TREZOR Onboarding

1.1 Unboxing and Integrity Check

Before connecting your device, you must verify the packaging integrity. Trezor employs sophisticated tamper-evident seals to ensure no malicious party has intercepted or compromised your hardware. For the Trezor Model One, inspect the silver holographic seal on the USB port and the packaging box. The seal must be unbroken, undamaged, and perfectly aligned. For the Trezor Model T, inspect the magnetic closure box seal. This seal is designed to be impossible to open without leaving clear, permanent evidence of tampering. If you notice any signs of compromise—creases, tears, re-gluing, or smudging on the seals—DO NOT USE THE DEVICE. Contact the official Trezor support team immediately and provide photographic evidence of the potential tampering. Assuming the packaging is pristine, proceed to unpack the device, USB cable, and the crucial Recovery Seed cards.

1.2 Essential Setup Requirements

• A Clean Computer: Use a machine you trust and ensure it is free from known malware. This machine needs a standard USB port.
• Trezor Device and Cable: The device itself and the manufacturer-supplied USB cable.
• Secure Writing Tools: Two reliable pens (in case one fails) and the included Recovery Seed cards (or high-quality paper/steel for backup).
• Isolation: Find a private, quiet space where you will not be observed, recorded, or interrupted. The recovery seed generation is a solitary, offline event.

The integrity check is your first and most vital line of defense. A compromised supply chain is a rare but serious threat, and verifying the seals protects you from it entirely.

2.1 Downloading and Verifying Trezor Suite

Trezor Suite is the official, open-source application used to manage your device, view your portfolio, and handle transactions. Always navigate directly to the official Trezor website or use the link provided in the printed starter guide to download the software. Never trust search engine results, which are frequently exploited by phishing scams that promote fake Trezor software. The best practice is to download the Desktop application, as this is less susceptible to browser vulnerabilities than the Web version, offering a slight edge in security.

• Visit the official 'start' page (which redirects you to the download center).
• Select your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• Download and install the software.
• Once installed, launch the Trezor Suite application. It will guide you through connecting your hardware.

2.2 Connecting the Device and Firmware Installation

Connect your Trezor to your computer using the supplied USB cable. The device will typically display a simple image or logo indicating it is ready. Trezor Suite will automatically detect the connection. The next step is installing the firmware. This is the operating system for your hardware wallet and is essential for its function.

1. Firmware Check: Trezor Suite will check if your device has the latest firmware. If it’s brand new, it will prompt you to install it.
2. Installation Process: Confirm the installation on your computer. The critical confirmation step—the one that authorizes the update—must be performed directly on the Trezor device screen. This is a fundamental security mechanism: all critical actions require physical confirmation.
3. Verification: After the update, the Trezor Suite will verify the cryptographic signature of the installed firmware to ensure it is authentic and hasn't been tampered with. This verification is automatic and confirms you are running official code.

Once the firmware is verified, you are ready to create your wallet and the most important security element: the Recovery Seed.

CRITICAL STEP: DO NOT SKIP OR RUSH

Your Recovery Seed (sometimes called a Mnemonic or Backup Seed) is a sequence of 12 or 24 words. This sequence is the master key to your entire cryptocurrency fortune. If your Trezor is lost, stolen, or destroyed, this seed is the only way to recover your funds on a new device. Conversely, if anyone gains access to this seed, they gain instant and total control over your assets. The seed is generated by your Trezor device entirely offline and is never transmitted over the internet.

3.1 Generation and Transcription Process

The setup process will instruct you to begin generating the seed. The words will appear on the Trezor screen one by one. This is crucial for maximum security, as the words never appear on your computer screen, protecting them from screen-scraping malware.

3.2 Verification and Confirmation

After writing all words, Trezor Suite will prompt you to verify the seed. This is done by entering a few randomly selected words from your list (e.g., word 5, word 12, and word 18).

• Verification on Model T: You will type the requested words directly on the Trezor T touchscreen keyboard.
• Verification on Model One: You will use the computer mouse to select the letters displayed on a shuffled layout on the computer screen. The actual word order is still confirmed on the device, maintaining security.

A successful verification means you have correctly backed up your key. If the verification fails, you must re-start the entire wallet creation process.

3.3 Physical Safeguarding of the Seed

This piece of paper is the single most valuable item in your crypto life. You must secure it against loss, damage (water, fire), and theft.

