Trezor.io/Start | Official Start Page — Initialize Your Device™
Quick summary: This guide walks you through initializing your Trezor device safely, setting a recovery seed, creating a PIN, using Trezor Suite, and best practices to keep your crypto secure.
Introduction — why initializing your device correctly matters
Hardware wallets like Trezor provide a powerful layer of security because they keep your private keys offline. But the hardware is only as secure as the initialization process you perform. A proper initialization ensures your device is genuine, your recovery seed is created securely, and you have a robust PIN. This article is a friendly, practical, and thorough walkthrough for beginners and intermediate users alike.
What you'll learn in this guide
How to verify your Trezor device is genuine.
Step-by-step initialization: connecting, firmware, PIN, and recovery seed.
Using Trezor Suite to manage accounts.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Recovery practice and emergency plans.
Before you begin — essential preparation
Take a moment to prepare. Good preparation reduces risk dramatically. Before you touch the device:
Checklist
Buy the device from an authorized seller or the official site.
Have a clean, private workspace with no cameras or strangers around.
Gather a pen and the supplied recovery card or a trusted metal backup product.
Use a personal computer you trust (no unknown public machines).
Consider a small test transfer after setup, before moving large amounts.
If you purchased a Trezor device new from the manufacturer, it should arrive with tamper-evident packaging. If in doubt about packaging, contact the seller or the official Trezor support before proceeding.
Step 1 — Verify the device and firmware
The first step after unpacking is to verify that the device is genuine and that its firmware is the official release. Fake devices can capture your seed or PIN, so verification protects you.
Connect and check packaging
Connect the Trezor to your computer using the included cable. Look for obvious tampering. Use Trezor's official start URL to begin the guided verification and setup process:
The official start page will usually walk you through firmware checks and offer instructions specific to your model. If the firmware on your device is out of date, follow the official prompts to update it before creating a seed or PIN.
Why firmware matters
Firmware is the device's internal software. An up-to-date, signed firmware ensures your Trezor runs the official code and benefits from security fixes. Never skip firmware verification or updates when prompted during the initialization flow.
Step 2 — Initializing and creating a new recovery seed
After verification and any firmware updates, initialize the device. You will be asked to create a new recovery seed — the most important piece of data for your wallet.
What is a recovery seed?
A recovery seed is a mnemonic (a list of words) that represents your private keys. If your device is lost, damaged, or stolen, the seed lets you restore access to your funds on a new hardware wallet or compatible software wallet.
Best practices when writing your seed
Write the seed by hand on the provided recovery card or an offline, secure surface — never as a digital file or photo.
Keep the seed phrase private. Do not enter it into websites or share it with anyone.
Consider multiple backups (e.g., two geographically separated physical copies, or a stamped metal backup), but avoid creating more copies than necessary.
Test your backup on a different device only when necessary and using a new, secure environment.
Trezor devices often use 12 or 24 word seeds (depending on configuration). When the device displays the words, confirm each one carefully before writing it down.
Step 3 — Setting a PIN and optional passphrase
A PIN prevents someone with physical access from using the device even if they have the seed card. The optional passphrase is an advanced feature that adds another secret word to derive a separate wallet.
PIN tips
Choose a PIN that's long and easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.
Avoid obvious numbers like birthdays or repeated digits.
Keep your PIN off paper with your seed — store them separately.
Passphrase considerations (Advanced)
The passphrase feature effectively creates hidden wallets. It adds strong security but also increases responsibility: if you forget the passphrase, recovery is impossible. Use passphrases only if you understand the tradeoffs.
Step 4 — Install and use Trezor Suite
Trezor Suite is the official desktop/web companion application to manage accounts, sign transactions, and view balances. Use the version from the official website and keep it updated.
Basic flows in Trezor Suite
Open Trezor Suite and connect your device.
Unlock the device with your PIN.
Follow the Suite to add accounts (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.).
Receive or send a small test amount first.
<!-- Example: Always confirm addresses on your Trezor screen -->
// pseudo-code describing the idea:
// 1. Suite shows receiving address
// 2. Trezor device displays the same address on its screen
// 3. Verify the characters match before accepting
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Storing seed digitally
Never store your seed phrase in plain text on a computer, phone, cloud storage, or photos. Any digital copy can be stolen by malware, phishing, or remote attackers.
Rushing verification
Skipping firmware verification or ignoring device prompts can expose you to risk. Always follow official prompts and cross-check the device's display.
Sharing your seed or PIN
Scammers may impersonate support and ask for your seed or PIN. No legitimate support will ever request your seed — never share it.
Troubleshooting and recovery
Lost PIN but have the seed
If you forget the PIN but still have your seed, you can wipe the device and restore using the seed on a new or reset device. That is why secure seed backups are essential.
Device damaged or lost
Use your recovery seed on a new compatible device. If you used a passphrase, you'll need both the seed and the passphrase to access the same wallets.
Suspicious behavior
If anything about the device seems suspicious (unexpected screens, prompts to share your seed, or unprompted firmware requests), stop and seek official support.
Security best practices — a checklist
Always confirm addresses and transaction details on the device screen.
Keep your seed written on physical media; consider a metal backup for disaster resistance.
Split backups or use multi-location storage if it reduces single-point-of-failure risk in your context.
Keep device firmware and companion software up to date.
Use a passphrase only if you understand and can reliably remember it or manage it securely.
A short note about social engineering
The most common attacks are social engineering: attackers pretending to be support, or convincing you to reveal seed words. Train yourself and family members who might be trusted to treat seed words like top-secret information.
Advanced topics — multisig, hidden wallets, and more
For larger holdings, consider multisignature wallets (multisig). Multisig splits control across multiple devices or parties — increasing resilience and security. Trezor supports integrations that help build multisig setups with other hardware wallets.
Hidden wallets with passphrases
Passphrases can create hidden wallets. They are powerful but require discipline. Document where you stored the passphrase (not the passphrase itself) and ensure anyone who needs access in an emergency knows the recovery procedure.
FAQ — quick answers
Q: Can I initialize without internet?
A: Yes — the device generates the seed locally. However, companion software or firmware updates may require an internet connection. Always verify firmware signatures when online.
Q: Should I ever type my seed into a computer?
A: No — never type your seed into a computer, phone, or website. The only time the seed should be visible is when you write it down by hand during initialization.
Q: Is it safe to buy a used Trezor?
A: Caution is required. A previously used device may have been tampered with. If you buy used, perform a full wipe and re-initialize the device, and be especially careful with firmware verification and seed setup.
Conclusion — your next steps
Initializing a Trezor device correctly is not difficult, but it requires attention to detail. Follow the official start flow at the official link(s) below, verify firmware, create a secure recovery seed offline, set a strong PIN, and use Trezor Suite safely. After setup, send a small test transaction to confirm everything works as expected.
Official start resources (again for convenience):