Trézor.io/Start® | Starting Up Your Device | Trézor®

Goal: This presentation walks you through a clean, safe first-time setup of your Trezor hardware wallet—from unboxing to first transaction—using clear, layered steps and verified practices.

Why a Hardware Wallet? (Context in 60 Seconds)

Self-custody means you hold the keys that control your crypto. A hardware wallet isolates those keys in a secure chip, away from malware and browser attacks. The trade-off is responsibility: you must back up and protect your recovery seed. With that mindset, setup becomes simple: verify the device, install the companion app, create and back up a wallet, then practice restoring so you know you can always recover.

Unboxing & Authenticity Checks

Inspect the Packaging

Check for intact seals and a pristine box. Any signs of tampering—lifted stickers, mismatched serials, or pre-printed seed words—are red flags. A legitimate device will never arrive pre-configured, with a pre-generated seed, or with someone else’s instructions glued inside.

Power Up Safely

Connect the device only to your own computer. Avoid shared, public, or unknown machines for first-time setup. If prompted to install firmware, do so through the official companion app.

Quick Tip

If anything feels off, pause and cross-check details on the official trezor.io/start page before proceeding.

Install the Companion App & Update Firmware

Get the Official Software

Download the desktop application from the official website only. Installing from the correct source ensures you’re communicating with your device through verified software. Avoid search-engine ads; type the address directly or use the links in the resources section below.

Perform the Firmware Update

Open the app and connect your device via USB.
Follow on-screen prompts to install or update firmware.
Verify any fingerprint or version information shown on both the device screen and the app.
Wait until the device reboots; do not disconnect early.

Safety Reminder

Keep your computer’s OS and the companion app up to date. Updates frequently include security fixes and UX improvements.

Create Your Wallet & Back Up the Recovery Seed

Generate a New Wallet on the Device

Always generate your wallet directly on the hardware device, not on a website, photo, or text file. The device will show a sequence of words known as the recovery seed. These words are the master key to your funds.

Record the Seed Properly

Write the words by hand on paper or a metal backup—never digitally.
Double-check spelling and order; the sequence matters.
Store offline in a private, fire- and water-resistant location.
Never share the seed with anyone; support will never ask for it.

Optional: Passphrase (Advanced)

A passphrase adds an extra secret on top of your seed. It creates a distinct wallet that only opens when you enter that exact passphrase. Use it only if you can remember or securely store it; losing it means losing access to that specific wallet.

Connect, Receive, and Send Your First Transaction

Asset Discovery

Use the app to enable the coins you plan to hold. For each asset, the app will derive a fresh address. Verify receiving addresses on the device screen before sharing or funding.

First Receive

Open the account for the asset you want to receive.
Click Receive and expose an address.
Confirm that the address on your computer matches the one on your device screen.
Send a small test amount first, then the remainder.

First Send

Paste the recipient address and fee preferences in the app.
Confirm the details on your device screen and approve the transaction.
Wait for network confirmations; track status in your app or a blockchain explorer.

Recovery Drill: Practice Makes Permanent

A five-minute recovery drill builds confidence that you can restore at any time:

Ensure your seed is written clearly and stored safely.
On a spare device (or after securely wiping and updating yours), choose Recover wallet.
Enter the seed words on the device when prompted.
Verify your balances and addresses in the app.

Doing this once eliminates uncertainty during real emergencies like device loss or damage.

Good Habits for Long-Term Security

Use strong, unique computer passwords and enable OS disk encryption.
Beware of phishing: bookmark official pages and never follow random DMs.
Verify URLs and SSL certificates before entering any sensitive info.
Keep multiple, geographically separated backups of your seed (or metal backup) if possible.
Periodically review portfolio addresses and label them clearly in your app.

Official Links (10×)

trezor.io/start trezor.io/download trezor.io/learn trezor.io/security trezor.io/recover trezor.io/coins trezor.io/compare trezor.io/crypto-wallets trezor.io/blog trezor.io/privacy

Bookmark these: Always arrive via your own bookmarks or by typing the URL, not through ads or messages.