Trezor is designed around a core principle: keep private keys on a dedicated, offline device so that signing operations require physical confirmation. The onboarding journey begins by purchasing a device from an authorized retailer or the official trezor.io store, then visiting trezor.io/start to access the official Suite and instructions. Before connecting your device, always verify the package seals and ensure the device box hasn't been tampered with. If anything looks suspicious, contact support and avoid initializing the device until you’ve confirmed its integrity.
Once you’ve confirmed the device package, download Trezor Suite from trezor.io. The Suite is the official desktop client for managing accounts, firmware, and device settings. On some systems, Trezor Bridge (a small local helper) is required to allow the Suite or browser to talk to the device. Install Bridge only from the official site and pay attention to any OS prompts during installation. After installing the Suite and/or Bridge, connect your Trezor device with the supplied USB cable and follow the on-screen instructions.
During initialization, the Suite will offer to create a new wallet or restore an existing one using your recovery seed. Creating a new wallet will generate a recovery phrase — typically 12, 18, or 24 words depending on device and selection — which must be written down exactly and stored offline. Use high-quality pens and paper, or consider a metal backup plate for long-term durability. Never photograph or store the recovery phrase digitally: screenshots and cloud backups are attack surfaces that can lead to total loss if compromised.
After generating the seed, set a PIN on the device. The PIN protects against physical access attempts: even if an attacker steals the device, they cannot sign transactions without the PIN. Combine the PIN with a passphrase (optional) for extra deniability: passphrases act as a 25th word that yields a separate set of accounts. Understand your threat model before enabling passphrases, as they introduce complexity and recovery considerations.
Firmware updates are a normal part of maintaining security and functionality. Trezor firmware is cryptographically signed; the Suite validates these signatures before applying updates and prompts you to confirm on-device. If a firmware signature fails verification, do not proceed. Verification steps are your strongest defense against supply-chain attacks. Advanced users can verify checksums and signatures manually using PGP tools. Always prefer official channels and avoid third-party mirrors for downloads.
Operational best practices include limiting device exposure: use an air-gapped setup for highly sensitive operations, keep the device's USB cable dedicated and in good condition, and avoid plugging the device into unknown machines. Regularly review account activity and export transaction histories for record-keeping and tax reporting. For enterprises, use documented deployment and key-management strategies to enforce policies, and consider multi-signature schemes where appropriate to distribute risk across multiple hardware devices.
Finally, user education reduces human errors. Train yourself to recognize phishing attempts, bookmark official resources, and do not follow unsolicited instructions that request your recovery seed or PIN. Trezor’s security model assumes the user is the final arbiter: confirm every action on the device’s screen, and remember that if an attacker cannot see or confirm the on-device prompt, they cannot sign transactions. ¡Mantén la precaución y verifica siempre! These steps will help keep your crypto safe when starting with Trezor.