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

Introduction

This extended guide provides detailed, accessible instructions for starting up a Trezor® hardware device. It is written in a narrative presentation format suitable for printing, in-person walkthroughs, and integration into product help pages. The single-color background improves focus and reduces visual noise while allowing accent colors to highlight critical steps.

Note: This material is generative educational content and should be cross-checked with the device's official documentation for production or legal use.

What to prepare — a thorough checklist

Unboxing — authenticity and inspection

Carefully inspect the packaging for tamper-evident seals, holograms, or labels used by the manufacturer. Genuine devices include factory seals and consistent packaging. If anything looks tampered with, do not proceed — contact official support.

Checklist

• Device unit
• USB cable
• Quick start guide and recovery cards
• Accessory items (pouch, stickers)

Keep packaging materials for warranty and verification purposes.

First Boot — connecting and initializing

Connect the device to your host and navigate to the official start page indicated by the manufacturer (e.g., Trezor.io/Start). Verify that the site is using HTTPS and that the certificate is valid. The device will display an initial welcome screen and may request you to confirm a model identifier.

1. Connect using the correct cable and check for the device's boot animation or display.
2. Navigate to the official start page; check the certificate and domain spelling.
3. Follow the guided wizard to identify the device model and begin firmware verification.

Firmware — verification, updates, and integrity

Firmware is the critical low-level code that runs on the device. Its integrity must be assured before creating or restoring wallets.

Best practices

• Always use the official firmware update flow from the start page; do not sideload firmware from third parties.
• Confirm firmware fingerprints shown on the website match the device's display before approving an installation.
• Keep firmware up to date but verify release notes and compatibility with your host OS and wallet software.

If firmware verification fails, stop and contact support. Do not enter recovery words into any interface until integrity is confirmed.

Creating a wallet — seed generation and options

The wallet creation flow generates a deterministic seed (recovery phrase) from which all keys are derived. This is the core security artifact — treat it with the highest confidentiality.

Options to consider

• Use the recommended word count for the seed (commonly 12, 18, or 24 words) as per your threat model.
• Consider using an additional passphrase only if you understand its implications for recovery and management.
• Choose whether to label accounts during setup for easier management later.

Be systematic: write words in order, verify them when prompted, and store backups in at least two geographically separate secure locations when feasible.

PIN and local device security

Choose a PIN that balances memorability with resistance to guessing. Device firmware often implements exponential backoff on incorrect attempts — this should be used to mitigate brute-force attacks.

Recommendations

• Prefer a longer PIN over a shorter numeric sequence when supported.
• Do not write the PIN on or near the device backups; separate knowledge from possession.
• Consider additional physical security controls like tamper-evident packaging or storage in a locked safe.

Recovery phrase — long-term backups and strategies

The recovery phrase restores your wallet onto a new device. Loss of the phrase typically means permanent loss of access. Protect it accordingly.

Backup strategies

• Paper backups kept in sealed envelopes in a locked safe.
• Metal backups that resist fire, water, and aging.
• Shamir or split backups stored across multiple secure locations — only for advanced users who can manage reconstruction rules.

Plan for inheritance and disaster recovery: document procedures for trusted parties to access funds in the event of incapacity, without exposing recovery details publicly.

Daily use — transaction verification and operational security

During normal operations, the device should remain the only place where transaction signing occurs. The host acts as a relay but must not be trusted to present accurate transaction details without verification.

Verification checklist

1. Confirm receiving address on the device screen visually.
2. Verify amounts and fee values on-device before approving.
3. Beware of clipboard hijacking and use QR or on-device verification when possible.

Troubleshooting — common issues and safe responses

Advanced features — passphrases, multisig, and integrations

Advanced users can increase resilience and privacy through optional features. These add complexity and should be used with careful documentation and frequent testing of recovery procedures.

Examples

• Passphrase-protected hidden wallets for deniability and compartmentalization.
• Multisignature setups for shared custody or enterprise security models.
• Third-party wallet integration for additional functionality; always verify signatures and compatibility.

Glossary & Expanded Word Bank — new words, synonyms, and phrasing

This expanded word bank helps vary language across long-form documentation and supports reaching an extended manuscript length while maintaining clarity.

Use these synonyms and phrases to reduce repetition and clarify topics for varied audiences.

Appendix — printable checklist and templates

Templates for backup labels, recovery checklists, and an inheritance instruction card can be generated on request.