Trezor: Starting up your device

A clear, step-by-step guide to unbox, set up, secure, and start using your new Trezor hardware wallet. Estimated time: ~15 minutes.

Before you begin — what to check

When your Trezor arrives, pause for a moment and inspect the packaging. Confirm the outer packaging is intact and that the tamper-evident seals (if present) look unbroken. Inside you should find the device, a USB cable, quick start card(s), and recovery backup cards. If anything seems altered or missing, contact the vendor or Trezor support before connecting the device.

Tip: Never initialize a device that looks tampered with. A secure hardware wallet requires physical integrity from the box to the chip.

Step 1 — Get Trezor Suite (recommended)

Trezor Suite is the official app that guides you through device setup, firmware installation, wallet creation or recovery, and later coin management. You can use the desktop app for the best experience, or the browser/web app if you prefer not to install software.

Visit trezor.io/start (or download Trezor Suite from the official site).
Pick desktop for a local install or choose continue in browser for the web app.

Always download the app from the official Trezor domain to avoid malicious copies.

Step 2 — Connect and power your device

Plug in the USB cable: Connect your Trezor to your computer (or supported mobile device) using the cable included. The device screen should power on and show a welcome or boot message.
Allow the connection: If using a browser, the web app may request permission to connect—follow the prompts in the browser and on the device.

If the device fails to power or the screen stays blank, try a different cable, USB port, or check that the device model you received is compatible with your operating system.

Step 3 — Install firmware (first boot)

New Trezor devices typically ship without firmware installed. The Suite will detect this and offer to install the latest official firmware. This is a required step: do not attempt to skip or install firmware from unknown sources.

Click Install firmware in the app and follow on-screen instructions.
The device will show progress and confirm the firmware version once installation completes.

Do not disconnect your device while firmware installs. Interrupting firmware updates can render a device temporarily unusable until recovered according to manufacturer instructions.

Step 4 — Create a new wallet or recover an existing one

The app will give two main options: Create a new wallet (generates a fresh recovery seed) or Recover wallet (enter an existing recovery phrase). Choose carefully—if you already have a seed phrase from another wallet, select recovery; otherwise create a new wallet.

Create new wallet

Choose Create new wallet in Suite.
The device will generate a recovery seed (usually 12, 18, or 24 words depending on model and choices).
Write each word on the provided recovery card manually — do not store the seed digitally (no photos, no cloud storage).
Confirm the recovery words when prompted by the device/app to ensure you copied them correctly.

Recover wallet

Choose Recover wallet in Suite.
Enter the recovery words exactly in the order provided by your previous wallet. Some Trezor models accept words via touch screen or on-device input.

Your recovery phrase is the ultimate backup. If it is lost and your device is lost or damaged, there is no way to recover funds without that seed.

Step 5 — Set a PIN and optional passphrase

Protect your device with a PIN to prevent unauthorized access if someone has the hardware. The PIN only protects physical access to the device; it does not replace the recovery seed.

Choose a PIN you can remember but that is not trivial. The PIN is entered on the device (not on your computer), which helps keep it secure from keyloggers.
Optional passphrase: Advanced users may enable a passphrase (a 25th word). A passphrase creates an additional hidden wallet derived from your recovery seed — powerful, but make sure you fully understand the tradeoffs and store it securely.

If you forget your PIN, you can recover funds using your recovery phrase on a fresh device, but you will need the phrase to do so.

Step 6 — Verify device authenticity and settings

After setup, verify the device's fingerprint/certificate and firmware version in the Suite. Confirm that the device shows the same confirmation messages the app expects during operations (e.g., address confirmations when sending).

Check firmware version in the Suite and update if a newer official release is available.
Review device settings: enable or disable features (like coin-specific settings) according to your needs.

Step 7 — Transfer funds safely

Now that the device is set up, transfer a small test amount first. This lets you confirm that the receiving address displayed by the device matches what the app shows, and that you can successfully sign transactions.

Use the app to generate a receiving address. Confirm the exact address on the device screen before copying it.
Send a small test amount from your exchange or other wallet to that address.
After confirmation, send the remaining funds if everything looks correct.

Always verify addresses on the Trezor screen — never trust clipboard contents or a computer-only display.

Troubleshooting & common questions

Device not recognized

Try a different USB cable or port, and ensure you are using the official Trezor Suite app or a supported browser. On some systems, USB permissions or drivers can block access.

Firmware update failed

Reconnect the device, restart the app, and attempt the firmware install again. If problems persist, consult official Trezor support for recovery steps rather than attempting unverified fixes.

Lost recovery phrase

If the recovery phrase is lost and you do not have access to the unlocked device, funds are effectively irretrievable. If you still have the device and it is unlocked, immediately back up the seed as instructed.

Security best practices (summary)

Keep your recovery phrase offline and split across secure physical locations if desired (but ensure you will be able to reconstruct it).
Never share your recovery phrase, PIN, or passphrase with anyone.
Only use official Trezor software and firmware delivered from trezor.io.
Use a small test transfer when moving funds for the first time.
Consider additional precautions like storing the device in a safe or using multi-signature setups for high-value holdings.