Paper, not pixels
Write the seed by hand on paper or metal. Never photograph it, and never store it in a note app or cloud folder.
Step-by-step onboarding path
Start your device and your security habits in one sitting
Trezor.io/start is the practical beginning of self-custody: unbox and inspect the device, connect it, verify the firmware, create your wallet, and write your recovery seed down by hand. Ten minutes of careful setup, then a lifetime of quieter nights.
- Keys never leave the device
- Open-source firmware
- Works with the desktop app or browser
- Setup time
- ~10 min
- Steps
- 4
- Recovery words
- 12–24
- Keys online
- 0
Enter PIN
Unlock your wallet
The four steps
From sealed box to protected wallet
Do these in order, on a device you trust, in a room where nobody is watching.
-
01
Unbox & inspect
Check the seal, the packaging and the device itself. A pre-written seed card that you did not create is a warning sign — stop there.
-
02
Connect to your computer
Use the cable from the box. The screen lights up on its own — nothing on the device is controlled by the computer, only confirmed by you.
-
03
Install the companion app
Install the desktop app and let it check the firmware. Verified firmware is signed by the maker; if the check fails, do not type your seed anywhere.
-
04
Create or recover your wallet
Create a new wallet or restore an existing one. Write the recovery seed down by hand, in order, then set a PIN you can remember.
Security essentials
The habits that actually protect a balance
A hardware wallet moves the keys offline. These six routines keep them there.
PIN on the device
The PIN locks the device itself. Three wrong tries trigger a wipe, so a stolen unit stays useless to a thief.
Optional passphrase
A passphrase creates a hidden wallet. It lives only in your head, so back up its existence — not just the words.
Verify addresses on the screen
Check the first and last characters of every receiving address on the device display before you send anything.
Buy from the source
Order from the official store or an authorised reseller. Second-hand devices with unknown history are never worth the risk.
Practise recovery once
Rebuild the wallet from your backup while the balance is small. A backup you have never tested is only a hope.
Beyond the first session
Device management, recovery practice and transaction awareness
Startup is one afternoon. Ownership is everything that follows: keeping the firmware current, knowing what your backup contains, and reading each transaction before you approve it on the device.
- Device & firmware management Update when prompted, and only ever through the official app.
- Recovery practice Keep a second location for your backup, and check the words are legible in five years.
- Transaction awareness Slow down at the confirmation screen — that is the last point where you control the outcome.
- Responsible ownership Self-custody means the keys are yours, and so is the responsibility. Never invest more than you can hold calmly.
From the guide
Trezor.io/start: Setting Up Your Device and Your Security Habits
Setting up a hardware wallet is less about software and more about habits. The Trezor.io/start journey begins the moment the box arrives: check the seal, confirm nobody has opened it, and ignore any pre-written recovery card that did not come from the manufacturer. Those cards are a classic sign of tampering.
Once you connect the device to your computer and install the desktop application, the firmware is verified and the device walks you through creating a new wallet. Your recovery seed appears on the device screen only — never on your monitor. Write those words on paper by hand, in order, and store them somewhere offline and private. Never photograph them, never paste them into a password manager, and never type them into a website or share them with support.
After setup, take a moment to add a PIN and consider a passphrase for a hidden wallet. Then practise: send a small test amount, confirm the receiving address on the device screen, and only then move larger balances.
Security is a routine, not a single click. Update firmware when prompted, verify what you sign, and treat every unexpected message as a potential scam. Small habits, repeated, are what keep long-term holdings safe.
Your recovery seed is the wallet. The device is only the lock.
Questions
Answers before you begin
Where does the recovery seed appear during setup?
Only on the device screen. It is never shown in a browser, an email or a chat, and no support agent needs it. If a page asks you to type your words in, close it.
How long does starting up a hardware wallet take?
Most people finish the basic flow in about ten minutes: unboxing, connecting, firmware verification, creating the wallet and setting a PIN.
Is it safe to receive crypto before writing down the seed?
No. Back up the recovery seed on paper first, then send a small test amount and confirm the address on the device screen before moving larger balances.
What should I do if someone asks for my seed words?
Treat it as a scam. Stop the conversation, never enter the words anywhere, and check the official support channels through a bookmarked address — not a link someone sent you.
Ready when you are
Work through the four steps once, calmly, and write everything down. That is the whole secret.