Trezor.io/Start® — Starting Up Your Device

Overview

What this presentation covers

This guide walks you through the full process of setting up your Trezor device from unboxing to securing funds: hardware inspection, connecting to Trezor Start, initializing, creating a recovery seed, installing Trezor Suite, best security practices, advanced features, and common troubleshooting steps. It is written in clear, actionable steps and includes headings from h1 through h5 so you can extract sections for slides or documentation.

Audience

Ideal for first-time hardware wallet users, guardians setting up a device for someone else, and developers who need a canonical onboarding script. No prior crypto experience is required; we explain terms and motivations as we go.

Section 1 — Unboxing & First Look

h4: Unboxing checklist

What to expect in the box

When you open your Trezor package you should find: the device itself, a USB cable (or adapter), a set of recovery seed cards, stickers, and official documentation. Always compare the packaging to the manufacturer's images; check for tamper-evident seals and verify the product serial number when prompted during setup.

Inspect the device

Visually inspect your Trezor for signs of tampering: scratches across the seal, loose components, or mismatched fonts on the device screen. Never use a device that looks compromised — contact official support immediately using one of the links provided above.

Section 2 — Connect & Visit Trezor Start

Connect safely

Use the included USB cable and connect the Trezor to a computer you trust. For maximum safety avoid public or unknown machines. Trezor supports using the web-based Trezor Start or the desktop mobile Trezor Suite; we begin with the recommended web flow at trezor.io/start.

Open the official start page

Navigate to the Start page and follow on-screen prompts. The site will automatically detect that a device is connected and guide you to install or run Trezor Suite when necessary. Do not follow instructions from other websites or unsolicited messages.

Section 3 — Initialize Your Device

Choose a workflow

You will be offered two primary workflows: (1) Create a new wallet (generate a new recovery seed) or (2) Recover an existing wallet using an existing recovery seed. Choose "Create new" if this device is new to you. The device's screen and the web interface will show matching instructions — always verify the same words appear on both the hardware screen and the computer screen.

Setting a PIN

The device will prompt to set a PIN. This PIN protects your device if it is physically stolen. Choose a PIN that is long (6+ digits) and unique. Trezor implements PIN scrambling on the device so that observers can’t infer the PIN from fingerprint smudges or screen positions.

Why PIN matters

A PIN alone will not protect against an attacker with your recovery seed — the seed is the master key. The PIN prevents immediate access to the device functions and can slow an attacker while you notice the theft.

Section 4 — Create & Secure Your Recovery Seed

What is a recovery seed?

A recovery seed (also called a mnemonic) is a human-readable list of 12, 18, or 24 words that fully encode your wallet private keys. Anyone with access to this seed can restore your funds, so treat it like the most sensitive secret you own.

Writing down the seed

Follow the device prompts — it will display each word on the device screen. Write each word on the official seed cards or on a metal backup if you have one. Do not type the seed into any computer or phone. Never photograph the seed, never store it in cloud storage, and do not email it to yourself.

Seed verification

The device will usually ask you to confirm a few words from the seed to ensure you recorded it correctly. Perform this step carefully; it prevents mistakes that could render the seed unusable later.

Section 5 — Install and Use Trezor Suite

Why Trezor Suite?

Trezor Suite is the official wallet application that provides a polished interface for sending, receiving, and managing accounts. It also helps you keep firmware up to date and guides advanced features like passphrases, coin control, and integrations.

Install the Suite

Download the Suite from the official links above or use the web-based flow. When installing, verify checksums if provided. After installation, open the Suite and connect your device — you will authenticate using the PIN you set earlier.

Adding accounts

Within Suite you can add Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many other supported coins. Create a new account and follow the on-screen steps to receive funds. Each “account” uses paths derived from the same seed; the seed — not the device — is authoritative.

Section 6 — Advanced Security Features

Passphrase protection

Passphrases add another layer of protection by creating a hidden wallet derived from the same seed plus an extra word or phrase. Use passphrases carefully; losing the passphrase permanently locks access to the funds in that hidden wallet. Document the passphrase just as carefully as the seed if you choose to use one.

Multisig & backups

Trezor supports multisignature setups where multiple devices or keys must sign transactions. This is recommended for high-value holdings. Plan your backup and recovery procedure: store seed shares in multiple geographically separated locations and consider using a metal backup for fire/water protection.

Firmware updates

Keep the device firmware up to date. Firmware updates patch security vulnerabilities and add features. Always install official firmware using Trezor Suite or the Start flow — never accept firmware from unknown sources.

Section 7 — Sending & Receiving Funds

Receive safely

To receive, create an address in the Suite and show it on your device screen where possible; verify the address fingerprint on the hardware screen matches what the Suite shows. Share only the address, never your private keys or seed.

Sending transactions

When sending, review the destination address and transaction details on the hardware device screen before confirming. Trezor signs the transaction on-device, which prevents malware on your computer from leaking your private keys.

Fee selection & coin control

Use the Suite’s fee slider to pick a priority that fits your needs. For Bitcoin users, coin control helps you pick which UTXOs to spend — useful for privacy and managing fees.

Section 8 — Troubleshooting & Recovery

Common issues

If the device does not respond: try a different USB cable or port, reboot your computer, and ensure you have the latest Suite installed. If the device shows a firmware mismatch or corrupted screen, contact official support via the links above.

Recovering a seed

To recover a wallet on a new device, choose the "Recover" workflow and carefully enter each seed word when prompted. If you used a passphrase, you must provide it to access the correct hidden wallet. Take your time — seed entry mistakes are the most common recovery failures.

If funds are missing

Check the transaction history using a block explorer and verify you restored the correct account and derivation path. For complex setups like multisig, ensure all co-signers are present or that you used the correct configuration when restoring.

Section 9 — Best Practices & Checklist

Daily security checklist

Keep your seed offline and stored in multiple secure locations.
Never disclose your seed or passphrase to anyone.
Update firmware and Suite when official updates are released.
Use a PIN and consider a passphrase for higher-value accounts.
Prefer multi-signature schemes for custody of large amounts.

Emergency plan

Create a recovery plan: designate a trusted person (or lawyer) with access instructions, decide how keys are split and stored, and periodically test the recovery procedure on a low-value test account.

Section 10 — Closing: Secure Ownership

Self-custody responsibilities

Owning crypto means you are responsible for its security. A hardware wallet significantly reduces many online risks but introduces physical and human factors. Protect your seed, keep devices updated, and practice the recovery flow so it becomes second nature.