Trezor.io/Start®

Welcome & Before You Begin

Thank you for choosing Trezor®. This guide will walk you through your **initial setup**, step by step, ensuring your device is ready, secure, and connected to your digital assets with confidence.

In the following pages, you’ll find instructions, best practices, security notes, and important disclaimers. Please read carefully before proceeding. This process involves interacting with private keys, firmware, and potentially large-value funds — always remain cautious.

What You Will Need

• A Trezor hardware device (Trezor Model T, Trezor One, or future model)
• A computer (desktop or laptop) with USB/USB‑C port
• Internet connection
• Official Trezor Bridge or Web interface access
• A secure, offline backup medium (e.g. paper, metal backup)
• Pen/pencil for writing down seed words
• A quiet, safe environment with minimal distractions

Step 1: Connect & Power Up

Plug your Trezor device into your computer using the supplied USB cable. Wait for your computer to recognize it. Do not close the browser or application window while setup is ongoing.

On the device screen, you should see a welcome message or prompt to “Start”. If you see a “Firmware is outdated” warning, follow instructions to update (see Step 3).

Step 2: Installation of Trezor Bridge / Web Interface

Open your browser and go to trezor.io/start. The website will detect your device and guide you to install the necessary client (Trezor Bridge) if needed.

Follow on‑screen instructions to install or authorize the interface. After installation, revisit trezor.io/start and the page should now detect your device correctly.

Step 3: Firmware Update

If your device prompts for a firmware update, click “Install” or “Update”. Ensure you are connected to the official Trezor servers. Never install firmware from unverified sources.

The update may take a few minutes; do not disconnect the device during this process. After finishing, the device will reboot automatically.

Step 4: Create / Recover Wallet

You’ll be prompted to either Create a new wallet or Recover from seed. If creating new, the device will generate a new recovery seed phrase — typically 12, 18, or 24 words.

Write down your seed on paper (or use a plated metal backup). Do not store this seed electronically or take screenshots. Confirm the seed words when prompted to ensure accuracy.

If recovering, enter the words exactly (watch for spelling, order). After confirming, your wallet will be accessible.

Step 5: Set PIN / Passphrase (Optional)

Choose a strong PIN code when requested. Avoid easy patterns or repeated digits. Optionally, you can enable a passphrase (25th word) for an additional layer of security. Understand its implications before using: losing it may render access impossible.

Step 6: Access & Use Wallet

Once setup is complete, you’ll see your wallet dashboard in Trezor’s interface. You can now view balances, send or receive coins, connect to third‑party apps (e.g. DeFi, staking), and more — while your private keys remain secure inside the hardware device.

Always double-check transaction details on the device screen (e.g. recipient address, amount). Never confirm transactions blindly.

Security Tips & Best Practices

• Always verify you are on the official trezor.io/start site. Bookmark it.
• Avoid phishing links, copycats, or malicious ad redirects.
• Never share your recovery seed, PIN, or private keys with anyone.
• Use passphrase only if you fully understand its risk.
• Keep firmware updated; review release notes.
• Use only verified third‑party integrations.
• Store backup seed securely, preferably offline, in a safe location.
• Beware of tampering — ensure device packaging is intact and has not been opened.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Device not detected: Try switching USB port, cable, or reinstalling Trezor Bridge.
Firmware stuck: Disconnect and reconnect, or reinstall via recovery mode.
Forgot PIN: Resetting the device is required; recovery seed is needed to restore funds.
Lost seed phrase: Without your seed phrase, your funds cannot be recovered — treat it as your sole key.