Trézor.io/Start® | Starting Up Your Device

Welcome

Trézor.io/Start® | Starting Up Your Device

Welcome. This presentation walks you through every step required to unbox, start, and secure your Trézor hardware wallet. It focuses on practical actions, safety best practices, and common troubleshooting. Whether you're new to hardware wallets or refreshing your knowledge, this guide helps ensure your private keys never leave the device and that you understand the recovery and update processes.

Safety first: Do not share your recovery seed or connect your device to untrusted software. The steps below assume you're using an official Trézor device and are following manufacturer guidance.

Intended audience: new users and system administrators
Goal: start device safely, understand recovery, firmware updates, and basic troubleshooting
Structure: step-by-step slides, deep dives, FAQ

Unboxing & Initial Inspection

What's in the box

Verify the box is sealed and that it contains the official Trézor device, USB cable, recovery seed cards, and documentation. Confirm that packaging shows no signs of tampering — broken seals, excess glue, or mismatched labels can be signs of compromise.

Physical inspection

Inspect device casing, screen, and USB connector. The screen should be clear with crisp text on boot. If the device arrives damaged or with irregularities, contact official support and do not use the device.

If anything looks suspicious during unboxing — stop, document the issue, and contact support. Use official channels only.

Item	Check
Device	Present, no visible damage
USB cable	Included, undamaged
Recovery seed cards	Included (blank or pre-printed depending on model)
Documentation	Included

First Power On

Connect the device

Use the official cable to connect the device to a trusted computer or power source. Avoid using public USB chargers or unknown hubs. On power, the device displays a welcome screen and model information.

Verify device authenticity

Many hardware wallets include anti-tamper features or allow a challenge-response verification from official apps. Only proceed if the device behaves as documented and the manufacturer’s official website confirms the correct boot sequence.

Do not reveal seed or PIN to anyone.
If the device asks for a seed during boot (instead of creating one) treat that as suspicious.

Set a Strong PIN

Why a PIN matters

The PIN secures local access. Even if someone obtains physical access to your device, a strong PIN adds a layer of defense. Most hardware wallets implement retry delays and wipes after many wrong attempts; choose a PIN you can remember but that is not trivially guessable.

PIN best practices

Length: aim for 6+ digits if supported
Avoid predictable sequences (1234), birthdays, or repeated digits
Do not store the PIN with your recovery seed
Consider using a passphrase feature (if available) for extra protection — but understand its complexity and backup needs

The device will prompt you to enter a PIN during setup. Enter it directly on the device screen if supported — on-device entry prevents interception by the host computer.

Generate & Secure Your Recovery Seed

What is a recovery seed?

The recovery seed (also "seed phrase") is the human-readable backup that recovers your wallet if the device is lost or damaged. It is extremely sensitive: possession of the seed equals control of funds.

Generating the seed

Always generate the seed on-device. Never use a computer or smartphone to generate or transmit seed words. The device will display a set of words (commonly 12, 18, or 24 words) — write them down exactly, in order, on the provided recovery card or another secure medium (metal backup recommended for long-term durability).

Storage best practices

Store copies in physically separate, secure locations
Use fireproof/waterproof metal backups if possible
Do not photograph or digitize the seed phrase
Limit knowledge — only trusted individuals should know that a backup exists; avoid telling others the actual words

A recovery phrase on its own grants full control. Treat it like cash or jewelry: secure, hidden, and backed-up.

Practical: Writing Down the Seed

Step-by-step

Use the card provided or a permanent medium like stainless steel.
Write one word per box; confirm spelling and order.
Double-check: many devices will prompt you to confirm certain words to ensure accuracy.
Store the written card in a secure place (safe, deposit box, trusted location).

Common mistakes

Transposing words or missing words
Storing the seed with the device or its PIN
Using ephemeral or flammable storage like paper without backup

If you suspect any mistake while writing down the seed, generate a new seed immediately and destroy the old one. Never proceed with a suspect backup.

Install Official Software

Trusted sources only

Download official software (e.g., Trezor Suite or the official start page) only from the manufacturer's website. Beware of typosquatting domains or fake apps. If available, verify checksums or signatures for the downloaded installer.

