Trezor.io/Start® — Start Your Device Security | Trezor™

A clear, practical 1500-word guide that walks you through unboxing your Trezor device, running the initial setup at trezor.io/start, creating a seed and PIN, updating firmware, using Trezor Suite, and following security best practices.

Introduction

Trezor hardware wallets are designed to keep your cryptocurrency private keys safely offline. The official web flow at trezor.io/start (and the Trezor Suite app) provides the recommended, secure path to initialize a new device, restore from a backup, and begin managing coins. This guide focuses on step-by-step actions and practical safety advice — what to do, what to avoid, and how to build a secure routine for storing and using crypto with a Trezor device.

Short version: Buy a new device from an authorized seller, visit trezor.io/start (type the URL manually), follow the on-screen setup, write your recovery seed on the provided sheet or a metal backup, update firmware via the official path, and always confirm transaction details on the Trezor's display.

Before you start — checklist

Buy your Trezor from the official shop or an authorized reseller — avoid used or second-hand units.
Have a clean, private workspace and a pen for writing your recovery seed (do not use your phone camera).
Use a trusted computer and a modern browser. Avoid public or shared machines for initial setup.
Type trezor.io/start manually into the address bar — don't click suspicious links.
Keep your recovery seed offline at all times. Never enter it into a website or email it to anyone.

Tip: Consider a metal backup plate for long-term durability. Paper can be damaged by water, fire, or time; metal is more durable for archiving critical recovery words.

Unboxing & initial inspection

On arrival, inspect the packaging. New Trezor devices are shipped with tamper-evident seals (follow the vendor's latest guidance). Confirm packaging is intact and that you received the official recovery card and any printed materials included by the manufacturer.

Open the package in private and confirm device model and accessories (USB cable, recovery card).
Do not power on the device until you are ready to follow the official setup at trezor.io/start.
If anything looks tampered with, contact the vendor immediately and do not use the device for critical funds until verified.

Step-by-step: Use trezor.io/start

The official setup flow is intentionally guided. These generalized steps mirror the expected flow and emphasize what matters for security.

Open your browser and go to trezor.io/start. Type the address manually to avoid phishing domains.
Download Trezor Suite or use the recommended web workflow (the Suite app provides a polished, offline-capable experience). Prefer the official download from Trezor's site.
Connect your Trezor to your computer using the supplied USB cable. The device will show a welcome message.
Follow the on-screen prompts. Choose whether to create a new wallet (generate a new recovery seed) or restore from an existing recovery phrase.
Create a PIN. The device will ask you to set a PIN using the device buttons. Pick a PIN that's not trivial to guess and do not store it with your seed.
Write down the recovery seed. The device will display 12, 18, or 24 words depending on the model and settings. Record them in order on the official recovery card or your chosen backup medium. Confirm the words when prompted on-device.
Install the latest firmware if prompted. Trezor may deliver a firmware update during setup. Use the official Trezor Suite or the site instructions and confirm updates on-device. Firmware updates patch security and performance issues — apply them following on-screen guidance.

Never type the recovery seed into a computer or phone. Do not photograph the seed. The seed must remain offline at all times. If a website or support agent asks for your seed, treat it as a scam.

Restore an existing device

If you choose "restore" during setup because you already have a recovery seed, enter the words directly on the Trezor device when prompted. Restoring on a hardware device is safer than restoring on software that runs on a potentially compromised machine.

Choose "Restore wallet" on the device or through the Suite flow.
Enter each recovery word using the device's controls according to on-device prompts.
If you used a passphrase (a user-chosen extra secret), supply it exactly during restore to recover hidden accounts — without the passphrase those accounts are inaccessible.

After restoration, the Suite will detect and list accounts derived from the restored seed. You can then re-add accounts in the application UI.

Firmware updates & Trezor Suite

Trezor Suite is the official desktop app that offers firmware management, account handling, coin management, and transaction history. When Suite detects new firmware, it guides you through the update process and you confirm each step on the device screen.

Always update firmware from Trezor Suite or from the official site — never from third-party sources.
Do not interrupt a firmware update. If the update fails, follow official recovery steps; do not attempt experimental fixes from untrusted sources.

Keep Trezor Suite updated as well — the app receives UX and security improvements that make using the device safer and easier.

Daily use: receive, send, and confirm on-device

Receiving

Open Trezor Suite and select the account to receive into.
Click "Receive" — Suite will display an address and your Trezor will show the same address on its display.
Verify the address on the device before sharing it. This prevents malware from substituting an attacker's address.

Sending

Create the transaction in Trezor Suite (recipient, amount, fee).
When the unsigned transaction is sent to the Trezor, the device will display detailed transaction data.
Carefully verify the recipient address, amount, and fee on the device screen. Approve only if everything matches.

If the device's display does not match the app preview, cancel the operation immediately. The device's screen is the definitive source of truth.

Recovery best practices

Write the recovery seed in order and double-check each word. Use the official recovery card or a durable metal backup.
Store backups in secure, geographically separate locations if you need redundancy (e.g., home safe + bank safe deposit box).
Test the restore process with a spare device using a small amount of funds if you manage large holdings — confirm your procedure works.
Consider splitting a seed with a trusted co-custodian using well-understood cryptographic schemes only if you fully understand the risks and recovery procedures.

Never store the recovery seed on cloud storage, photos, or text files. Treat it like the keys to a safe deposit box — physical security matters.