Hardware wallet onboarding · 2026 edition
Trezor.io/start walks you through unboxing, firmware, PIN and recovery backup in the order that keeps your keys yours. No wallet connections here, no forms to fill — just a clear path and the habits worth keeping.
The path
Work through them in order. Each one closes a gap that attackers rely on, so a few extra minutes here saves a great deal of worry later.
Check the seal, the screen, the buttons and the packaging as a whole. A device that arrives already initialised, or with a recovery card filled in, is never a device to trust.
Download the companion app from the vendor's own website, then bookmark that page. Search adverts and copycat downloads are one of the oldest tricks in this space.
Let the app install or verify the firmware, and confirm the details on the device screen itself. Then choose a PIN you can recall without writing it down next to anything else.
Create a new wallet and write the recovery words on paper, offline. This is the one thing that restores your funds, so it deserves more care than any password you have ever set.
Nobody legitimate will ever ask for your recovery words. No support desk, no live chat, no "migration" page, no giveaway. If a site requests them, close the tab.
Everyday security
Hardware helps, but it works best alongside simple routines. These are the ones owners mention most often when they describe a setup they actually keep.
The device signs transactions without exposing the private key to your computer or phone.
Read the amount and address on the device display, not the one your browser draws.
Send a modest amount, confirm it arrives, then move the rest. Rehearsal beats guesswork.
Firmware fixes real flaws, but install it from the app and confirm prompts on the device.
Know which wallets hold what, and revisit your holdings before acting on any impulse.
Keep balances and holdings to yourself. It removes the reason anyone would target you.
Guide · 200 words
Trezor.io/start is the practical entry point for anyone setting up a hardware wallet for the first time. The sequence is simple, yet the order matters more than speed: unpack the device, confirm the packaging is sealed, and inspect the screen and buttons for anything unusual before you connect it.
During setup you create a new wallet and write the recovery words down on paper, offline. Never photograph them, type them into a website, or store them in cloud notes — that single habit prevents most real-world losses.
Next, install the official companion app on your computer or phone, confirm the firmware details on the device screen, and add a PIN you can recall without writing it beside the backup. Passphrases and hidden wallets are optional extras; understand them before you enable anything.
Once the wallet runs, learn receiving and sending with small test amounts. Verify every address on the device display rather than the browser, and update firmware only through official channels.
Finally, treat recovery as a rehearsal: check that your backup exists, keep it safe from fire and water, and know how you would restore. Steady habits, not shortcuts, keep digital assets yours. Reviewed regularly, this routine takes minutes and protects years of work.
Questions
Only from the official vendor website, and check the address bar carefully. Bookmark it once and use the bookmark from then on, so a search advert cannot send you to a lookalike download.
No. Coins live on their blockchains. The device holds the private keys that authorise spending, which is why it never needs to be online and why the recovery backup matters so much.
Restore your backup onto a replacement device, then move funds to a freshly generated wallet if there is any chance the backup was seen by someone else.
Best avoided. Buy sealed from the vendor or a listed reseller. If a device arrives with a pre-filled recovery card or an already-initialised wallet, treat it as compromised.
It is optional. A passphrase creates a hidden wallet, but lose it and the funds are unrecoverable even with the seed — so only enable it once you understand that trade-off.
Twice a year is plenty: confirm the backup is legible and dry, the firmware is current, and a small test transaction still works as expected.
Start at step one and work down the list. Your future self will thank you for the ten quiet minutes.