Connecting the device

Run the official app and follow the on-screen instructions to connect the device. The first connection often introduces the device to the software and may walk you through confirming the seed and creating accounts.

Action	Why
Download from official domain	Prevent supply-chain and fake-app attacks
Verify checksum	Ensure installer integrity
Connect directly (no hubs)	Avoid USB-based attacks

Firmware Updates & Verification

Why updates matter

Firmware updates patch vulnerabilities and add new features. Installing official firmware from the manufacturer ensures that the device remains secure and supported. Do not install firmware from unknown sources.

Update process

Check for updates via official software.
Follow on-device prompts — many devices display a fingerprint or verification to confirm the update origin.
After update, verify your accounts and seed still function as expected.

If an update fails or the device shows unexpected warnings, contact support and do not proceed with transactions that could jeopardize funds.

Sending & Receiving

Receiving funds

Use the official app to generate receiving addresses. Always verify the address on the device screen — host computers may be compromised and alter addresses displayed in the app, so on-device confirmation is crucial.

Sending funds

When sending, carefully check the recipient address, amount, and fees. Confirm the transaction on the device screen before approving. Consider sending a small test transaction to new recipients.

Fee management

Use the software to choose appropriate fees for timely confirmation. Many wallets provide low/medium/high presets and custom fee settings.

Security Best Practices

Access control

Keep device firmware up to date
Use a strong PIN and consider a passphrase
Never enter the recovery seed into any device connected to the internet

Physical security

Store the seed and device separately. Use a safe or bank deposit box for long-term storage. Consider distributed backups (e.g., split seed) only if you thoroughly understand the trade-offs.

Operational security

Beware of phishing emails, fake support agents, and unsolicited offers. Use official support channels listed on the manufacturer’s website.

Troubleshooting

Device not recognized

Try a different USB cable or port
Restart the host computer
Ensure official drivers are installed (if required)

Forgot PIN

If you forget the PIN and the device supports wipe-on-failure, you may need to reset the device and restore from the recovery seed. Only proceed to reset if you have a verified, correct backup.

Lost seed

If the seed is lost and no backup exists, funds may be irrecoverable. Consider immediate steps to mitigate the risk next time (multiple secure backups).

FAQ

Q: Can I store my seed digitally?

A: It's strongly discouraged. Digital copies are a major attack surface.

Q: What if my device is stolen?

A: If your device is protected by a strong PIN, an attacker still needs the PIN or seed. If you suspect seed was compromised, move funds to a new wallet immediately.

Q: Is the passphrase feature mandatory?

A: No — it’s optional. Adding a passphrase increases security but also increases complexity and backup responsibility.

Advanced & Enterprise Tips

Multi-signature setups

For organizational or enterprise custody, consider multi-signature schemes that require multiple devices or signers to approve transactions. This reduces single-point-of-failure risk.

Air-gapped setups

Air-gapped devices (never connected to a networked computer) increase security. Use QR codes or unsigned PSBTs to transfer transactions between offline and online environments.

Auditing & policies

Implement custodial policies, rotation schedules for keyholders, and documented incident response plans. Regularly audit backups and access lists.

Quick Checklists

Before first use

Confirm packaging integrity
Generate seed on-device
Write seed on physical medium
Set a strong PIN
Install official software & verify

Monthly maintenance

Check for firmware updates
Verify seed backups are intact
Audit access logs if managed centrally

Resources & Support

Where to get help

Use only official support channels for assistance. If searching online, verify domain names and avoid third-party installers.

Appendix & Glossary

Glossary

Recovery seed: The list of words used to restore a wallet.
Firmware: Device internal software controlling behavior and security.
Passphrase: An additional string added to the seed to create a unique wallet.
Air-gapped: Device not connected to the internet for maximum isolation.

Advanced topics to explore

PSBT (Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions)
Hardware wallet integration with cold storage workflows
Distributed key generation (for enterprise)

Closing & Next Steps

Summary

Starting up your Trézor device safely involves careful unboxing, on-device seed generation, secure physical backups, strong PIN usage, and always using official software and firmware. Regularly review your security posture and maintain backups.

Action items

Complete the setup checklist
Create durable seed backups
Store one copy in a secure off-site location

Thank you. Secure storage starts with careful habits and conservative operational security.