Trézor.io/Start | Starting Up Your Device

Introduction

What this presentation covers

This document is a presentation-format guide that walks you through starting up a Trézor hardware wallet, from the moment you open the box to the point where you can securely receive, store, and send digital assets. It emphasizes safety-first steps, including firmware verification, secure backup of the recovery seed, and device hygiene practices that protect your funds against common risks. The presentation is written to be practical and instructive — not a substitute for the official Trézor documentation, but a companion that organizes essential steps in an accessible format.

Who should follow this guide?

This guide is aimed at:

First-time Trézor users who want a clear ordered checklist.
Users migrating funds from a software wallet to cold storage.
Anyone who wants to review or teach best practices for hardware wallet safety.

Scope & privacy note

This presentation does not provide legal or financial advice. It focuses on operational security and setup guidance. Do not share your recovery seed, PIN, or passphrase with anyone. Treat your device like a bank safe: secure, private, and under your control.

Unboxing & First Look

What you should see in the box

A typical Trézor package should include the hardware device, a USB cable (or USB-C/adapter depending on model), tamper-evident seals (if applicable), a quick-start leaflet, and recovery seed cards. Packaging is designed to be minimal and secure. If anything looks tampered with, stop and contact support via official channels.

Inspecting for tampering

Before powering the device, visually examine seals and packaging. Look for:

Broken or resealed stickers.
Scratches on the device not consistent with manufacturing.
Missing recovery seed card or unexpected accessories.

Initial hygiene

Do the unboxing in a private, clean area. Avoid public Wi-Fi while performing setup steps that involve your computer and the device. Prepare a pen and the provided recovery seed card (or a high-quality metal backup if you have one).

Security note

If the package appears compromised, do not use the device and contact Trézor official support. Do not proceed with entering or creating seeds on a suspicious device.

Powering On & Device First Boot

Connecting to your computer

Use the supplied USB cable and connect the device directly to a trusted computer — avoid hubs or unknown adapters. When the device powers on, the screen will show a welcome message and a new device setup option. If the device shows pre-existing data or an unrelated seed prompt, treat it as pre-initialized and contact official support.

Important first-step decisions

Create a new wallet — for brand new hardware that you own, choose "Create new wallet".
Recover existing wallet — if you already have a recovery seed and are restoring to this device, choose "Recover wallet".
Verify firmware — always verify firmware integrity using the official app/website before continuing.

Why firmware matters

Firmware is the device’s operating system. Installing or running non-official firmware can compromise security. Ensure your device's firmware is up-to-date and verified through an official source. Many modern hardware wallets provide a cryptographic verification step; follow it carefully.

Firmware & Safety Check

Check firmware using official channels

Open the official Trézor web/desktop app from the official domain, not from search results. Confirm signatures and verify that the device identifies itself correctly. The app will typically offer a firmware verification process and will show the device's firmware version. If the firmware is missing or flagged, follow the official instructions to update, and verify again.

Do NOT enter your seed to test

Never type your recovery seed into a computer, mobile phone, or web page to "test" that it's correct. The only safe place for your seed is offline, on paper or a secure metal backup. Devices themselves store seeds in secure hardware — you should never export the seed as plain text.

Verification checklist

Confirm the web app domain is correct (official domain only)
Verify the device fingerprint displayed on the device matches the app
Only accept firmware from the official source

Setup Wizard: Step-by-step

Step A — Create a new wallet

Choose "Create new wallet" on the device. The device will generate a new recovery seed using its internal randomness. Let the device display each seed word one at a time. Record every word carefully and sequentially on the official seed card. Do not rush.

Step B — Confirm your seed

After recording, the device will ask you to confirm several words. This confirms you wrote them down correctly. Confirm the requested words using the device's buttons. If you make a mistake, carefully restart the process and generate a new seed.

Step C — Set a PIN

Choose a PIN that is strong but memorable. Avoid sequential numbers, repeated digits, or obvious dates. A PIN combined with a hidden passphrase (optional) offers additional protection — see the passphrase section below. Memorize your PIN and never share it. The PIN is entered using the device’s secure keypad, where the input is randomized to reduce touch-logging risks.

Step D — Install official apps (bridge)

Follow instructions to install the official companion software (web/desktop) if your device requires it. The app helps you manage accounts and install coin-specific apps. Always download the companion app from official sources.

Pro tip

After setup, move a small test amount (e.g., a tiny fraction of cryptocurrency) into the wallet and then attempt to send it back to confirm everything works before transferring substantial funds.

Backup — Recovery Seed

What is a recovery seed?

A recovery seed (usually 12, 18, or 24 words) is a human-readable representation of the cryptographic private key that controls your funds. If your device is lost or destroyed, the recovery seed is the only way to restore access to your assets. Keep it offline, secret, and distribute copies only through extremely secure means (e.g., physically stored in safe deposit boxes).

