Trezor.io/Start — Starting Up Your Trezor Device

Welcome! This page walks you through every step of setting up your Trezor hardware wallet securely: unboxing, initial configuration, firmware checks, recovery seed handling, using Trezor Suite, and adding integrations/plugins.

Before you start — checklist

Follow this short checklist before powering on your Trezor:

  • Make sure you received an untampered official Trezor device from a verified retailer.
  • Use a trusted computer (macOS, Windows, Linux) or an up-to-date mobile device. Avoid public/shared machines for setup.
  • Have a pen and dedicated paper for writing down your recovery seed. Do NOT take a photo of your seed or store it online.
  • Ensure you have a stable internet connection for firmware and software updates.

Important: Trezor will never ask you to reveal your recovery seed to anyone or to enter it into a website. Treat your recovery seed as the single most critical piece of information protecting your crypto.

What’s in the box

Typical contents:

  • 1x Trezor device (Model: Trezor Model T or Trezor One, depending on your purchase)
  • 1x USB cable
  • Recovery seed cards (paper or printed cards)
  • Quick start guide and tamper-evident packaging

If anything is missing or the packaging looks tampered, contact the vendor or Trezor support before proceeding.

Step-by-step setup

Unbox and inspect

Take your device out of the packaging, inspect it for physical tampering or damage. Compare the device model and serial number (if printed) with the order confirmation.

Connect your device

Use the included USB cable to connect your Trezor to your computer. For Model T, you will see a boot screen on the device. If your device uses USB-C and your host uses USB-A, use an appropriate cable or adapter from a trusted source.

Open Trezor Suite (recommended)

For the smoothest experience, use Trezor Suite — the official desktop app. Go to suite.trezor.io or download the desktop app from the official Trezor website. The Suite guides you through initialization.

Follow the on-screen instructions

Trezor Suite (or the web start flow) will detect your device and guide you to install official firmware if needed. Always confirm the firmware installation directly on the device screen when prompted.

Install or update firmware

If the device requires firmware installation/update, follow the prompts. Do not disconnect the device while firmware is installing. The Suite will verify the firmware’s authenticity.

Create a new wallet (generate recovery seed)

When you create a new wallet, your Trezor will generate a recovery seed (usually 12, 18 or 24 words). You must write these words down on the supplied recovery card in order and store them safely. Confirm the seed words when prompted by the device.

Never store your recovery seed digitally (photos, cloud storage, text files). If someone obtains it, they can steal your funds.

Set a device PIN

Choose a PIN that you can remember but is not trivially guessable. The PIN protects your device if it’s physically stolen. The PIN is entered on the device screen; do not enter it on the host computer.

Optional: add a passphrase

A passphrase is an optional extra word (or phrase) combined with your recovery seed to create an additional hidden wallet. It is powerful but comes with responsibility — if you forget the passphrase, you lose access. Only use passphrases if you understand the trade-offs.

Verify addresses

When sending or receiving funds, always verify the receiving address on the Trezor device screen — not just in the computer app. This prevents host-based malware from substituting addresses.

Firmware & verification

Firmware is the device’s internal software. Trezor Suite will handle firmware signing, verification, and installation for you. Always:

  • Install firmware only from official Trezor channels (Suite or official site).
  • Verify on-screen fingerprints or messages if the Suite asks you to confirm them on the device.
  • Never accept firmware from untrusted sources or from someone who tells you to use modified firmware.

Recovery seed — best practices

Your recovery seed is the master key to your wallet. Treat it as you would treat cash, safe-deposit keys, or other high-value assets.

Storage options

  • Write the seed on the supplied recovery card and store it in a safe, secure, and waterproof place.
  • Consider a fireproof safe or bank safety deposit box for long-term storage.
  • For redundancy, split the seed between two or three secure locations using a Shamir or multi-location strategy — but be careful: splitting increases complexity and risk if not done correctly.

Do NOT

  • Photograph the seed or save it to cloud storage or password managers.
  • Share the seed with anyone or enter it into websites or apps unless you are performing a trusted recovery offline.

Using your Trezor: Trezor Suite, web integrations, and wallets

Trezor works with Trezor Suite (official), several compatible third-party wallets, and browser integrations. Below are common usage patterns.

Trezor Suite (recommended)

Trezor Suite is the official desktop and web interface for managing coins, viewing balances, sending & receiving transactions, and installing updates. Use it for day-to-day management and to access built-in features like portfolio view, exchange integrations, and transaction history.

  • Download only from the official site.
  • Prefer desktop Suite for offline signing workflows.

