Trezor® | | Starting Up Your Device (H1)

A colourful, clear presentation-style guide to get your hardware wallet up and running.

Introduction — What is a Trezor®?

A Trezor® hardware wallet is a secure, offline device designed to protect your private keys and keep your digital assets safe. This guide walks you through the first-time setup process with approachable language, helpful tips, and visual contrast so you can follow along confidently. The content below is intentionally descriptive and includes new vocabulary and suggested phrasing to help you document your own process or teach others.

Before You Begin

  • Charge & Inspect: Unbox your Trezor® and visually inspect it for any damage. Use only the official cable included in the package.
  • Clean workspace: Prepare a clean, private surface free from cameras and prying eyes. Your recovery seed must be kept secret.
  • Official Source: Always download software from the official Trezor website or follow the QR code on the device packaging.
  • Backup Materials: Have a pen and durable paper or the supplied recovery card ready for writing down your seed phrase.

Step-by-step: Initial Setup

  1. Connect the device: Use the provided cable to connect Trezor® to your computer. Your screen should display the Trezor welcome message.
  2. Open Suite: Visit suite.trezor.io on your computer or open the official Trezor Suite app. Follow the on-screen prompt to begin.
  3. Device Firmware: If prompted, update the firmware. Firmware updates include important security improvements. Only proceed when connected directly to an official source.
  4. Create New Wallet: Choose "Create new" to initialize a new wallet. The device will generate a random recovery seed — never enter it into a computer or phone.
  5. Write the Seed: Carefully write each word of the recovery seed in order. Do not store the seed as a photo, in cloud storage, or on an online device.
  6. Confirm: Confirm the seed when prompted by your device. This verifies you've recorded it correctly.
  7. Set a PIN: Create a PIN for local access to the device. A PIN protects against physical theft and tampering.

Recommended Best Practices

Air-gapped signing: For maximum security, consider using an offline computer for signing transactions and only connecting to the internet when necessary.
Multi-backup strategy: Create more than one physical copy of your recovery seed and store them in geographically separated, secure locations (e.g., safe deposit box, home safe).
Shamir Backup (optional): Advanced users may use Shamir Backup to split the recovery seed into multiple shares — useful for distributed custody among trusted parties.

Troubleshooting & Common Questions

  • Device not recognized: Try a different USB port or cable. Ensure you've installed any required drivers if your OS needs them.
  • Forgotten PIN: If you forget your PIN, you must factory-reset the device and restore from your recovery seed. This is why safe seed storage is critical.
  • Seed written incorrectly: If you miswrote any word, do not proceed with storing funds. Reset and regenerate the seed until recorded perfectly.

Glossary — New Words & Phrases

Recovery Seed: A sequence of words that encode the private keys for your wallet. Think of it as the ultimate master key.

Air-gapped: A system or device that is physically isolated from the internet or any network for security.

Shamir Backup: A cryptographic method that splits a secret into multiple parts (shares). Only a subset is required to reconstruct the original secret.

Firmware: Software stored in your device that controls low-level operations. Keep firmware updated but verify authenticity before applying.

Security Checklist

  • Use official cables and software.
  • Never disclose your recovery seed to anyone or any service.
  • Keep multiple physical backups of your seed phrase.
  • Use a strong PIN and consider passphrase protection for additional security.

Suggested Language for Documentation

Here are ready-to-use sentences you can copy into documentation, emails, or posts:

  • "Unbox your Trezor® and confirm the tamper-evident seal is intact before powering the device."
  • "Write down the recovery seed on the provided recovery card and store it offline in two separate secure locations."
  • "Update the firmware only when prompted within the official Trezor Suite application to ensure authenticity and safety."

Full Example — Step-by-Step Script (copyable)

1. Connect device -> Open suite.trezor.io
2. Follow prompts -> Update firmware (if requested)
3. Select "Create new wallet"
4. Write recovery seed, confirm words
5. Set a secure PIN
6. Verify wallet shows a receiving address in Trezor Suite
7. Send a small test amount to confirm flow

Quick Reference

Colored cues to guide you

  • Green: Success states and recommended actions.
  • Purple: Warnings and important choices (firmware / Shamir).
  • Cyan: Informational steps and links.
Download printable checklist

FAQ

Q: Can I backup the seed digitally?
A: Strongly discouraged — physical backups are safest.

Q: What if my device is lost?
A: Use your recovery seed to restore funds on a new device.

Design Palette