Trezor.io/start

Begin by physically connecting your Trezor to your computer using the supplied **USB cable**. Upon connection, the device screen will light up, typically displaying a lock icon and a welcome message, such as `go to trezor.io/start`. This is the confirmation that the device has power and is recognized by your operating system. **Crucially**, before proceeding, you must ensure the device packaging was pristine. The box should be sealed with two distinct tamper-evident seals. For the Trezor Model One, this includes a silver holographic seal over the USB port. The newer Trezor models use advanced packaging techniques, but the principle remains the same: any sign of tampering, such as residue, tears, or mismatched labels, necessitates halting the setup and contacting support.

Once connected, your computer will prompt you to download the **Trezor Suite** application, which is the official interface for managing your wallet. Always download this software *only* from the official Trezor website to mitigate the risk of downloading malware or phishing software. The Trezor Suite acts as a secure bridge, relaying commands to your device while ensuring your private keys never leave the hardware. This layer of abstraction is foundational to the security model of a hardware wallet. The software will automatically detect your connected device and guide you through the remaining steps. This initial connection and physical verification step is arguably the most vital in the entire process, as it establishes trust in the physical security of your new device.

The process confirms device recognition: when you open the Trezor Suite, it should immediately recognize the model and serial number of your connected device. If the software fails to recognize the device, try a different USB port or a different cable before assuming a fault with the Trezor itself. Compatibility checks and ensuring up-to-date operating system drivers can often resolve minor connectivity issues. Remember, the Trezor is designed to start completely blank and uninitialized, meaning no pre-configured PINs or recovery seeds should ever be present.

A brand-new Trezor device does not contain a full, working copy of the firmware. This is a deliberate security feature. The **firmware** is the specialized, lightweight operating system that governs the device's functions, most importantly the cryptographic operations and the secure display of sensitive information. The Trezor Suite will immediately prompt you to install the latest official firmware version. This process involves the computer uploading the code to the Trezor's secure chip. During this transfer, the Trezor Suite will automatically verify the digital signature of the firmware against the official public keys stored securely within the hardware.

The verification step is non-negotiable and provides a critical defense against supply chain attacks. If the digital signature does not perfectly match the expected signature, the device will refuse to install the firmware, protecting you from loading malicious software. The installation process typically takes a few minutes, during which your Trezor screen will show a progress bar. **Do not disconnect your device** during this critical phase, as interrupting the process could temporarily 'brick' the device, requiring a more complex recovery procedure. Once the firmware is installed, the device will reboot and display a unique fingerprint or hash on its screen.

The **firmware hash** displayed on the Trezor device screen must exactly match the hash shown on the Trezor Suite software interface. This is the final verification that what your computer *thinks* it uploaded is what the device *actually* received and loaded. The cryptographic hash acts as a unique identifier for that specific firmware build. Should even one digit or character be mismatched, it signifies a potential compromise, and you must stop the setup immediately. This rigorous self-check mechanism ensures that even if your computer is infected with malware, the device itself has the final say on the integrity of the code it runs, maintaining the integrity of the hardware wallet system and ensuring its trustworthy operation.

Newer firmware versions often include patches for vulnerabilities, enhancements to existing cryptographic algorithms, and support for new coin types or features. Maintaining the latest firmware is a core component of responsible hardware wallet ownership, extending the security and functionality of the device throughout its operational lifespan. Always perform updates through the official Trezor Suite application and never from third-party sources or browser extensions, which may attempt to compromise your setup.

The Recovery Seed is a sequence of 12, 18, or 24 words, determined by the BIP39 standard. These words are not random; they are a human-readable representation of your private master key, from which all other cryptocurrency keys are mathematically derived. The Trezor will display these words one by one on its **small, trusted screen**. This is a deliberate security measure: displaying the words only on the Trezor screen prevents any malware on your computer from capturing them. **You must write these words down immediately, in the exact order, on the provided recovery card or a durable, fireproof medium.**

The extreme importance of the Recovery Seed cannot be overstated. It is the **single point of failure and recovery** for your funds. If your Trezor device is lost, stolen, or destroyed, this 12- or 24-word phrase is the only way to restore access to your cryptocurrencies onto a new Trezor or any compatible hardware or software wallet. Losing this seed means losing all your assets permanently. Conversely, if an attacker gains access to your seed, they gain full, irrevocable access to spend your funds, regardless of whether they have your physical Trezor device or your PIN.

**Never:**

• Store the seed on your computer, phone, or any digital device (even temporarily).
• Take a photo of the seed, or email it to yourself.
• Say the seed words out loud where they could be overheard or recorded.
• Laminate the card, as the ink may smudge over time; instead, use quality paper and store it safely.

The recommended best practice is to store the written seed in a secure, hidden location, such as a **safe deposit box, a fireproof safe, or secured at a second, geographically separate location**. Some users opt for metal-stamping solutions to protect the seed from water, fire, and time degradation. Once you have written down the entire phrase, the Trezor Suite will prompt you to confirm a few randomly selected words to ensure you recorded them correctly. Pay close attention to spelling and order, as even a single character error will render the backup useless. Once the seed is confirmed, the device is initialized and ready for the final steps.

Think of the seed as the bank vault key, and the Trezor device itself as the key card that gets you into the room. Both are needed, but the seed is the ultimate master key that rebuilds the entire vault if it ever needs to be moved. The total length and weight of these instructions emphasize the non-fungible nature of this single piece of information. Unlike traditional passwords that can be reset by an authority, the seed is permissionless and cannot be changed or recovered by Trezor support, ensuring that you and only you are the sole controller of your financial freedom.

The **PIN (Personal Identification Number)** is used to unlock your Trezor device for daily use. It prevents unauthorized physical access to your wallet. You will enter this PIN directly on the **Trezor device screen** using the randomly generated number pad layout shown on the Trezor Suite interface. The actual numbers (1-9) are constantly randomized on the computer screen, while your Trezor screen shows a fixed 3x3 grid. This clever design prevents keylogging malware on your computer from figuring out which number you pressed, as the malware only sees the physical coordinates of the click, not the numbers themselves.

Your PIN should be between 4 and 50 digits long. While a 4-digit PIN might seem convenient, for enhanced security, it is highly recommended to choose a longer, more complex PIN, ideally **8 to 12 digits**. Unlike a typical banking PIN, the Trezor PIN is heavily protected by a delay feature: if an incorrect PIN is entered, the time delay for the next attempt doubles exponentially. This means that a brute-force attack becomes computationally unfeasible. For example, after just 15 incorrect attempts, the delay is so long that the total time required to try all remaining combinations could exceed 17 years.

**Important distinction:** The PIN is a convenience layer that protects the physical device. The **Recovery Seed** is the ultimate security layer that protects the private keys. The PIN can be reset without losing funds (by entering the Recovery Seed again), but the Recovery Seed can never be reset. Choose a PIN that is memorable but not easily guessed (avoid birthdays, repetitive numbers, or sequential patterns). This completes the major security steps and moves you into the final customization phase of the setup process.