What you’ll need
Gather your Trezor device (Model T or Trezor One), the included USB cable, a computer (Windows/macOS/Linux), and a quiet private space to write down your recovery seed. Prepare a notebook or the provided recovery card—do not photograph your seed or store it digitally. If you plan long-term custody, consider a metal backup plate for durability.
Unboxing checks
Inspect packaging for tamper evidence. Trezor devices shipped from the official store include tamper-evident seals—if anything looks suspicious, stop and contact official support before connecting the device.
Step 1 — Download and verify
Navigate to the official start page at trezor.io/start. Download the Trezor Suite or use the web Start flow as instructed. When possible verify the download checksum or signature if you follow an advanced verification workflow.
Why verification matters
Verifying downloads defends against supply-chain attacks. For most users, downloading directly from the official site and using the provided Suite is sufficient. Advanced users may verify signatures using the resources provided on the Trezor site.
Step 2 — Initialize the device (safe first run)
- Connect the Trezor to your computer using the supplied cable and open Trezor Suite or Start page.
- Choose Create new wallet (or Recover wallet if you already have a seed).
- Follow the on-screen instructions — the device will generate a recovery seed; write the words down in order on your recovery card.
- Set a device PIN. This PIN prevents unauthorized physical use if the device is lost or stolen.
- Optionally enable a passphrase (hidden wallet) if you understand the extra responsibility of remembering it.
Seed handling: essential rules
- Do not store the seed digitally (photos, cloud, text files).
- Do not share the seed with anyone — no legitimate support agent will ever ask for it.
- Keep at least one offline backup in a different physical location if you need redundancy.
Step 3 — Verify & perform a test transaction
After initialization, create an account and receive a small test transfer. Confirm that the receive address shown in Suite matches the address on your device display before sharing it with the sender. Then, send a small amount out and verify the transaction details on-device before approving. These two small tests prove the end-to-end setup is correct.
Address verification
Host-side malware can alter addresses. Trezor defends against this by showing addresses on the device display — always confirm the full address on the device screen before approving any send.
Security best practices
The hardware wallet model assumes the host (computer) may be insecure. The device places the signing authority in hardware so a compromised host cannot exfiltrate your keys. Follow these practices to keep your setup robust:
- Enable and use a strong PIN on the device.
- Back up your recovery seed offline and keep it private.
- Use passphrase-protected wallets only if you can reliably remember the passphrase.
- Only download Suite and Bridge from official Trezor domains.
- Keep firmware and Suite updated—updates include important security fixes and compatibility improvements.
Troubleshooting common issues
If your device is not detected or Suite cannot connect, try these steps before contacting support: use another USB cable or port, restart the Suite and your machine, ensure Bridge (if required) is running, or try the device on another computer.
When to contact support
Contact official Trezor support for firmware failures, suspected tampering, or complex recovery questions. Never follow community “fixes” that ask you to disclose your seed—only support can validate the correct recovery process.
Advanced features & power-user workflows
Power users can leverage PSBT (Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions) for air-gapped signing, use multiple devices for splitting custody, integrate Trezor with local nodes for improved privacy, or use developer SDKs for custom integrations. Each advanced workflow increases responsibility—document procedures carefully and test recovery steps in a safe environment.
PSBT & air-gapped signing
PSBT workflows allow you to create a transaction on an offline machine, sign it on the Trezor, and broadcast it from an online machine. This reduces exposure when moving large sums and is recommended for high-security operations.
Official resources — 10 links to bookmark
Use only these official resources to download, verify, learn, and get help:
Final notes — keep your keys under your control
Using Trezor with Trezor Suite gives you a strong, pragmatic balance of security and usability. The most important habit is consistent seed hygiene: keep copies offline, never disclose your seed or PIN, verify downloads, and confirm addresses on-device. If you hold significant assets, consider multi-sig or splitting custody across devices and locations. With careful setup and regular hygiene, a Trezor device can be the durable guardian of your crypto keys for years to come.
Prepared as a comprehensive, landing-style Trezor.io/Start® guide—follow the official links above for downloads, verification, and support.