Trezor.io/start — Official Start Page

trezor.io/start — A friendly, practical guide to getting started with Trezor

Simple steps, essential vocabulary, and practical tips to set up your hardware wallet safely — for beginners and crypto-curious users.

Fresh layout

Estimated read: ~9 min

What is trezor.io/start — in one sentence

Think of trezor.io/start as the “welcome mat” for your Trezor hardware wallet — a guided path that helps you unbox, install, and secure your crypto keys offline. If custodial exchanges are like bank branches, a hardware wallet is like a locked safe you personally control — and trezor.io/start tells you how to place the keys inside safely.

Why a hardware wallet matters — a short story

Imagine two people: Asha keeps all her tokens on an exchange — easy, fast, but someone else holds her private keys. Raj buys a hardware wallet, sets up a PIN, and stores his recovery seed offline — slower to start, but he controls the keys. Years later a large exchange suffers a hack; Asha loses access to funds while Raj still controls his coins. That control — the private key — is the difference. The guide at trezor.io/start turns the intimidating process of seed backup and PIN setup into manageable steps so you can be Raj, not Asha.

Quick terms (useful to know)

Private key: Your secret credential to move funds — never share.

Recovery seed: A human-readable backup (12/24 words) used to restore a wallet.

Cold storage: Keys kept offline — the safest state for long-term holding.

Multisig: A require-multiple-signatures setup for shared or high-security accounts.

Firmware: Internal software on the device — keep it updated from official sources only.

Step-by-step: Set up via trezor.io/start

1 • Unbox & inspect

Confirm the seal is intact. Trezor arrives in tamper-proof packaging — don’t use it if anything looks altered.

2 • Go to trezor.io/start

Follow the official start page prompts to download the Trezor Suite or use the web setup. Always type the address manually — avoid search ads.

3 • Install firmware

The device may update. Only proceed when the Suite verifies the firmware signature.

4 • Generate recovery seed

Write words on the supplied sheet. Don’t photograph or store electronically. Consider steel backup for high-value holdings.

5 • Choose a PIN

Pick a memorable but non-obvious PIN. A PIN protects access if your device is lost or stolen.

6 • Send a small test transaction

Before moving large amounts, send a small amount from an exchange to confirm addresses and signatures.

Pro tip: Consider a passphrase (optional) for an extra layer of plausible deniability — but be careful: losing the passphrase means losing funds.

Quick comparison: Trezor vs. other storage options

Exchange (e.g., custodial)

Convenient, fast trading; you don’t hold private keys. Higher counterparty risk.

Software wallet

Good for daily use. Keys on device/desktop — more exposure to malware compared to hardware wallets.

Hardware (Trezor)

Keys kept offline; strong protection against remote attacks. Slightly higher friction for spending.

Note: choose a combo that matches your priorities — custody, convenience, and security are trade-offs.

Security essentials — the deeper stuff

Once you understand the setup steps, security decisions matter: how you store the recovery seed, whether you use a passphrase, and whether you implement multisig for large holdings. Here are practical rules that separate good setups from fragile ones:

Never store recovery words digitally (no photos, no cloud notes).
Consider a metal backup (steel plate) for fire/water resistance.
Keep firmware updated via the official start page; avoid unofficial builds.
Use a passphrase only if you can reliably remember or securely store it.

A mental model to remember

Treat your Trezor like an offline safe: the hardware device is the lock, the PIN is the combination, and the recovery seed is the blueprint to recreate the lock if lost. If someone steals the safe but not the blueprint, they still can't open it without the combination.

Try this (do it offline)

Imagine you receive 0.5 BTC from an exchange. Before transferring all your holdings, what two actions would you take to confirm everything works? (Write them down and compare with the answers below.)