Your definitive, step-by-step path to initiating self-custody with your new Trezor device.
Congratulations on taking the most important step in your digital asset journey: choosing a hardware wallet for self-custody. Your Trezor device is the ultimate vault for your cryptocurrencies, and getting it set up properly is crucial. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential initialization process, ensuring your device is secured and ready for use via the official portal at **Trezor.io/start**.
Following these steps ensures that your device is genuine, its software is authenticated, and your backup is safely recorded—the bedrock of your financial sovereignty.
Throughout this process, always verify the address in your browser: it must be **Trezor.io/start**. Only interact with prompts displayed on your physical Trezor device screen and never input your secret recovery phrase into your computer or mobile device.
Action: Connect your Trezor device to your computer using the supplied cable. Open your web browser and navigate directly to the official setup page: Trezor.io/start. The web interface will guide you to download and install the official desktop application, **Trezor Suite**. This application is your primary interface for managing your digital assets.
Verification: The Trezor Suite application will automatically perform a device authenticity check to ensure your hardware is genuine and untampered.
Action: Your new device is shipped without any installed software for maximum security. Trezor Suite will prompt you to install the latest official firmware. Click the 'Install Firmware' button and follow the on-screen instructions, confirming the action on your Trezor device itself.
Why it matters: This step initializes the device’s secure chip with the necessary operational code, a process that is cryptographically verified to ensure integrity.
Action: After firmware installation, you will be prompted to create a new wallet. Select the **'Create New Wallet'** option within Trezor Suite. Your device will now be ready to generate your unique, unrepeated **Wallet Backup** (also known as a recovery phrase or seed).
Action: This is the most critical step. Your device will display a sequence of words (typically 12, 18, 20, or 24 words, depending on the model and selected backup method). **Write these words down precisely in the correct order** on the Wallet Backup Card(s) provided. Do not take photos, type them into a computer, or store them digitally in any way.
Security Tip: Once written, your Trezor device will guide you through a verification process where you confirm specific words to ensure your written record is accurate. Store this card in a safe, secure, and undisclosed location—it is the master key to your assets.
Action: To protect your device from unauthorized physical access, you will be prompted to set a **Device Shield (PIN)**. You will enter this PIN on your computer using the randomized grid displayed on your Trezor's screen. Confirm the PIN, and it will be stored securely on your Trezor.
Note: The position of the numbers on the virtual grid will constantly change to prevent shoulder surfing or screen analysis.
Action: With your Wallet Backup secured and your Device Shield set, click 'Complete Setup' in Trezor Suite. You are now ready to access the portfolio manager. The interface allows you to enable various digital assets, view your accounts, and generate secure receiving addresses.
Advanced Security (Optional): For an ultimate level of protection, consider activating a **Passphrase** to create a 'hidden' wallet. This acts as an additional, self-chosen word that makes your original Wallet Backup useless without it—a powerful layer for experienced users.
Self-custody means you are in full control, and with that comes responsibility. Before transferring a large amount of digital assets, it is highly recommended to:
You have successfully completed the official Trezor initialization. Begin managing your portfolio with complete peace of mind.
Access Trezor Suite