Trézor.io/Start | Getting Started & Secure Device Setup

livenow

— 4 min read

For anyone beginning their journey with a Trezor hardware wallet, the most important destination is trezor.io/start. This page serves as the official onboarding portal that guides new users through device setup, security configuration, firmware installation, and the basics of safe self-custody. Whether you’ve purchased a Trezor Model One or a Trezor Model T, the process always begins at this secure starting point. In an environment where phishing sites and fake wallet interfaces are widespread, using the correct onboarding link is crucial—and that is why Trezor directs every new hardware wallet owner to a single, trusted setup portal.

Why Trezor Uses a Dedicated Start Page

The world of cryptocurrency is full of online threats. Fake wallet websites, malicious browser extensions, and rogue apps can trick new users into entering sensitive information such as seed phrases or PINs. To eliminate confusion, Trezor funnels every new device owner through trezor.io/start, ensuring they land on an official, verified page before interacting with their hardware wallet.

The Start page provides:

  • Verified download links
  • Step-by-step setup instructions
  • Firmware installation guidance
  • Device authentication checks
  • Security education
  • Recovery seed instructions

This reduces the likelihood of falling for scams and gives users a clean, structured path toward safely configuring their device.

Unboxing and Inspecting Your Trezor Device

Before following the setup instructions, users are encouraged to inspect their Trezor device and packaging. The Start page explains what a legitimate Trezor device should look like. Since Trezor packaging uses tamper-evident seals and secure manufacturing processes, the first step is physical verification:

  • The holographic seal should be intact.
  • The device should show no signs of opening or re-gluing.
  • Accessories like cables or booklets should match what is expected.

Although Trezor is open source and designed for transparency, the hardware itself must be authentic and untampered. If anything seems off, trezor.io/start directs users to official support channels.

Downloading Trezor Suite

A major component of the setup process is installing Trezor Suite, the official desktop application for managing your device and digital assets. At trezor.io/start, users get direct links to:

  • Windows installer
  • macOS installer
  • Linux package
  • Browser version (for users unable to run the desktop app)

Importantly, the download links always point to secure, updated versions directly from Trezor’s servers—not from third-party sources.

Trezor Suite is the recommended interface for:

  • Creating new wallets
  • Managing accounts
  • Sending and receiving crypto
  • Checking balances
  • Interacting with dApps (via third-party connectors)
  • Updating firmware
  • Adjusting device settings

The Start page strongly encourages using Trezor Suite Desktop instead of browser extensions or random wallet apps, because the dedicated desktop environment reduces exposure to phishing and injected scripts.

Connecting Your Trezor for the First Time

Once Trezor Suite is installed, trezor.io/start guides users through connecting their hardware wallet via USB. When the device is plugged in, Trezor Suite automatically detects the model and checks whether its firmware is authentic and up-to-date.

The first connection prompts users to:

  • Confirm USB communication
  • Initialize the device
  • Install new firmware if needed
  • Create or recover a wallet

These steps ensure the device is clean, secure, and ready for long-term self-custody.

Installing Firmware: A Security Essential

Firmware is the brain of a Trezor device. It controls everything from seed generation to secure signing. New Trezors ship without firmware installed, making the initial firmware installation a critical part of the onboarding flow.

trezor.io/start explains why this matters:

  • Firmware must come directly from Trezor’s servers.
  • The device verifies firmware signatures before installation.
  • Users confirm updates on the device’s physical screen.

This process eliminates the possibility of malicious firmware being preinstalled at the factory. The secure bootloader inside the device ensures only officially signed firmware can run.

Once updated, the device restarts and prepares for wallet creation.

Creating Your Recovery Seed

One of the most important steps in the trezor.io/start journey is generating a recovery seed, also known as a seed phrase or backup phrase. This series of 12, 18, or 24 words represents the master key to your cryptocurrency holdings. The Start page emphasizes crucial rules:

  • The recovery seed must be generated and displayed only on the Trezor device screen—not on the computer, phone, or website.
  • The seed should be written down physically (not stored digitally).
  • It must never be entered into any website, including trezor.io/start.
  • Anyone with access to the seed can control your crypto.

Trezor provides paper backup cards in the box, but users are free to use more durable materials such as metal backup plates. The Start page repeatedly warns: Trezor will never ask you to type in your recovery seed online.

Setting a PIN for Device Security

After writing down the recovery seed, users set a PIN for the device. The PIN prevents unauthorized users from unlocking the wallet if they gain physical access to the Trezor.

trezor.io/start walks users through:

  • Choosing a 4-9 digit PIN
  • Understanding the lockout system (each wrong attempt increases the waiting time exponentially)
  • Confirming PIN entry through blind matrix input (a security feature preventing key-logging attacks)

The PIN does not replace the seed phrase, but it adds a strong second layer of local protection.

Adding Crypto Accounts and Performing Your First Actions

With the wallet initialized, users can begin managing assets inside Trezor Suite. The Start page instructs users on how to:

  • Add new accounts for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many other chains
  • Receive crypto by generating and verifying addresses
  • Send crypto securely by confirming transactions on the device
  • Label accounts for organization
  • Track balances and portfolio performance

Trezor Suite serves as the main control panel for everyday use, but the Trezor hardware wallet is always the ultimate authority. Every transaction must be approved physically.

Security Best Practices Highlighted at trezor.io/start

The Start page includes extensive security education, teaching users how to avoid common pitfalls:

  • Never enter your recovery seed into a computer.
  • Never share the seed with support staff.
  • Avoid browser extensions that imitate Trezor.
  • Bookmark official Trezor URLs.
  • Disconnect the device when not in use.
  • Enable passphrase for advanced security.

For many users, this might be their first encounter with true self-custody principles, so trezor.io/start spends significant attention on these topics.

Using Passphrase for Hidden Wallets

Advanced users are introduced to the concept of a passphrase, an optional feature that adds an extra layer of encryption. With a passphrase, users can create unlimited hidden wallets—useful for splitting funds, creating decoys, or protecting high-value holdings.

trezor.io/start helps new users understand:

  • How passphrase differs from PIN
  • How to use device-side passphrase entry
  • How to avoid forgetting the passphrase (because it cannot be recovered)

This feature is a hallmark of Trezor’s flexibility and security.

The Final Step: Full Readiness

By the end of the trezor.io/start process, users will have:

  • Installed Trezor Suite
  • Updated their device
  • Created a secure recovery seed
  • Defined a PIN
  • Added accounts
  • Learned essential safety practices

From this point on, they are fully equipped to manage, send, and protect their cryptocurrency using a secure hardware wallet environment.

Read more