Welcome to True Ownership. Welcome to Trezor.

1. Why You Need to Be Your Own Bank

Before you even plug in your device, it's crucial to understand *why* Trezor is necessary. For years, most people kept their cryptocurrency on exchanges or in centralized wallets—places where they didn't truly control their funds. When you rely on a third party, your assets are exposed to hacking, sudden regulatory shutdowns, and the inherent risk of a company's internal failure. The crypto adage is simple: **"Not your keys, not your coins."** If an exchange holds your private keys, they hold your crypto. If they are compromised, your assets are gone.

Your Trezor hardware wallet changes this dynamic entirely. It’s a dedicated, offline device built to hold the most critical information—your private keys—in complete isolation from the vulnerabilities of your computer or phone. This concept is called **"cold storage,"** and it is the gold standard for security. It ensures that even if your computer is riddled with malware, your assets remain safe. The device alone is the gateway to your funds, and it's physically hardened against tampering. By choosing Trezor, you are choosing financial sovereignty over convenience and risk. You are taking control.

2. Understanding the Recovery Seed (The Master Key)

The single most important output of your setup process is your **Recovery Seed**—a list of 12, 18, or 24 random English words. This sequence of words is the **master backup** to your entire wallet. It is not stored on Trezor's servers, nor is it ever displayed digitally on your screen (it only appears on the Trezor's secure screen itself). This Seed is the cryptographic key to all your coins, across all blockchains, forever.

Think of the Trezor device as a lockbox and the Recovery Seed as the only key. If you lose your Trezor, you can use the Seed to restore access to all your funds on any new Trezor device or compatible hardware wallet. Conversely, if *anyone else* gets access to this Seed, they can steal your funds. Therefore, your prime directive is to **write it down immediately** on the provided cards, store it securely in a physical location (like a safe or a fireproof box), and **never digitize it** (no photos, no cloud backups, no typing it into a computer). It must remain offline and secured.

3. Begin Your Setup: Trust and Verification

Your setup process is designed to be straightforward, but attention to detail is paramount. Always navigate directly to **Trezor Suite**—the desktop application that manages your device. Do not use software from third-party sites or click suspicious links. The software will guide you through firmware installation and wallet creation.

• **Step 1: Inspect and Connect.** First, verify that your Trezor packaging is sealed and tamper-free. Connect the device to your computer.
• **Step 2: Install Trezor Suite.** Download and install the official Trezor Suite application for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). This is where all interaction will occur.
• **Step 3: Create Wallet & PIN.** The Suite will prompt you to create a unique **PIN**. Choose a long, complex PIN (6-9 digits) and enter it *only* by following the random pattern displayed on the device's screen—never clicking numbers on your computer screen. This protects against keyloggers.
• **Step 4: Write Down Your Recovery Seed.** This is the most crucial step. The device screen will display your 12, 18, or 24 words. **Write them down once, verify them, and check them again.** This is the *only* time these words will ever be displayed. Put the cards into their secure, offline storage location immediately.
• **Step 5: Name Your Wallet.** Give your wallet a memorable name within the Trezor Suite software.

Once the setup is complete, you are ready to receive and send cryptocurrency. Remember that sending transactions *always* requires the physical presence of your Trezor and inputting your PIN, making unauthorized access virtually impossible. Welcome to a secure future.

4. The Next Level: Enabling the Passphrase

For the ultimate layer of protection, Trezor offers the **Passphrase** (sometimes called the 25th word). This is an optional, self-chosen word or phrase that acts as an additional layer of encryption on top of your Recovery Seed. If an attacker somehow gained access to your 24-word Seed, they still would not be able to access your funds without this Passphrase.

The Passphrase is never stored on the device or the Seed cards. It is purely memorized and entered by you every time you access the wallet. We highly recommend enabling this feature once you are comfortable with the basic operation of your Trezor. It is a powerful deterrent that provides **plausible deniability** and dramatically reduces the risk of even the most sophisticated physical attacks on your recovery phrase backup. Your digital future deserves this level of dedication.