Browser & third-party wallets

Trezor integrates with popular third-party wallets and browser plugins (for example, some browser wallet extensions support hardware wallets). When using these, prefer the model where the device signs transactions and never exposes private keys. Typical flows involve connecting the Trezor via USB and approving transactions on the device.

Adding plugins & integrations (extensions, apps, and plugins)

“Plugins” for Trezor typically means integrations with exchange services, DeFi dApps, or browser wallet extensions that support hardware wallets. Below is a safe approach to adding integrations:

1 — Choose trusted integrations

Only use integrations from reputable providers. Popular examples include hardware-compatible wallets, respected DeFi frontends, and reputable exchange partners. Check community reviews and official documentation.

2 — Install browser extensions carefully

If an integration requires a browser extension (e.g., a wallet extension that shows balances and can request signatures), install extensions only from the browser’s official store and verify the publisher. Browser extensions have broad privileges; malicious ones can misrepresent transaction details displayed on the host. To mitigate:

  • Keep extensions minimal — remove unused ones.
  • When signing transactions, compare the transaction details on the extension with the details shown on your Trezor device screen.

3 — Using DeFi & dApps

When connecting to decentralized apps, prefer using a trusted wallet connector that supports hardware wallets (for example, WalletConnect flows that explicitly support hardware signing). Always confirm contract interactions on the Trezor screen and be mindful of approval scopes (don’t grant unlimited token approvals unless you understand the risk).

4 — Exchange & swap integrations

Some integrations let you swap coins inside Trezor Suite or through third-party partners. When using these, check the partner’s reputation, read quotes carefully, and confirm final transaction parameters on your device.

5 — Mobile integrations

Mobile use often requires a bridging app or Bluetooth-capable hardware. Trezor Model T and some approved third-party apps may support mobile flows. Follow official mobile instructions and avoid random third-party apps that request seed words.

Troubleshooting — common issues & fixes

Device not recognized

If your computer doesn’t detect the Trezor:

  • Try a different USB cable or port.
  • Restart your computer and reconnect.
  • Disable USB power-saving options on some laptops.
  • Verify the Trezor is powered on and the screen shows the Trezor logo.

Firmware update failed

Do not panic. Reconnect, open Trezor Suite, and follow the recovery prompts. If the device is unresponsive, use the official troubleshooting guide or contact Trezor support.

Forgot PIN or lost passphrase

If you forget your PIN, you can restore access by wiping the device and recovering from your seed (the PIN is not stored in the seed). If you lose the passphrase used with a seed, that particular hidden wallet is inaccessible — the passphrase is effectively a separate, user-provided secret. Keep passphrases in a secure, remembered form or avoid them if you cannot manage them reliably.

Seed words don’t match

If the words you recorded don’t match the ones the device expects during verification, stop and verify carefully. Do not retry a large number of attempts — double-check your written seed order and spelling. If necessary, start a new wallet and generate a fresh seed.

Security tips — protecting your funds long term

  • Keep your recovery seed offline and in multiple secure locations if appropriate.
  • Use a hardware wallet for cold storage and avoid entering seeds anywhere online.
  • Check for phishing URLs: verify you’re on official domains when downloading Suite or following setup instructions.
  • Regularly update firmware and Trezor Suite when updates are available from official sources.
  • When granting token approvals, prefer limited-duration or limited-amount approvals to reduce smart contract exposure.

FAQ

Q: Can I recover my wallet on a different Trezor or compatible wallet?

A: Yes—your recovery seed is the key. You can restore your wallet on another Trezor device or many compatible wallets implementing the same BIP39/SLIP39 standards. Be careful: always restore only on trusted hardware or offline environments.

Q: Should I write the seed on multiple pieces of paper?

A: You may keep multiple backups in separate secure locations for redundancy. Each backup increases safety against physical loss but increases exposure risk if not managed properly.

Q: What if someone asks for my recovery seed?

A: This is a scam. Never provide your recovery seed to anyone, including people claiming to be support staff. Official support will never ask for your seed.

Final checklist before sending funds

  • Device firmware is up to date and verified.
  • Recovery seed written down and stored securely.
  • PIN is set and remembered (not written with the seed).
  • You have practiced verifying addresses and transaction details on the device.

Once you’re confident, start by sending a small test amount when interacting with a new address or third-party integration to confirm everything is configured correctly.

Need help?

If you run into problems, consult the official Trezor documentation and support. Avoid community-provided instructions for critical recovery steps unless they come from verified sources. If you suspect a compromised device or seed, move funds to a new wallet with a freshly generated seed on a trusted device.