Welcome to Trezor: Start Your Journey to Digital Security
This is the official and most secure starting point for setting up your new Trezor hardware wallet. Follow our simple, step-by-step guide to activate your device and take full control of your digital assets.
Why You Must Use Trezor.io/start
In the cryptocurrency world, the greatest security threat often comes from phishing and malicious websites that mimic official sites. Trezor.io/start is your direct, verified, and secure gateway to your device's setup process. By navigating directly to this URL, you bypass search engine results or links from potentially compromised sources that could lead you to a fraudulent site. This simple act of typing the URL directly into your browser's address bar is the first and most critical step in protecting your future assets. It ensures that the software you download is authentic and that your device setup begins in a trusted environment, free from external threats. Think of this page as a digital safe harbor, where every instruction and every file is officially vetted by SatoshiLabs, the creators of Trezor. Your security is our top priority, and starting here is the foundation of a secure, worry-free experience with your new hardware wallet.
Your Secure Setup Guide
Follow these precise, step-by-step instructions to get your Trezor device ready. Each step is designed to maximize your security and ensure a smooth, successful setup. Do not deviate from these steps or follow instructions from any other source.
Connect Your Trezor Device
The very first step is to physically connect your Trezor device to your computer using the provided USB cable. Your computer's operating system should recognize the device immediately. Do not be alarmed if nothing happens on your screen right away; this is normal. The device's small screen should light up and display a welcome message. This physical connection establishes a secure link that will be managed by the Trezor Suite application in the next step. It's crucial to use the official cable provided to prevent any potential tampering.
Install Trezor Suite
Trezor Suite is the desktop application that allows you to interact with your Trezor device. From the official Trezor website, download the correct version of Trezor Suite for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). This application is the secure portal for all your cryptocurrency management. Once the download is complete, install the software. It will automatically detect your connected Trezor device. This software is designed to operate in a highly secure manner, communicating with your device through a secure channel (Trezor Bridge) without ever exposing your private keys to the internet. The software is also fully open-source, allowing for public audit and verification of its security.
Create or Recover a Wallet
Trezor Suite will prompt you to either create a new wallet or recover an existing one. If this is your first time setting up a Trezor, select "Create New Wallet." If you are migrating from a different Trezor or another compatible hardware wallet, you can use your existing recovery seed to restore your wallet. For first-time users, the "Create New Wallet" option will guide you through initializing your device and generating a unique recovery seed. This process is a foundational element of your security. The device will generate your recovery seed offline and store it in its secure hardware, ensuring it is never exposed to your computer.
Create Your PIN
Next, you will be asked to create a PIN. This PIN is a vital secondary layer of protection for your device. It prevents unauthorized access if someone were to get their hands on your physical Trezor. You will enter the PIN using a scrambled number pad displayed on the Trezor device screen, not on your computer. This process is designed to defeat keyloggers and other malware. You will need to remember this PIN and enter it every time you connect your device to your computer. It is crucial that you do not write this PIN down or store it digitally. Your PIN should be a number that you can easily remember but is not easily guessed by others.
Back Up Your Recovery Seed (This is Critical)
Your recovery seed is the master key to your entire wallet. It is a list of 12 or 24 words that can be used to recover all your funds in the event that your Trezor device is lost, stolen, or damaged. Trezor Suite will guide you through this process. Write down each word exactly as it appears on your Trezor device's screen onto the provided recovery card. You must do this with extreme care and precision. Double-check your spelling. The order of the words is also extremely important.
**Why is this so important?** Your recovery seed is the single backup of your crypto assets. If you lose your Trezor and your recovery seed, your funds are permanently lost. If someone else finds your recovery seed, they can gain full control of your wallet and all your funds.
**Critical Safety Measures for Your Recovery Seed:**
- **Never** take a photo of your recovery seed.
- **Never** save it digitally (on your computer, in an email, on the cloud).
- **Never** type it into a computer or smartphone.
- Store your recovery seed in a secure, physical location, like a safe or a fireproof box.
- Do not tell anyone your recovery seed. You are the only one who should ever know it.
Under the Hood: How Trezor Keeps You Safe
Trezor’s security model is built on a simple yet powerful principle: your private keys, which are the cryptographic secrets that control your funds, never leave the physical Trezor device. This core design is what makes a hardware wallet the gold standard for cryptocurrency security. The entire Trezor ecosystem is meticulously crafted to ensure this principle is never violated.
Secure Offline Environment
Your Trezor device operates in a completely isolated, offline environment. When you want to send a transaction, you create the transaction details on your computer using Trezor Suite. However, this is just the unsigned transaction. Trezor Suite then sends this unsigned transaction to the device. Your Trezor device, using your private keys stored securely within its hardware, signs the transaction. This signing process happens entirely on the device itself, away from any potential online threats. Once signed, the device sends the transaction back to Trezor Suite, which then broadcasts it to the blockchain. At no point during this process are your private keys exposed to your computer or the internet. This is a fundamental security feature that makes Trezor highly resistant to malware, viruses, and phishing.
The Power of the Recovery Seed
Your recovery seed is a simple yet revolutionary concept. It is a BIP39-compliant list of words that deterministically generates all the private keys for all your cryptocurrency accounts. This means you only have one single backup to manage. The beauty of this is that it is a universal standard, allowing you to recover your funds on any compatible wallet, not just a Trezor. This gives you true sovereignty and eliminates vendor lock-in. The security of this seed cannot be overstated. It is a "cold storage" backup, designed to be stored offline and away from any digital device. Because it is your ultimate backup, its protection is entirely your responsibility. No one, not even Trezor, can help you if you lose it. By following the secure backup steps, you are guaranteeing that you will always be able to access your funds, no matter what happens to your physical device.
Frequently Asked Questions
My device's screen is blank after I plugged it in. Is it broken?
No, this is a normal initial state. Trezor devices are shipped in a blank state to prevent any pre-configuration or tampering. The screen will light up once you begin the setup process via the official Trezor Suite application. If the screen remains blank even after you have launched Trezor Suite and clicked "Connect Trezor," ensure you are using a working USB cable and a direct USB port on your computer, not a hub.
What if I lose my recovery seed?
Unfortunately, if you lose your recovery seed and your physical Trezor device, your funds are permanently lost. The recovery seed is your only backup. Trezor does not, and cannot, store your seed for you. This is by design, as it ensures that no one else can ever access your funds. This is the essence of self-custody and is the fundamental trade-off for having complete control over your assets. We highly recommend storing it in multiple secure, physical locations, such as a safe, a vault, or with a trusted family member.
Can I restore my wallet on another device?
Yes. Because Trezor uses the industry-standard BIP39 recovery seed, you can use your seed to restore your wallet on any compatible hardware wallet or software wallet. This provides you with ultimate flexibility and peace of mind. However, it is always recommended to use a hardware wallet for security, as software wallets expose your private keys to the internet.
Is Trezor Suite safe to download from the website?
Yes, downloading Trezor Suite directly from the official website is the safest way. Trezor.io uses secure connections (HTTPS) and we use digital signatures to ensure the integrity of the downloaded file. When you launch Trezor Suite, it will perform a signature check to verify that it is the official, untampered software. This process provides an extra layer of protection against malicious software.
Start Your Secure Setup Today
Take the first step towards securing your digital assets. Download Trezor Suite and begin the secure setup process with your new device.