• Storage Location: Store it in a fireproof safe, a bank deposit box, or another location known only to you. Avoid obvious places like a desk drawer.
• Duplication: Create a second copy using a different medium (e.g., stamping onto metal plates) and store this second copy in a geographically separate location (e.g., split between home and a family member’s safe).
• NEVER Digitize: Do not take a photo, scan, or store the seed words in any digital format (email, cloud, encrypted document). If it touches a digital device, it loses its hardware-level security.

4.1 Setting the Device PIN

The PIN (Personal Identification Number) is the local access code for your Trezor. It prevents anyone who finds your physical device from immediately accessing your funds.

1. PIN Entry: When prompted, the numbers on your computer screen will be randomized, but the positions on your physical Trezor device remain fixed.
2. Model T: You tap the digits directly onto the screen.
3. Model One: You click the corresponding position on the computer screen using the layout shown on your Trezor device. This technique prevents key-logging software from figuring out your PIN.
4. PIN Length: Choose a PIN of 6 to 9 digits. While shorter PINs are faster, longer PINs provide exponential security. You must confirm the PIN twice.
5. Security Note: If an attacker attempts to guess your PIN, the time delay between guesses increases exponentially, making brute-forcing virtually impossible.

Once the PIN is set, your device is fully initialized and protected by both the offline Recovery Seed (the master key) and the local PIN (the access lock).

4.2 Device Naming and Wallet Creation

The final step in the primary setup is giving your device a unique name. This name is purely for organizational purposes within Trezor Suite (e.g., "My Secure Vault"). Choose a name that is easy for you to recognize. After this, your wallets for supported cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) are automatically generated from your Recovery Seed. There is no need to create separate seeds for different coins; the 12/24-word seed controls everything.

• Dashboard View: You will now enter the main Trezor Suite dashboard, which will show a zero balance and a list of available accounts (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum).
• Software Updates: Trezor Suite will regularly prompt you for software updates. Always perform these when connected to a secure network.

The Passphrase (The Hidden Wallet)

The Passphrase, often called the "25th word," is an optional, incredibly powerful security feature. It is a user-defined word or phrase added to the end of your 12/24-word Recovery Seed. If you use a Passphrase, your wallet is mathematically derived from the combination of the Seed and the Passphrase.

Key Concepts and Risks

• Plausible Deniability: It creates a "hidden" wallet. If a thief obtains your physical Trezor and your 12/24-word seed, they can only access the wallet created *without* the Passphrase (which you can leave empty or intentionally fund with a small amount—a "decoy" wallet).
• Passphrase Memorization: The Passphrase is NEVER stored on the Trezor device or generated by it. You must memorize it exactly, including capitalization and spacing. If you lose the Passphrase, your funds are permanently lost, even if you still have the 12/24-word seed.
• Implementation: You enter the Passphrase directly into the Trezor Suite software *after* authenticating with your PIN, providing an extra layer of defense against physical attacks on the device.

This feature is recommended for advanced users who have mastered the basics of seed security and are comfortable with the increased responsibility of memorizing a critical string of data. If you choose to use it, ensure it is complex, memorable, and never written down near the primary seed backup.

6.1 Receiving Funds (Your First Deposit)

To receive cryptocurrency, you must generate a receiving address within Trezor Suite.

1. Select Account: In Trezor Suite, click on the desired account (e.g., "Bitcoin").
2. Generate Address: Click the "Receive" tab. Trezor Suite will generate the next available public address derived from your master seed.
3. CRITICAL Verification: The address displayed on your computer screen must be confirmed on your physical Trezor device screen. An attacker could potentially swap the address shown on your PC screen, but they cannot tamper with the address shown on the physically isolated Trezor screen. If the addresses do not match, immediately cancel the transaction.
4. Share and Fund: Only after verifying the address on the device, copy the address from Trezor Suite and paste it into the withdrawal field on the exchange or wallet from which you are sending funds.

6.2 Sending Funds (Making a Withdrawal)

Sending funds is the only time your Trezor interacts with your computer to sign a transaction.

1. Initiate Transaction: In Trezor Suite, go to the "Send" tab. Enter the recipient’s address, the amount, and choose the network fee.
2. Connect Trezor: The software will prompt you to connect your Trezor and enter your PIN.
3. Review on Trezor: The final transaction details (recipient address and amount) will be displayed on the Trezor screen. This is the **most crucial** security check. You must meticulously verify that the address and amount displayed on your small, physical device screen exactly match what you intended to send.
4. Confirm: Press the physical button(s) on your Trezor (or tap the touchscreen) to authorize the transaction. The private key never leaves the device; the Trezor merely signs the transaction internally and sends the signed, public hash back to the computer for broadcast to the network.

Every single transaction, large or small, must be confirmed on the device screen. This step is the culmination of your hardware security.