Trezor — Get Started Safely and Quickly
Welcome to the official start guide for your Trezor hardware wallet. This page walks you through setup, explains why hardware wallets are the most reliable way to protect private keys, and shares practical tips to make your first transaction secure and stress-free. No jargon, just clear steps and honest guidance.
Quick setup (5 clear steps)
- Unbox and verify: Open your Trezor box and check the tamper-evident seal. Genuine devices come with holographic packaging and a unique serial — never skip this step.
- Connect with the official app: Visit Trezor.io/start (or use the official companion app) and follow the prompts. The website will detect your device and guide you through firmware checks.
- Create a device PIN: Pick a PIN you can remember but others cannot guess. The PIN protects access to the device itself, so treat it like an additional layer beyond your computer password.
- Write down your recovery seed: Your 12–24 word seed is the ultimate backup. Write it on the supplied card, store it offline, and never take a photo or upload it to cloud storage.
- Confirm and test: Send a small test transaction first. Confirm every address on the device screen before approving — never trust an address shown only by your computer.
Why Trezor? The security advantages
Trezor separates private keys from internet-connected devices. By generating and signing transactions inside the hardware, your keys never leave the device. This dramatically reduces risk from malware, keyloggers, and phishing attacks. Trezor also supports passphrase protection, multiple coin families, and deterministic recovery for long-term ownership — building a security posture that scales.
Practical features you’ll use
- Multi-coin support: Manage Bitcoin, Ethereum, and hundreds of other assets with one device.
- Open-source firmware: Auditability and community scrutiny help keep the software resilient.
- Optional passphrase: Adds a hidden account layer that increases plausible deniability and defensive security.
- Secure firmware updates: Signed updates ensure authenticity — always update via the official site.
Security tips — practical and actionable
Never share your seed or PIN. If anyone asks for them — email, social media, or chat — it’s a scam. Use hardware verification: confirm transaction details only on the Trezor screen. Consider splitting your seed into geographically separated safes if you store significant amounts. For frequent traders, use a software wallet for small balances and reserve Trezor for savings.
Advanced tips for enthusiasts
Power users can combine Trezor with other wallets using standard protocols (like PSBT) to build multisig setups. You can also use a passphrase to create hidden wallets for additional privacy, but remember: passphrases are not recoverable unless recorded. For developers, Trezor supports integrations with open developer tools — check the developer documentation for technical references.