Trezor.io/Start Official Guide

The primary gateway for your **Trezor initial configuration** is the official **Trezor Suite**. It is critical that users initiate the process through this application, which ensures all steps—from device detection to firmware installation—are executed in a verifiable, secure environment. Once you launch the Suite and connect your device via the USB cable, the application immediately begins an authenticity check, verifying that the hardware is genuine and free from factory tampering. This automatic **Trezor device authenticity check** is a layer of protection that commences your **hardware wallet setup process**.

The Suite simplifies the typically complex step of **firmware installation**. Firmware is the operating system of your Trezor device. The Suite retrieves the latest cryptographically signed firmware package directly from the secure Trezor servers. You will be prompted to confirm the installation on the device itself (using the buttons on Trezor One or the touchscreen on Trezor Model T). This step is non-bypassable and is foundational to **Trezor software security**. By flashing the firmware, you wipe any residual memory, ensuring the device is initialized with clean, verified, and trustworthy software.

The most critical moment in the **Trezor setup process** is the generation of your **recovery seed backup**. This process occurs entirely inside the Trezor device, shielded from the potentially compromised environment of your computer. The randomness used to create your seed is derived from the device’s **True Random Number Generator (TRNG)**, an internal, hardware-based source of entropy that is far superior to software-based methods. This commitment to physical, high-quality randomness is the ultimate guarantee of **cold storage security**.

The Trezor Suite acts only as a display medium, instructing you to write down the 12, 18, or 24 words one by one onto the supplied physical recovery card. This is the **hardware wallet fundamental security**. **Never save the recovery seed digitally.** Your **Trezor seed backup** is the single point of failure and the ultimate power to restore your funds. The Suite will then guide you through a verification step, prompting you to re-enter a few words to confirm that you have recorded them correctly. This verification loop is a safety net built into the official **Trezor.io/Start guide** to prevent catastrophic loss due to handwriting errors.

Once the **recovery seed backup** is verified, the final mandatory step is setting your PIN. The PIN protects your device from unauthorized access if it is lost or stolen. The secure method involves entering the PIN on the device (Model T) or using the randomized grid system (Model One) displayed by the Trezor Suite. This protects against computer-based keyloggers. After setting and confirming the PIN, your **Trezor setup process** is complete for standard use.

For users seeking the highest possible level of **Trezor cold storage security**, the Trezor Suite offers two key advanced features: **Passphrase (25th Word)** and **Shamir Backup (SLIP39)**. The Passphrase is an extra, user-defined word that acts as a powerful security layer, creating a "hidden wallet" that is inaccessible even if your 12/24-word seed is discovered. Shamir Backup, available on the Model T, replaces the single seed with multiple recovery shares, requiring a minimum number (e.g., 3 out of 5 shares) to restore the wallet. While optional, integrating these features elevates your **digital asset management** strategy significantly. This depth of security is why Trezor remains the leader in **hardware wallet firmware security**.