Get started safely — in five minutes

This page guides you through powering up, initializing, and securing your Trézor device. Follow the steps below carefully — hardware wallets protect your crypto by keeping private keys offline.

1
Unbox & inspect
Confirm packaging is sealed and device shows no signs of tampering.
2
Power & connect
Connect your Trézor to a computer or phone using the supplied cable. Use vendor software from the official site only.
3
Initialize securely
Create a new wallet on-device. Write down the recovery seed on the supplied card — never store it digitally.
4
Set a strong PIN
Protect the device with a PIN. Longer, non-sequential PINs increase safety.
5
Verify & use
Verify receiving addresses on the device screen before sending funds.
Download official app
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On-device security

Private keys never leave the device — all sensitive actions are confirmed on the hardware screen.

Open firmware

Auditable code and community-reviewed updates let you validate device behavior independently.

Backup & recovery

Secure recovery seed empowers you to restore funds if the device is lost — protect it physically.

About starting up your Trézor device

A hardware wallet's job is simple but critical: generate, store, and use your private keys in a way that isolates them from internet-connected devices. When you start a new Trézor, the device generates a recovery seed — a human-readable set of words — which is the single most important artifact for recovering your funds. Treat the seed like cash: keep it offline and physically secure.

Initialization typically asks you to choose between creating a new wallet or restoring from an existing seed. If creating a new wallet, write the recovery seed exactly as shown, in the correct order, on the physical recovery card that shipped with the device or on a high-quality metal backup designed for long-term storage. Never photograph or store your seed in cloud services or on a mobile/computer device.

After recording the seed, you'll set a PIN. This PIN protects access to the device; repeated incorrect PIN attempts may erase the device (depending on settings). For advanced users, an optional passphrase can be enabled: this acts as a hidden additional word to the seed and can create multiple independent wallets on the same device. Note: if you forget a passphrase you enabled, it cannot be recovered — only use it if you're prepared to manage it securely.

Finally, verify that the receiving address shown in your wallet application matches the address displayed on your Trézor device screen before you send funds. This ensures that a compromised computer or app has not tampered with the address. The device display is the root of trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Store it offline in at least two physically separate, secure locations (e.g., safe deposit box, home safe). Prefer durable media (metal backup). Never store the seed digitally or share it with anyone.
Yes — but update only from official sources. Confirm the firmware version and checksum on the device screen when prompted. Updates patch security issues and can add features.
If you have your recovery seed, you can restore your wallet on a new compatible device. Without the seed (and any passphrase), funds cannot be recovered.
Yes. The device holds your keys and can be used with authorized applications on multiple hosts. Always confirm addresses on the device display.
Passphrases increase privacy and security but introduce extra risk: if you forget a passphrase, you lose access. Use it only if you can reliably manage it offline.