A practical, search-optimized walkthrough to get your Trezor hardware wallet from the box to a secure, working wallet. Follow official prompts in Trezor Suite and use this guide for clarity, best practices and common troubleshooting.
This page is written for anyone unboxing a Trezor Model T, Model One or Trezor Safe device for the first time, or for users migrating keys to hardware storage. It focuses on safety-first setup steps: verifying packaging, installing firmware, creating and protecting your wallet backup, PINs, passphrases, and testing transactions.
Open the package and carefully inspect the seal and device for tampering. Trezor devices are shipped without firmware installed for security — this is expected. If packaging or holographic seals appear tampered with, contact support and do not proceed with private key setup on that unit.
If you suspect anything unusual, pause and reach out to the official support channels before connecting the device. Better safe than sorry.
For most users the Trezor Suite desktop app or the official web interface on Trezor.io/start is the recommended starting point. Download the Suite from the official site and follow install instructions. The Suite guides you through firmware installation, wallet creation, PIN setup and optional features in a single flow.
Note: Trezor devices are shipped without firmware intentionally; installing official firmware on first connection is normal.
Choose “Create new wallet” to generate a fresh wallet backup, or “Recover wallet” if you already have a seed/backup phrase from another device. Follow the on-screen instructions exactly. If recovering, enter words in the precise order provided by the original backup.
Trezor now refers to the recovery phrase as a wallet backup and supports modern standards including SLIP39 (multi-share backups) as an advanced option — choose the backup method that fits your threat model and recovery plan.
Write down your wallet backup (the ordered words) on the supplied card or a durable medium. Never photograph, screenshot, or store the backup digitally. For long-term durability, use a steel backup plate or multiple geographically-distributed copies. Label backups discreetly and keep them offline.
Configure a PIN to protect physical access. Optionally, enable a passphrase — an additional secret that creates a hidden wallet. A passphrase greatly increases security if used properly, but losing it means losing access to the funds in that hidden wallet. Treat the passphrase with the same (or greater) care as your wallet backup.
Before moving large balances, send a small test amount into and out of the Trezor wallet. Verify the receiving address on the device display — confirming addresses on-screen protects you from malware that may alter addresses shown in your browser or computer.
Trezor supports different firmware modes (for example Bitcoin-only firmware) and advanced workflows such as multisig and enterprise integrations. Use Bitcoin-only firmware if you only need BTC support for a minimal attack surface; convert firmware types using Trezor Suite settings when necessary. For enterprise use, implement multisignature policies and documented recovery procedures.
Try another cable or USB port and ensure your browser and OS are up to date. Use the desktop Suite if the web flow fails.
If you forget your PIN you must wipe the device and restore from your wallet backup. That makes secure offline backup storage essential.
Without a valid backup, funds become irrecoverable. If possible, practice recovery on a spare device to avoid mistakes when you must recover a live wallet.
Always use official downloads and verify links — never trust emails or social media DMs offering assistance that ask for your wallet backup or passphrase. Trezor staff will never ask for your seed or backup words. Keep firmware and Suite updated, and consider splitting high-value holdings into multiple backups or multisig arrangements for redundancy.