Welcome to the Future of Security

Congratulations on taking the most significant step toward financial sovereignty. By navigating to Trezor.io/Start, you are initiating a protocol that separates your digital wealth from the vulnerabilities of the online world. Whether you have purchased the robust Trezor Model T, the classic Model One, or the cutting-edge Trezor Safe 3, the setup process is the foundational layer of your security.

Hardware wallets are designed to keep your private keys offline. Unlike software wallets (hot wallets) that live on internet-connected devices, your Trezor device isolates your sensitive data within a secure environment, protecting it from malware, keyloggers, and remote hackers. This guide will walk you through the official initialization process, ensuring your device is authentic, up-to-date, and ready to secure your assets.

Step 1: Unboxing and Security Check

Before connecting your device to any computer, a physical inspection is mandatory. Trezor devices are shipped with tamper-evident holographic seals.

• Check the Box: Ensure the package wrapper is intact and the box is not crushed or torn in a way that suggests unauthorized access.
• Inspect the Hologram: The USB port of your Trezor device should have a holographic seal (on Model One) or a foil seal across the port (on newer models). If this seal is broken, removed, or looks different from official photos, do not use the device. Contact Trezor support immediately.
• Verify Contents: Your box should contain the device, a USB cable, recovery seed cards (blank), and a start-up guide.

Step 2: Download Trezor Suite

The bridge between your offline hardware and the blockchain is the Trezor Suite. This interface allows you to view balances and sign transactions without ever exposing your keys to the computer.

1. Open your browser and navigate to the official download page: trezor.io/suite.
2. Select your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).
3. Download the installer and run the application.
4. Note: You can also use the web version of Trezor Suite, but the desktop application is recommended for enhanced security and phishing protection.

Step 3: Firmware Installation

Trezor devices are shipped without firmware installed. This is a critical security feature. It ensures that the software running on your device is the latest official version installed by you, not a pre-loaded malicious script.

Once you open Trezor Suite and connect your device via USB:

• The Suite will detect the device in "Bootloader Mode."
• Click the "Install Firmware" button.
• Wait for the download and installation to complete. The device may reboot.
• Upon completion, the device screen will display a verification check to confirm the firmware is valid and signed by SatoshiLabs.

Step 4: Create a New Wallet

Once the firmware is active, Trezor Suite will ask if you want to "Create a New Wallet" or "Recover Wallet." Since this is a new setup, choose to create a new wallet.

The Backup (Recovery Seed)

This is the single most important step. Your Trezor will generate a unique sequence of words (12, 18, or 24 words depending on the model and settings). This is your Recovery Seed.

Confirm the words on the device screen. The device will ask you to verify specific words to ensure you wrote them down correctly.

Step 5: PIN Protection and Finalizing

To prevent physical access to your device if it is stolen, you must set a PIN.

• Model One: You will see a blind matrix on the device. Click the corresponding position on your computer screen. The numbers change position every time for security.
• Model T / Safe 3: Enter the PIN directly on the device’s touchscreen or buttons.

Once the PIN is set, you can name your device. Your Trezor is now ready to send, receive, and store Bitcoin, Ethereum, and thousands of other digital assets.

Advanced Features: Passphrase & Coins

For users seeking "plausible deniability" or an extra layer of encryption, Trezor supports Passphrase protection. This acts as a "25th word" to your seed. If you enable this, you can create hidden wallets. Be warned: if you forget your passphrase, the funds in that hidden wallet are lost forever.