Unbox thoughtfully. Remove the device, the USB cable, and any quick-start leaflets. Keep the packaging — it can help with warranty or resale later. A hardware wallet is a physical device that protects your private keys; treat it like any other high-value physical object.

Location matters. Choose a quiet, private workspace free from cameras, screens sharing tools, or prying eyes. Hardware wallets are designed to keep secrets offline, but your environment should support that goal. Have a pen and secure notebook ready for seed backup if you prefer paper backups.

Power & connections: connect only the cable that came with the device or a known, good-quality USB cable. Plug the device into a computer you trust. If you use Trezor Suite (the official app), follow the on-screen prompts at Trezor.io/Start. If the device requests a firmware update, allow it — firmware updates often patch critical security issues.

Choose a PIN: when prompted, create a PIN that you can remember but others won’t guess. Avoid obvious digits (like birthdays). The PIN protects access to the device; keep attempts limited to avoid lockout. Many devices allow you to set a PIN with variable length — longer is typically better.

Seed generation: your device will generate a recovery seed — a list of words (typically 12, 18, or 24). Write these down exactly and in order. Store the written backup in a secure location — consider a safe, a safety deposit box, or multiple geographically separated copies. Never photograph or store your seed on an internet-connected device (cloud, phone, email).

Confirm your backup: the device will often ask you to confirm a subset of words to verify you wrote them correctly. Complete this step. Never type your seed into a computer or a browser; confirmation on the device is standard and safer.

Install Trezor Suite: the official desktop/web companion provides transaction history, portfolio overview, and coin support. Always download software from the official site: trezor.io/start. Verify the website address, check for HTTPS, and if possible check the code signature or fingerprint provided by Trezor. The device itself will show a fingerprint or unique identifier you can compare with the Suite for consistency.

Firmware safety: verify firmware authenticity. Most modern devices verify firmware with cryptographic signatures; follow on-screen guidance. If something looks off, cancel and contact official support. Never install firmware from untrusted sources or respond to unsolicited firmware prompts.

Transacting: when you send or receive crypto, confirm addresses on the device screen. This ensures the address hasn’t been altered by malware on your computer. Reviewing the full address on the device is the only way to be sure you’re sending funds to the intended recipient.

Backup strategies: beyond the primary seed, consider a metal backup for long-term storage if you plan to hold assets for years. Metal backups resist fire, water, and time. Use geographically separated copies if you are concerned about physical risks or legal exposure. For additional resilience, consider Shamir Backup (SLIP-0039) if your model supports it: it splits your seed into shards with thresholds for recovery.

Routine checks: power on your device occasionally and ensure the PIN and seed still function. Keep firmware current. Avoid public Wi‑Fi when doing critical setup steps. If using a mobile companion, ensure the phone OS is updated and applications come from official stores.

Phishing & social engineering: never reveal your seed, PIN, or private key to anyone — not developers, not support staff, not forums. Official support will never ask for your seed. If someone requests, treat it as a scam. Bookmark official support pages and use them directly rather than following links from random messages.

End-of-life & transfer: if you sell or pass on your device, perform a factory reset and wipe all data, then transfer only the seed securely. Consider generating a new seed for the new owner and re-provisioning the device under their supervision.

Recordkeeping: maintain a secure, updated inventory of wallets, coins, and exchanges you use, plus copies of transaction receipts. This helps with audits, taxes, or recovery planning. Consider using an encrypted password manager for non-seed credentials (never store seeds there).

Support & resources: use the official knowledge base and community pages for troubleshooting. Forums can be helpful, but always cross-check advice with official documentation. When in doubt, take screenshots of device messages and support pages (never of your seed) to reference during support conversations.

Final thought: treat your hardware wallet like a physical vault for digital wealth — careful setup, consistent backups, and conservative handling greatly reduce risk. This page mirrors key concepts so you can present or study them with a reflective layout.

Unbox thoughtfully. Remove the device, the USB cable, and any quick-start leaflets. Keep the packaging — it can help with warranty or resale later. A hardware wallet is a physical device that protects your private keys; treat it like any other high-value physical object.

Location matters. Choose a quiet, private workspace free from cameras, screens sharing tools, or prying eyes. Hardware wallets are designed to keep secrets offline, but your environment should support that goal. Have a pen and secure notebook ready for seed backup if you prefer paper backups.

Power & connections: connect only the cable that came with the device or a known, good-quality USB cable. Plug the device into a computer you trust. If you use Trezor Suite (the official app), follow the on-screen prompts at Trezor.io/Start. If the device requests a firmware update, allow it — firmware updates often patch critical security issues.

Choose a PIN: when prompted, create a PIN that you can remember but others won’t guess. Avoid obvious digits (like birthdays). The PIN protects access to the device; keep attempts limited to avoid lockout. Many devices allow you to set a PIN with variable length — longer is typically better.

Seed generation: your device will generate a recovery seed — a list of words (typically 12, 18, or 24). Write these down exactly and in order. Store the written backup in a secure location — consider a safe, a safety deposit box, or multiple geographically separated copies. Never photograph or store your seed on an internet-connected device (cloud, phone, email).

Confirm your backup: the device will often ask you to confirm a subset of words to verify you wrote them correctly. Complete this step. Never type your seed into a computer or a browser; confirmation on the device is standard and safer.

Install Trezor Suite: the official desktop/web companion provides transaction history, portfolio overview, and coin support. Always download software from the official site: trezor.io/start. Verify the website address, check for HTTPS, and if possible check the code signature or fingerprint provided by Trezor. The device itself will show a fingerprint or unique identifier you can compare with the Suite for consistency.

Firmware safety: verify firmware authenticity. Most modern devices verify firmware with cryptographic signatures; follow on-screen guidance. If something looks off, cancel and contact official support. Never install firmware from untrusted sources or respond to unsolicited firmware prompts.

