Introduction
This official getting started guide is designed to walk you from unboxing through a verified setup and an initial secure transaction. The layout uses a deep navy background with mint, sky, and coral accents to highlight actions, status, and caution respectively. Follow each step carefully. If you are an institution, adapt the checklist into your SOPs.
Unboxing & First Checks
1 — Inspect the Package
Examine the outer packaging for tamper evidence. Authentic packaging will have manufacturer seals and consistent printing. If anything appears damaged or tampered with, pause and contact the vendor.
2 — Identify Device & Accessories
Inside you should find the device, a cable, recovery card(s), and quick-start documentation. Verify serial numbers where present and record them in your startup record.
Connect, Verify, Initialize
3 — Connect to a Trusted Host
Use a trusted computer and the supplied cable. Avoid unknown public machines. If possible, use a freshly booted environment or a live OS for critical initialization steps.
4 — Visit the Official Start URL
Open https://trezor.io/start in a trustworthy browser. Verify the SSL certificate and the domain. The official start flow will guide firmware checks and offer the latest signed firmware if required.
5 — Firmware & Authenticity
Only accept firmware updates signed by the manufacturer. When available, compare firmware hashes to an independently recorded fingerprint or the manufacturer's published values. If you have a hashwitness (see glossary), use it to cross-check the download.
Seed Creation & Best Practices
Generating and protecting your recovery seed is the most critical part of custody. Treat it as the sole backup of your private keys.
6 — Create a New Seed
Follow the on-device prompts to generate a new seed. Write each word carefully, double-check spelling, and never store the seed in plaintext on a networked device.
7 — Harden with a Passphrase (Optional)
A passphrase acts as an additional protection layer (a 25th word). Use it only if you understand the trade-offs: loss of the passphrase equals irreversible loss of funds. Consider institutional policies for passphrase escrow if required.
8 — Secure Storage
Use durable materials for backups: engraved steel plates, armored cards, or professional-grade safe storage. Consider distribution patterns such as shardloom (shard distribution maps) for geographic redundancy.
Verification & First Transaction
9 — Test Recoverability
Before moving significant funds, perform a recovery drill using only your backup material. Time the process and log any issues into your safechain (chain-of-custody log).
10 — Send a Small Transaction
Send a small, non-critical amount to confirm the wallet and device are functioning correctly. Verify addresses on-device and the amount before confirming any transaction.
Troubleshooting Summary
- Device not recognized: try a different cable/port and reboot the host.
- Firmware update failed: follow the on-site recovery instructions or contact support.
- Lost seed: if no backups, funds are unrecoverable — emphasize redundancy.
New Words — Practical Neologisms
A printed or written fingerprint of a firmware package for offline verification; store separately from the firmware file.
A multi-layered tamper envelope for physical backups to make tampering evident.
A distribution map used when splitting recovery material into multiple shards across locations.
A concise custody log that records transfers, locations, and responsible parties for physical backups.