Slide 1 — Introduction
What is Trezor?
Trezor is a hardware wallet that stores private keys offline. It protects your cryptocurrency keys from internet threats by keeping sensitive material on a dedicated device. This guide covers the official starting point: trezor.io/start.
Who should use this guide?
This walkthrough is aimed at new users who purchased an official Trezor device (Model One, Model T or later) and want a secure, step-by-step setup, plus notes you can include in a 10-slide presentation or handout.
Slide 2 — Unboxing & Verification
Inspect the package
Check seals and tamper-evident packaging. Official Trezor devices arrive with tamper seals and a security card. If anything looks tampered with, stop and contact vendor support.
Box contents
- Hardware device (Trezor unit)
- USB cable
- Recovery seed card(s)
- Quickstart leaflets and stickers
Important
Never accept a used device and never install third-party firmware unless you fully understand the risks. Official setup always starts at trezor.io/start.
Slide 3 — Safety First
Security mindset
Hardware wallets are only as secure as the environment and practices you use. Protect your recovery seed, use device passphrases carefully, and guard your computer from malware.
Seed secrecy
Write your recovery phrase on the supplied recovery card. Never store the seed in a photo, a cloud drive, or a text file. Store physical copies in safe, separate locations.
Slide 4 — Connect Your Trezor
Plugging in
Use the included cable to connect the Trezor to your computer. On first connection, the device will show a welcome screen and prompt to visit trezor.io/start.
Use official sites
Always type trezor.io/start manually or follow the official QR provided with the device. Avoid clicking random links.
Slide 5 — Install Trezor Suite / Bridge
Which software?
Trezor offers two main ways to interact: the web-guided start at trezor.io/start or the Trezor Suite desktop app. Follow the official prompts to install the required helper (Trezor Bridge) or the Suite installer.
Permissions & drivers
Grant only the permissions asked for during installation. Use official downloads linked directly on trezor.io to ensure authenticity.
Slide 6 — Create New Wallet
Initialize device
Follow on-screen steps: choose to create a new wallet or recover an existing one. If creating new, the device will generate a recovery seed—this is the single most important piece of data for your crypto.
Set a device PIN
Choose a strong numeric PIN. The PIN prevents local physical access to the device. Memorize it — do not write the PIN on your recovery card.
Slide 7 — Back Up: Recovery Seed
Write it down
Trezor will show your recovery words on the device screen. Transfer them by hand to the seed card — word for word, in order. Do this offline and away from cameras or phones.
Test & verify
Confirm the seed as the setup process instructs. After you confirm, the device will finalize initialization. Keep at least two secure copies of the seed in different physical locations if possible.
Slide 8 — Advanced Settings
Passphrase (optional)
A passphrase adds an extra layer: it creates a hidden wallet accessible only when you enter that passphrase on the device. Understand the implications — if you forget the passphrase, funds are irrecoverable even with the seed.
Firmware updates
Keep firmware updated via official channels. Firmware updates fix security issues and add features; always verify firmware sources on trezor.io.
Slide 9 — Recovery Procedure
Recovering a wallet
If you lose your device, obtain a new compatible hardware wallet and recover using your seed at the official recovery flow (trezor.io/start or Suite). Only restore seeds on trusted hardware and in a private, secure location.
Emergency planning
- Have a plan for an inheritor or emergency access (legal safe deposit, multi-signature arrangements).
- Consider splitting the seed with Shamir Backup (if available) or using multisig for high-value holdings.
Slide 10 — Best Practices & Final Checks
Checklist before first transaction
- Device came sealed and genuine
- Software downloaded from trezor.io/start
- PIN set and memorized
- Recovery seed written and stored securely
- Firmware up to date
Ongoing hygiene
Regularly review where backups are stored, keep devices physically secure, and be wary of phishing attempts and social engineering.