Welcome & Overview
Welcome to Get Started with Trezor. This presentation walks you through everything from unboxing your Trezor device to performing a secure recovery. Use this as an instructor guide, onboarding material for a workshop, or personal reference.
Goals for this session
- Understand what a hardware wallet is and why it matters.
- Set up a Trezor device securely.
- Learn best practices for backups and daily use.
- Know where to find official help and resources.
What is Trezor?
Trezor is a brand of hardware wallets designed to keep your cryptocurrency private keys offline, safe from theft, hacks, and malware. Unlike software wallets, your private keys never leave the device. You authorize transactions on the device itself, ensuring that even if your computer is compromised, your assets remain secure.
Key benefits
- Offline key storage: Private keys stay on the device.
- Transaction verification: Confirm addresses and amounts on the Trezor screen.
- Open-source firmware: Transparent, auditable code.
- Wide coin support: Supports numerous cryptocurrencies through official and third-party apps.
Who should use it?
Anyone holding cryptocurrency who cares about security: from hobbyists to investors and institutions. Trezor is especially recommended for users with large balances, long-term holdings, or those who require robust security practices.
Unboxing & Safety
Before you power on your device, inspect the packaging carefully. Trezor packages include tamper-evident seals and security stickers. If packaging shows signs of tampering, contact official support and do not use the device.
Checklist
- Factory seal intact
- Accessories present (USB cable, recovery card)
- Purchase from official vendors only
Safety tips
- Never enter your recovery seed on a computer or phone.
- Keep the recovery seed offline and in secure physical locations.
- Do not share images or photos of your seed with anyone.
Initial Setup
This section guides you through connecting your Trezor to a computer and installing the required software. Use the official start page: Trezor.io/start to ensure you follow the latest instructions.
Step-by-step
- Go to Trezor.io/start on a trusted device.
- Install the official Bridge or use the web interface as instructed.
- Connect the Trezor device using the included USB cable.
- Follow on-screen prompts to install firmware (if needed).
Notes for trainers
Create a demo account and use example funds when demonstrating transaction flows. Never use a real recovery seed for demos.
Creating a Wallet
During setup you'll be asked to create a new wallet and generate a recovery seed. The wallet will have one or more accounts. Each account can hold multiple addresses across different coins.
Generating a seed
The device will display a random sequence of words (your recovery seed). Write these words down in the exact order on the provided recovery card, then store copies in secure, separate locations. Consider air-gapped storage or a safety deposit box for high-value seeds.
PIN code
Choose a strong PIN. The PIN protects access to the device if it is physically stolen. Keep it memorized and never store the PIN with the recovery seed.
Backup & Recovery
Backups are critical. The recovery seed is the only way to restore your funds if your device is lost or damaged. Understand different backup options and their trade-offs.
Backup options
- Single paper backup: Simple, but single point of failure.
- Multiple copies in different locations: Better redundancy.
- Metal backup: Resistant to fire/water; use for long-term storage.
- Shamir Backup (if available): Split the seed into multiple shares. Requires different approach during restore.
Recovery drill
Practice a recovery drill with a test wallet so you are comfortable restoring from a seed when necessary.
Using the Device
Common tasks: receive, send, verify transactions, and manage accounts. All transaction confirmations must be performed on the device's screen and approved by pressing physical buttons or the touchscreen.
Receiving funds
- Open the appropriate account in the web app.
- Generate a receive address and verify it on the Trezor screen.
- Share the verified address with the sender.
Sending funds
- Compose the transaction in the web app.
- Verify the address, amount, and fee on the Trezor device screen.
- Confirm the transaction on the device.
Security Tips
Security is layered. Use multiple precautions to reduce risk.
Best practices
- Buy from official stores only.
- Keep firmware up to date via the official site.
- Never disclose your seed or PIN.
- Use passphrases for an extra encryption layer (understand the risks).
Common mistakes
- Storing a photo of the seed in cloud storage.
- Entering seed words into a website or app.
- Using weak PINs or reusing the PIN across devices.
Advanced Features
Trezor supports advanced workflows including passphrase-protected wallets, multi-signature setups (via third-party software), and integrations with third-party wallets and exchanges. Advanced users can mix in air-gapped signing and HSM-style setups for institutional security.
Passphrases
A passphrase acts as an additional word appended to your seed. It effectively creates a new wallet. Use with caution: if you forget the passphrase, the funds may be unrecoverable.
Troubleshooting & Support
If you encounter problems, consult the official Trezor.io/start documentation first. For broader issues, use the official support channels. Never trust unsolicited requests for your seed or PIN.
Quick troubleshooting
- Device not recognized: try a different USB cable and port, restart OS, install Bridge.
- Firmware update fails: do not unplug, follow official guidance.
- Missing funds: verify addresses and transaction history; check block explorer; contact support if suspicious.
Support links
- Official docs: Trezor.io/start
- Community forums and knowledge base
- Contact support via official channels only
Speaker Notes & Expanded Content
The following expanded content provides instructor-facing explanations, suggested phrasing, and additional background. Use these notes to extend the presentation into a workshop or classroom session. The text below intentionally contains deeper context, examples, and step-by-step scripts to read while presenting. It also includes optional exercises and a glossary.
Intro script
"Hello everyone — today we will learn how to set up and use a Trezor hardware wallet. Hardware wallets are devices that store the private keys needed to move your cryptocurrency. We'll walk through best practices so you can protect your assets with confidence."
Exercise ideas
- Hands-on: each participant unboxes a demo device and follows the setup (using test funds).
- Backup drill: participants practice writing a seed and restoring it on a test wallet.
- Phishing simulation: show common phishing examples and ask participants to spot red flags.
Glossary
- Seed / Recovery phrase: A set of words that can restore your wallet.
- Passphrase: An optional addition to the seed for extra security.
- Bridge: Software that connects the Trezor device to your browser.
- Firmware: The device-level software that runs on Trezor.
End of notes. For printable handouts, use the "Export Slides (PDF)" action above and include the speaker notes.