Overview — Why the onboarding flow matters
A hardware wallet protects your private keys by keeping them offline; however, the strength of that protection depends heavily on the choices you make during the first setup and thereafter. Trezor.io/Start is the official onboarding flow designed to guide you through secure software downloads, firmware verification, seed generation, and the basic safety practices that prevent most accidental losses. This document expands that flow with practical details, recommended backups, troubleshooting steps, and advanced workflows so you can begin confidently and keep best practices in place over time.
Unboxing & first inspection
When your device arrives, inspect the box and contents before powering on. Authentic Trezor packaging is factory sealed and includes the device, a USB cable, a recovery card, and documentation. Look for tamper evidence: broken seals, mismatched serials, or unexpected stickers. If you see anything suspicious, stop and contact the vendor or manufacturer support. Preservation of the original packaging is useful for warranty, authenticity checks, and documentation.
Set up environment & browser hygiene
Choose a secure, private environment for setup. Use a personal computer you control with recent OS updates. Create a fresh browser profile with few or no extensions for the initial setup, or use a desktop application when available. Avoid public Wi-Fi and shared computers. If you will use a mobile device, ensure the OS and apps are up to date and limit background apps that may interfere.
Download and verify companion software
The official onboarding flow will direct you to the recommended companion software (for example, desktop Suite or an official web flow). Always obtain software from trusted channels and verify installers or checksums if they are provided. Verifying ensures the binary you run is the same as the one published by the vendor and guards against tampered downloads.
Initialize the device — PIN & seed generation
Connect the device with the supplied cable and power it on. Follow the instructions displayed on the device screen — the hardware screen is the definitive source of information during setup. Choose to create a new device (or restore an existing seed if migrating). Set a PIN code on the device: choose something memorable to you but not easily guessed. The device will then generate a recovery seed of words (usually 12 or 24 depending on model and selection).
Record each seed word precisely and in order on the supplied recovery card or a metal backup. Do not photograph, type, or store the seed in any digital medium. Digital copies can be exfiltrated — physical storage is the standard for safety.
On-device confirmation
After writing the seed, you will be asked to confirm selected words on the device. This step verifies that the seed was recorded correctly. Always complete confirmations before proceeding to account setup.
Backup strategies — paper, metal, and redundancy
A secure backup strategy balances durability and confidentiality. Paper backups are acceptable if stored securely in a safe; metal backups (seed plates) resist fire, water, and physical decay and are recommended for longer-term, high-value holdings. Use at least two backups stored in geographically separated, secure locations (for example, a home safe and a bank safety deposit box). Avoid producing many copies — each additional copy increases the probability of exposure.
Passphrase option — extra security, extra responsibility
The passphrase feature adds a user-supplied secret to the seed (effectively an extra word), creating hidden wallets. This can provide plausible deniability and segmentation of funds. However, passphrases are unforgiving: if you forget the passphrase, the funds under that passphrase are irrecoverable even with the seed. Only enable a passphrase if you have a tested, secure method for storing and recovering it.
Firmware verification & updates
Firmware signatures protect your device against tampered code. During setup, the companion software will usually prompt to verify the firmware. Follow the official update flow and confirm update details on the device screen. Do not accept firmware from untrusted sources. If a firmware signature fails to verify, do not proceed with transactions — seek official guidance first.
Adding accounts & receiving funds
After setup, add accounts for the cryptocurrencies you plan to use. When generating a receiving address, always verify the address output on the device screen — malware on a computer can swap addresses silently. To be safe, send a small test amount first. Once confirmed, you can send larger sums.
Everyday habits — transaction verification & app hygiene
Maintain a minimal attack surface: use a dedicated browser profile for crypto activity, minimize extensions, and update your OS and browser regularly. Always read the entire transaction summary and confirm the destination, amount, and fees on the device itself before approving. For token transfers and smart contract interactions, verify the contract and parameter values carefully — malicious contracts can request approvals that allow draining of tokens if accepted without scrutiny.
Troubleshooting — common problems & fixes
- Device not detected: Try a different USB cable or port, ensure the device is unlocked, and check that companion software has the necessary permissions.
- Forgot PIN: If the PIN is lost, the device will need to be reset and restored from the seed. Never reset unless your seed is securely stored.
- Firmware errors: If a firmware signature mismatch appears, do not proceed. Contact verified support and avoid signing transactions until resolved.
- Seed suspected exposed: If you suspect the seed has been compromised, create a new seed on a new device and transfer funds as soon as possible to addresses derived from the new seed.
Advanced workflows — multisig, air-gapped signing, and DeFi
Advanced users can increase security by adopting multisignature setups (splitting signing power across multiple keys/devices) or air-gapped signing workflows (prepare unsigned transactions on an internet-connected machine, sign on an offline machine with the device, then broadcast from the online machine). When interacting with DeFi, only approve contract calls you understand; consider using third-party decoders or tracer tools to inspect transaction calldata in human-readable form before signing.
Recovery & lost device procedures
If your device is lost or stolen, restoring with your recovery seed on another compatible device re-establishes access. If a device was stolen but the seed is uncompromised, restore to a new device and continue. If the seed is suspected compromised, move funds immediately to new addresses from a fresh seed. For custodial or institutional situations, follow documented notification and escalation procedures.
Common questions (FAQ)
- Can I type my recovery seed into a computer to make a backup?
- No. Typing the seed into any connected computer exposes it to theft. Seeds should be recorded offline on non-digital media.
- Is a 12-word seed less secure than a 24-word seed?
- Longer seeds provide more entropy and are therefore stronger against brute-force attacks. For many users a 12-word seed with strong operational security is acceptable, but higher value holdings often justify a 24-word seed or an additional passphrase.
- Can I restore my seed on a different vendor's device?
- Many wallets follow common standards such as BIP39/BIP44, making cross-vendor restores possible. However, vendor-specific features (e.g., different derivation paths or passphrase handling) can affect compatibility. Verify compatibility if planning cross-vendor restores.
Final checklist before funding
- Inspect packaging and confirm authenticity before powering on.
- Use a trusted computer and a minimal browser profile for the initial setup.
- Download companion software from the official channel and verify if possible.
- Initialize the device; choose a strong PIN and record the recovery seed on physical media.
- Store backups in at least two secure, geographically separated locations; consider metal backups for durability.
- Verify firmware signatures and update only through the official flow.
- Generate a receiving address, confirm it on the device, and do a small test transfer.
- Adopt daily hygiene: minimal extensions, regular updates, and on-device verification for every transaction.
Closing thoughts
The security model of a hardware wallet is simple but demands disciplined execution: keep seeds offline, verify every critical item on the device screen, limit the attack surface on companion systems, and use passphrases and multisig thoughtfully. The official onboarding flow at Trezor.io/Start is designed to put safe defaults in place; pairing that flow with the practices in this guide gives you a strong, sustainable foundation for managing crypto assets with confidence. When in doubt, pause and verify — prevention early on saves irreversible mistakes later.