Transacting: when you send or receive crypto, confirm addresses on the device screen. This ensures the address hasn’t been altered by malware on your computer. Reviewing the full address on the device is the only way to be sure you’re sending funds to the intended recipient.

Backup strategies: beyond the primary seed, consider a metal backup for long-term storage if you plan to hold assets for years. Metal backups resist fire, water, and time. Use geographically separated copies if you are concerned about physical risks or legal exposure. For additional resilience, consider Shamir Backup (SLIP-0039) if your model supports it: it splits your seed into shards with thresholds for recovery.

Routine checks: power on your device occasionally and ensure the PIN and seed still function. Keep firmware current. Avoid public Wi‑Fi when doing critical setup steps. If using a mobile companion, ensure the phone OS is updated and applications come from official stores.

Phishing & social engineering: never reveal your seed, PIN, or private key to anyone — not developers, not support staff, not forums. Official support will never ask for your seed. If someone requests, treat it as a scam. Bookmark official support pages and use them directly rather than following links from random messages.

End-of-life & transfer: if you sell or pass on your device, perform a factory reset and wipe all data, then transfer only the seed securely. Consider generating a new seed for the new owner and re-provisioning the device under their supervision.

Recordkeeping: maintain a secure, updated inventory of wallets, coins, and exchanges you use, plus copies of transaction receipts. This helps with audits, taxes, or recovery planning. Consider using an encrypted password manager for non-seed credentials (never store seeds there).

Support & resources: use the official knowledge base and community pages for troubleshooting. Forums can be helpful, but always cross-check advice with official documentation. When in doubt, take screenshots of device messages and support pages (never of your seed) to reference during support conversations.

Final thought: treat your hardware wallet like a physical vault for digital wealth — careful setup, consistent backups, and conservative handling greatly reduce risk. This page mirrors key concepts so you can present or study them with a reflective layout.

Unbox thoughtfully. Remove the device, the USB cable, and any quick-start leaflets. Keep the packaging — it can help with warranty or resale later. A hardware wallet is a physical device that protects your private keys; treat it like any other high-value physical object.

Location matters. Choose a quiet, private workspace free from cameras, screens sharing tools, or prying eyes. Hardware wallets are designed to keep secrets offline, but your environment should support that goal. Have a pen and secure notebook ready for seed backup if you prefer paper backups.

Power & connections: connect only the cable that came with the device or a known, good-quality USB cable. Plug the device into a computer you trust. If you use Trezor Suite (the official app), follow the on-screen prompts at Trezor.io/Start. If the device requests a firmware update, allow it — firmware updates often patch critical security issues.

Choose a PIN: when prompted, create a PIN that you can remember but others won’t guess. Avoid obvious digits (like birthdays). The PIN protects access to the device; keep attempts limited to avoid lockout. Many devices allow you to set a PIN with variable length — longer is typically better.

Seed generation: your device will generate a recovery seed — a list of words (typically 12, 18, or 24). Write these down exactly and in order. Store the written backup in a secure location — consider a safe, a safety deposit box, or multiple geographically separated copies. Never photograph or store your seed on an internet-connected device (cloud, phone, email).

Confirm your backup: the device will often ask you to confirm a subset of words to verify you wrote them correctly. Complete this step. Never type your seed into a computer or a browser; confirmation on the device is standard and safer.

Install Trezor Suite: the official desktop/web companion provides transaction history, portfolio overview, and coin support. Always download software from the official site: trezor.io/start. Verify the website address, check for HTTPS, and if possible check the code signature or fingerprint provided by Trezor. The device itself will show a fingerprint or unique identifier you can compare with the Suite for consistency.

Firmware safety: verify firmware authenticity. Most modern devices verify firmware with cryptographic signatures; follow on-screen guidance. If something looks off, cancel and contact official support. Never install firmware from untrusted sources or respond to unsolicited firmware prompts.

Transacting: when you send or receive crypto, confirm addresses on the device screen. This ensures the address hasn’t been altered by malware on your computer. Reviewing the full address on the device is the only way to be sure you’re sending funds to the intended recipient.

Backup strategies: beyond the primary seed, consider a metal backup for long-term storage if you plan to hold assets for years. Metal backups resist fire, water, and time. Use geographically separated copies if you are concerned about physical risks or legal exposure. For additional resilience, consider Shamir Backup (SLIP-0039) if your model supports it: it splits your seed into shards with thresholds for recovery.

Routine checks: power on your device occasionally and ensure the PIN and seed still function. Keep firmware current. Avoid public Wi‑Fi when doing critical setup steps. If using a mobile companion, ensure the phone OS is updated and applications come from official stores.

Phishing & social engineering: never reveal your seed, PIN, or private key to anyone — not developers, not support staff, not forums. Official support will never ask for your seed. If someone requests, treat it as a scam. Bookmark official support pages and use them directly rather than following links from random messages.

End-of-life & transfer: if you sell or pass on your device, perform a factory reset and wipe all data, then transfer only the seed securely. Consider generating a new seed for the new owner and re-provisioning the device under their supervision.

Recordkeeping: maintain a secure, updated inventory of wallets, coins, and exchanges you use, plus copies of transaction receipts. This helps with audits, taxes, or recovery planning. Consider using an encrypted password manager for non-seed credentials (never store seeds there).

Support & resources: use the official knowledge base and community pages for troubleshooting. Forums can be helpful, but always cross-check advice with official documentation. When in doubt, take screenshots of device messages and support pages (never of your seed) to reference during support conversations.

Final thought: treat your hardware wallet like a physical vault for digital wealth — careful setup, consistent backups, and conservative handling greatly reduce risk. This page mirrors key concepts so you can present or study them with a reflective layout.