezor®

Introduction: Why secure setup matters

Starting your Trezor device correctly ensures the safety of your crypto assets from day one. This presentation covers the practical steps to unbox, initialize, and secure a Trezor device, plus the best practices to avoid phishing and social-engineering attacks. The goal: complete setup with confidence and minimal friction.

What you’ll learn

• How to verify device authenticity and firmware
• Step-by-step initialization and recovery seed generation
• Security hygiene and ongoing maintenance

Step 1 — Unboxing & visual verification

Open the package on camera or in good light. Check tamper-evident seals and compare the serial number with the one shown on the device during setup. Authentic Trezor packaging is minimalist and includes a device, USB cable, recovery card, and basic documentation. Keep packaging until setup is complete.

Step 2 — Connect and visit trezor.io/start

Always navigate to the official start page by typing the address or using a bookmarked link. Do not follow emailed links or search results that could be manipulated. The start page guides you through downloading Trezor Suite or using the web-based installer when available — read prompts carefully before entering any sensitive information.

Step 3 — Initialize & create a new wallet

Follow on-screen instructions to create a new wallet. You will create a PIN on the device (never on a computer) and generate a recovery seed. Write the seed on the provided recovery card — never store it digitally, photograph it, or enter it into any website or phone. Treat the recovery seed as the keys to your funds.

PIN and passphrase

Choose a PIN you can remember but is not guessable. Optionally enable an additional passphrase (BIP39 passphrase) for a hidden wallet — this is powerful but also increases complexity and responsibility. Document your passphrase recovery plan securely.

Step 4 — Verify firmware & device authenticity

Before proceeding, confirm the device firmware is genuine. The device and Trezor Suite will indicate firmware status and let you update safely from the official servers. Never install firmware from unknown sources. Verification protects against hardware tampering and supply-chain attacks.

Troubleshooting common first-time issues

1. If the device won’t pair, try a different USB cable or port — avoid USB hubs during setup.
2. If the site prompts for an extension, use the official Trezor Suite desktop app instead.
3. For firmware failures, contact official support — do not follow community patches or third-party instructions.

Step 5 — Post-setup hygiene

After setup, perform a test transaction with a small amount. Confirm you can send and receive before transferring large sums. Maintain a clean environment: update Trezor Suite and firmware when notified, keep backups of your recovery seed in physically separate secure locations, and educate anyone with access about the risks of sharing seed material.

Secure storage of recovery materials

Use a fireproof safe or a secure deposit box for long-term storage. Consider using metal seed plates for durability. Avoid storing recovery seeds in cloud storage, email drafts, or on smartphones.

Advanced options & tips

Multiple accounts and passes

Trezor supports multiple accounts across different blockchains. Use separate accounts to segment risk — for example, keep long-term holdings in a cold-storage account and day-trading balances in a separate account with stricter monitoring.

Using a passphrase

Only enable a passphrase if you understand the recovery implications — misplacing the passphrase will lock you out of associated funds permanently.

Security checklist (quick)

• Use only official links and verified downloads.
• Never share your recovery seed — treat it like cash.
• Keep firmware and Suite updated.
• Test with small transactions first.
• Store backups in multiple secure physical locations.

HTML snippet (for sharing)

<a class="official-link" href="https://trezor.io/start" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trezor Start</a>

Use the snippet above to share the official start link; style is built into this template.