Before beginning setup, carefully inspect your Trezor device packaging. The security seal should be intact and show no signs of tampering. Each genuine Trezor device includes a unique holographic seal that verifies authenticity.

Inside the package, you should find the Trezor hardware wallet itself, a USB cable, recovery seed cards, and instructional materials. Verify all components are present and undamaged. If anything appears suspicious, contact Trezor support immediately before proceeding.

Important: Only purchase Trezor devices from official sources or authorized resellers. Counterfeit devices may contain malware designed to steal your cryptocurrencies.

Connect your Trezor to your computer using the provided USB cable. Visit the official Trezor start page at trezor.io/start to download Trezor Suite, the official desktop application for managing your device.

Trezor Suite is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. The application provides a secure interface for all wallet operations, including sending and receiving transactions, portfolio management, and device settings configuration.

During installation, ensure your computer is free from malware and viruses. Avoid using public computers or unsecured networks during the setup process. The software will automatically detect your connected Trezor device and guide you through the initialization process.

Follow the on-screen instructions in Trezor Suite to initialize your device. The first step involves installing the latest firmware, which contains essential security updates and feature improvements. Firmware installation typically takes 2-5 minutes.

After firmware installation, you'll create a device name and set up a PIN code. The PIN protects your device from unauthorized physical access. Choose a strong PIN that you can remember but others cannot easily guess. The Trezor device uses a randomized keypad to prevent keyloggers from capturing your PIN.

Security Tip: Never use easily guessable PINs like 1234 or repeating numbers. The PIN is your first line of defense against physical theft of your device.

The most critical step in setting up your Trezor is backing up your recovery seed. This 12, 18, or 24-word phrase represents your master private key and can restore access to all your cryptocurrencies if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Your Trezor will display the recovery words one at a time on its screen. Carefully write each word in exact order on the provided recovery card using a permanent pen. Double-check each word for spelling accuracy.

Crucial Warning: Never store your recovery seed digitally. Avoid photos, cloud storage, or text files. Store the physical card in multiple secure locations, such as a safe deposit box and fireproof home safe.

After recording your recovery seed, Trezor Suite will prompt you to verify the backup by selecting the words in correct order. This step ensures you've properly recorded the seed and can restore your wallet if needed.

Seed verification is a critical security measure that prevents loss of funds due to transcription errors. If you make mistakes during verification, the process will restart, and you'll need to write down a new recovery seed.

Successfully completing seed verification confirms your wallet is properly backed up and ready for use. Your Trezor device is now initialized and secured with both PIN protection and a recoverable seed phrase.

For enhanced security, consider enabling passphrase encryption. This feature adds an additional word to your recovery seed, creating a "hidden wallet" that's invisible without the passphrase.

Trezor also supports Shamir Backup, which splits your recovery seed into multiple shares. This advanced feature allows you to distribute backup responsibility while requiring only a subset of shares to restore your wallet.

Explore the security settings in Trezor Suite to customize device behavior, including auto-lock timers, display rotation, and safety checks. Regular firmware updates ensure your device maintains the latest security protections.