Welcome — whether you’re unboxing your first hardware wallet, upgrading from a hot wallet, or helping a colleague connect to Trezor for the first time, this guide gives you a step-by-step, secure, and beginner-friendly walkthrough of Trezor.io/start. We'll cover requirements, a full setup, daily use, recovery, troubleshooting, and security best practices. The HTML below includes headings from <h1> through <h5>, colorful formatting, and ten useful links to reference pages.

Why a hardware wallet?

A hardware wallet stores your private keys offline, isolating them from internet-connected devices. This dramatically reduces the attack surface from phishing, malware, and cloud-based attacks. Think of your Trezor as a dedicated, tamper-resistant vault for your crypto.

What you'll need before you start

Checklist

A genuine Trezor device (Trezor One or Trezor Model T).
A computer with an up-to-date browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave) or Trezor Suite (desktop app).
A USB cable that fits your device (included in the box).
Paper and pen for writing down your recovery seed — never store it digitally.
About 20–30 minutes of uninterrupted time.

Important safety note

Only use official Trezor websites and software. Do not plug your device into untrusted public devices or USB hubs. Never share your recovery seed with anyone.

Step-by-step setup (Trezor.io/start)

These steps assume you’re visiting trezor.io/start or using Trezor Suite. Follow the on-screen prompts carefully.

Unbox and inspect

Check the seal and packaging. If the seal is broken or the device looks tampered with, do not use it — contact the vendor or Trezor support.

Connect to your computer

Use the supplied USB cable. For Model T you’ll see a touchscreen boot screen; for Trezor One you'll interact via the Trezor Bridge / Suite.

Visit Trezor.io/start

Open the official setup page. The website will check for updates and walk you through installing any required bridge or suite software.

Install firmware

If firmware is out of date, the site will suggest an update. Always update firmware from the device UI — do not accept firmware updates from unfamiliar pop-ups.

Create a new wallet

Choose “Create new” and follow the prompts. Your device will generate a recovery seed — typically 12, 18, or 24 words depending on your model and settings.

Write down the recovery seed

Write every word on the provided recovery card or a dedicated seed plate. Do not copy it to your phone, cloud storage, or email.

Optional passphrase (advanced)

Consider using a passphrase for an additional layer of protection. Remember: losing a passphrase is equivalent to losing funds if used — store it safely.

Confirm your recovery

The device may ask you to confirm a few words. This verifies your written seed matches the device.

Set a PIN

Choose a PIN you can remember but that isn't easily guessable. Trezor introduces PIN entry via randomized keypad on the device for additional safety.

Finish and use

Once setup is complete, use Trezor Suite or connect to supported wallets to manage coins, sign transactions, and interact with dApps.

Quick reference — minimal commands & examples

If you prefer a compact checklist you can print, this snippet condenses the core actions:

Introduction