trezor.io/start is the official first step to setting up your Trezor hardware wallet safely and confidently. When you unbox a genuine device, take a moment to confirm authenticity: check the tamper-evident seal, verify the packaging, and only visit trezor.io/start for initial configuration. Starting your device correctly protects your crypto holdings by ensuring firmware integrity and securing your recovery seed from the very beginning.
Begin the setup by visiting trezor.io/start — the page links you to the official Trezor Suite and verified firmware. The recommended flow updates your device firmware, initializes a new wallet, and guides you through generating a recovery seed. Follow on-screen prompts and avoid third-party links. Always confirm the device screen displays the same information shown on the official site; the hardware display is your trusted source during critical steps.
Create a strong PIN for everyday access and pair it with an offline recovery seed that you keep physically secure. Write the recovery words on durable material and store them in a safe, ideally in two geographically separated locations. Do not photograph, screenshot, or store the seed on a connected device or cloud service; treating your seed like cash is vital for long-term protection. Consider enabling a passphrase feature for an additional hidden wallet layer, but understand it functions like an extra password—if forgotten, access to funds can be permanently lost.
Firmware updates are essential. Always apply firmware only through the official trezor.io/start workflow or Trezor Suite. Firmware signed by Trezor ensures cryptographic verification; never install firmware from unknown sources. If the device ever prompts unexpected behavior during updates, power-cycle and re-check the official site for notices. If you suspect tampering or counterfeit hardware, contact official support and do not proceed with entering your recovery seed.
After setup, practice using small test transactions to verify sending and receiving addresses. Confirm the receiving address on the device screen — the hardware display is the canonical source of truth. For frequent use, install Trezor Suite on a secure computer and keep the operating system and browser up to date. Enable system-level protections like full-disk encryption and strong account passwords to reduce attack surface.
Hardware wallets provide unmatched offline key storage compared to custodial or hot wallets, reducing exposure to online attacks. The cryptographic private keys never leave the device, and signatures occur inside the hardware — a core advantage when defending against malware. Common mistakes include sharing recovery words, using unverified firmware sources, and connecting the device to compromised computers. Regularly audit your security posture: verify device fingerprints, rotate PINs periodically, and keep a record of purchase and serial numbers in a secure location.
Recommended accessories include a durable metal backup plate for recovery words, a dedicated USB cable, and a clean, offline computer for firmware updates. Keep your device and recovery seed in separate secure locations and consider using fireproof storage for critical backups. For enterprise uses, evaluate multisig approaches, hardware security modules, and formal governance policies to complement Trezor hardware.