Welcome
Welcome to this step-by-step presentation designed to guide you through powering on, securing, and using your Trezor hardware device. This document is written as a single-column, easily printable page with accessible color contrasts and clear typographic hierarchy. The goal is to make setup approachable while emphasising safety-first practices, calm explanations, and helpful context for both beginners and experienced users.
Before You Start — Safety & Preparation
Security starts before you power on the device. Prepare the space and mindset:
- Work on a private, offline surface and avoid public Wi‑Fi during sensitive steps.
- Ensure you purchased the device from an authorised reseller or the official source; check packaging for tamper evidence.
- Have a small notebook and pen ready (for temporary notes only — never store recovery seeds digitally).
- Set aside 20–40 minutes for a careful, uninterrupted setup.
Step 1 — Unboxing & Inspection
When unboxing, visually inspect every component:
- Device body and screen — check for scratches, seals, or signs of tampering.
- Cables and accessories — confirm they are present and intact.
- Documentation — keep the printed quick-start guide but do not write your seed on it.
If anything seems off, contact the vendor or official support before proceeding.
Step 2 — Connection & Power
Connect the Trezor device to a trusted, up-to-date computer using the supplied cable. The device will power from the USB connection and present a welcome screen and device model identifier.
Do not connect to unknown public computers. Use your personal device and, if possible, an offline, freshly booted environment for the most sensitive operations.
Step 3 — Official Website & Wallet Interface
Open your browser and navigate to the official starting URL spelled on your box or device — confirm the URL in your browser's address bar. Always verify the domain carefully and avoid clicking unsolicited links.
The flow will prompt you to install the companion software or use a web-based interface. Follow official steps only; decline any third-party prompts that are not referenced in official documentation.
Step 4 — Device Initialisation
The initialization flow typically walks you through these choices:
- Create a new wallet (recommended for a brand-new device).
- Recover an existing wallet using your recovery seed (if you already have one).
- Advanced options — passphrase protection, hidden wallets, or custom entropy.
Choose Create a new wallet if you're new. The device will generate a recovery seed — this is the single most important piece of data for backup and recovery.
Step 5 — Recovery Seed Best Practices
When the device displays a recovery seed (collection of words), follow these rules:
- Write the words down by hand on the supplied recovery card or a high-quality paper backup. Use a pen that won’t fade.
- Store the paper in multiple secure locations if you can — e.g., home safe and a trusted off-site location.
- Consider metal backups for fire/flood resilience; several manufacturers make stainless steel seed plates.
- Never store the seed in a digital file, photo, email, or cloud service.
Do not share the seed; treat it like cash or a passport. If someone gains the seed, they can control your funds.
Step 6 — PIN Selection & Device Lock
Set a strong, memorable PIN on the device when prompted. The PIN protects the device from casual physical access.
- Choose a PIN you can remember but others will not easily guess.
- Longer PINs are generally more secure; consider a PIN length recommended by the device (e.g., 6–10 digits).
- Do not write the PIN next to the seed or store it digitally with the seed.
Step 7 — Firmware Verification & Updates
After initialization, the interface will check the device's firmware. Always confirm firmware authenticity before updating:
- Follow on-screen prompts to verify firmware signatures where available.
- Only install firmware from the official source and during a secure session.
- Keep the device updated; firmware updates frequently include security and compatibility fixes.
If an update appears unexpectedly or the signature is invalid, stop and contact support via official channels.
Step 8 — Adding Accounts & Receiving Funds
Use the wallet interface to create cryptocurrency accounts and addresses. When receiving funds:
- Always verify the receiving address on your device’s display, not only in the browser.
- For large transfers, send a small test amount first to confirm everything works as expected.
Step 9 — Passphrase & Hidden Wallets (Optional)
Passphrase protection adds an extra layer: it extends the seed with an additional word or phrase, creating separate hidden wallets accessible only with that passphrase. Use this only if you fully understand the tradeoffs:
- Passphrases are not stored on the device — if you forget it, funds are irretrievable.
- Passphrases protect against seed disclosure but increase complexity in backup and recovery.
Step 10 — Routine Security Habits
Maintain these everyday habits:
- Double-check addresses and amounts before confirming transactions.
- Keep your device physically secure; treat it like a key.
- Periodically test your backups by recovering to a secondary device (without transferring funds) to validate the process.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Q: The device is unresponsive or frozen. What now?
A: Try a different USB cable and port, and ensure your host machine recognizes the device. If problems persist, consult official support and provide device model and firmware version — but never expose your seed or PIN.
Q: I lost my seed. Can I recover my wallet?
A: If the recovery seed is lost and you have no other backup, funds cannot be recovered. This is why safe, redundant backups are critical.
Q: Can I use multiple devices with the same seed?
A: Yes — the seed is deterministic. Initializing another compatible device with your seed will recreate the same accounts (use caution with firmware and compatibility).
Glossary — Quick Definitions
- Seed / Recovery Seed: A human-readable list of words that encodes the private keys for your wallet.
- PIN: A numeric code that unlocks the device.
- Passphrase: An optional string used as an additional layer of security that creates hidden wallets.
- Firmware: The low-level software running on the device which should be verified and kept updated.
Design & Presentation Notes
This document uses a single-column layout and high-contrast accent colors to keep attention focused. Headings are concise and the copy prioritises clarity over jargon. The color palette (mint → violet) was chosen for a modern but calm visual tone. If you prefer an alternate palette (dark mode inverse, warm neutrals, or monochrome), the CSS variables at the top of the file are easy to tweak.
Accessibility & Printing
For printing, the file is compatible with most browsers' print settings — use background graphics enabled in print options to preserve the gradient background, or set a white print background for ink savings. The typography scale and color contrast were chosen to help readability for users with mild visual impairments; for stronger needs, increase font sizes in the CSS root rules.
Appendix — Quick Checklist
- Verify device authenticity at purchase.
- Do initial setup in a private space.
- Write and duplicate the recovery seed; store securely.
- Set a strong PIN and consider a passphrase only if comfortable.
- Always verify addresses on the hardware screen.
- Keep firmware updated and verify update signatures.