Recording the seed

Use the official recovery seed card or high-quality paper designed for archival storage.
Write slowly and legibly. Record words exactly as displayed — spelling matters.
Consider using a certified metal backup (stamped or engraved) for redundancy and fire resistance.

Where NOT to store the seed

On cloud drives, emails, or photos on your phone.
In password managers that sync to cloud providers (unless specifically designed for secrets and fully offline).
Typed into a computer in plain text.

Sharing & inheritance

If you plan an inheritance, use split-key strategies or multisig rather than handing out the single seed to anyone. Sharing the seed gives full control to the recipient — consider legal and cryptographic counsel for estate planning.

PIN & Passphrase Guidance

Understanding the PIN

The PIN prevents casual access to the device if it is stolen. Each incorrect PIN entry increases a delay or can wipe the device after repeated failed attempts (depending on model settings). Choose a PIN that balances memorability and unpredictability.

Passphrase (hidden wallet)

A passphrase is an optional additional secret that extends your seed. Think of the passphrase as a 25th word that only you know. This creates a hidden wallet: the same device and seed will produce different wallets depending on the passphrase entered. Use a passphrase only if you understand the risks: if you forget the passphrase, the funds are irrecoverable. If you use a passphrase, document its recovery method in a secure, offline plan.

Combining PIN + Passphrase

PIN protects the device while physically present.
Passphrase protects the actual funds and can create plausible deniability (there can be multiple hidden wallets).

Security warning

Do not store the passphrase in plain text with your recovery seed. If both are lost or stolen together, they provide direct access to funds.

Installing Apps & Integrations

Coin apps and integration patterns

Modern hardware wallets often support multiple coins via installable applications. Use the official manager/companion app to install coin-specific modules. Each coin app interacts with your device to derive addresses and sign transactions; only use trusted integrations.

Using software wallets with your device

Many desktop and mobile wallets can use the hardware device as a signing key. When connecting to a third-party wallet, verify the origin domain, review permissions, and test with a small amount. Never provide your private key or seed — only the device signs transactions.

Multisig and advanced setups

For larger stores of value, consider multisignature (multisig) setups where multiple devices or parties are required to spend funds. Multisig adds complexity but considerably raises security against single-point-of-failure events and social attacks.

Security Best Practices

Operational security checklist

Always verify device firmware through official channels before use.
Record and store your recovery seed offline and redundantly.
Use a passphrase only if you can securely manage it.
Test with small amounts before transferring large sums.
Prefer air-gapped or dedicated devices for high-value operations.

Protect against social engineering

Never reveal your recovery seed, passphrase, or PIN to anyone claiming to be customer support. Official support will not ask for your seed. Phishers frequently imitate support channels — validate domains and proven contact methods before taking action.

Regular maintenance

Periodically check for firmware updates and verify update authenticity. Maintain at least two separate backups of your seed stored in physically independent secure locations (for example, a home safe and a bank safe deposit box). Consider creating a sealed envelope or tamper-evident container to store recovery materials.

Storing large amounts

For very large holdings, use institutional-grade controls, multisig, or trusted custodial services after careful evaluation. Hardware wallet + multisig onsite/offsite split backups are common enterprise patterns.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Device not powering on

Check cable and port. Try a different trusted USB cable and port on a known-good computer. Avoid charging-only cables — they may not include data lines. If the device still does not power on, contact official support.

Firmware update failed

If an update fails, do not enter your recovery seed into anything until you’ve verified the update status on official channels. Attempt the update again using official methods. If problems persist, reach out to support, but never share your seed.

Lost recovery seed

Recovering access without the seed is not possible. If you have lost your seed but still have access to the device and account, create a new wallet and transfer funds immediately to the new wallet, then safely back up its seed. If funds are already inaccessible, consult a specialist, but be cautious about scams promising recovery in exchange for your seed.

Device shows unexpected seed or accounts

If your device displays unexpected content (other seed/accounts), stop and treat it as compromised. Do not enter any seed or transfer funds. Contact official support for next steps.

Appendix & Glossary

Glossary of common terms

Seed / Recovery Seed: A human-readable set of mnemonic words representing your wallet's private keys.
Firmware: The device's internal software that controls hardware and security functions.
Passphrase: An optional secret appended to the seed to generate a hidden wallet.
Multisig: A setup requiring multiple signatures from different keys/devices to authorize a transaction.

Additional resources

Always reference official Trézor documentation, support pages, and community forums run by the vendor for advanced or model-specific steps. Use the official domain when downloading software and follow recommended security checks.

Final checklist before storing significant funds

Seed properly recorded and multiple backups created.
PIN chosen and memorized.
Firmware verified and up-to-date.
Test transactions completed successfully.
If using passphrase, documented secure recovery plan created.
Consider engaging multisig or professional custody for large holdings.

This guide is intended to be comprehensive but condensed into a presentation format. Use it as a checklist and companion to official vendor material. Treat security with seriousness and the respect it deserves — the protections you put in place now will protect you later.