Welcome to your first step into secure cryptocurrency management. This guide is designed to help you correctly and safely set up your Trezor® hardware wallet. Whether you're using the Model One or Model T, the process is user-friendly, secure, and essential for protecting your crypto assets.
Trezor® is a hardware wallet that keeps your private keys offline, safe from hackers, malware, and phishing attempts. Unlike online wallets, Trezor® ensures your keys are never exposed to the internet. This makes it one of the most trusted solutions for storing Bitcoin and over 1,000+ other cryptocurrencies.
Make sure you have the following:
Plug your Trezor® device into your computer using the provided USB cable. Wait for the device to power on and display the welcome message. You’ll be instructed to continue setup using the Trezor Suite.
Trezor Suite is the official desktop app used to manage your wallet. Install and open it. The app will automatically detect your connected device and offer you the option to begin setup.
For security reasons, new Trezor® devices ship without firmware installed. Trezor Suite will guide you through installing the latest official firmware. Always verify the firmware update using the instructions shown on the device screen.
After firmware installation, you will be prompted to create a new wallet. Select "Create Wallet" and choose the standard seed backup option. Trezor® will now generate a unique recovery seed phrase that acts as your backup key.
Your recovery seed is a sequence of 12, 18, or 24 words shown only on your device screen. Write them down in the correct order on your Recovery Seed card. Never store your seed digitally, and never share it with anyone. This seed allows full access to your funds.
You will be asked to confirm some of the seed words to ensure you've written them down accurately. This is an important step to prevent errors that could lock you out of your funds later.
Choose a strong PIN code using the device screen. The PIN protects your wallet from unauthorized physical access. You’ll enter this PIN every time you plug in your device. Choose a number that’s easy for you to remember but difficult to guess.
Once setup is complete, your Trezor Suite dashboard will appear. You can now add accounts (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.), send and receive crypto, monitor balances, and explore advanced features like labeling, exchange integration, and account backups.
For additional security, you can enable a passphrase. This acts like a "25th word" to your recovery seed and creates a hidden wallet. This is optional but highly recommended for advanced users.
If your device is lost or damaged, you can recover your wallet using the recovery seed on another Trezor® or compatible wallet. This makes your seed the most important element of your setup—keep it secure!
Setting up your Trezor® wallet using Trezor.io/Start ensures your crypto assets are protected from online threats. The entire process takes only a few minutes but gives you long-term peace of mind. Whether you're new to crypto or an experienced holder, Trezor® provides one of the safest environments for managing digital currency.