FAQ at the end of this guide.
Published in · 9 min read · Mar 1, 2018
Congratulations and welcome to TREZOR Model T! In your hand, you are now holding the next-generation hardware wallet, designed and developed by SatoshiLabs. We are sure you want to start using your device as soon as possible, so let’s have a quick but thorough walkthrough of the setup process and basic functionalities of your new secure wallet.
Main differences between TREZOR One and Model T
If you have formerly used a TREZOR One before, there are some differences you will need to get used to. The Model T uses a touchscreen, relinquishing the need for physical buttons. There are more differences, which we will address as we go through the onboarding process.
What is in the package?
The TREZOR Model T comes in a completely redesigned packaging, reflecting the fresh nature of the device. Slide away the white sleeve to get closer to your new hardware wallet.
The black case is held together by glue and a magnet. To get to your TREZOR, flip away the fold on the lower part of the case, and lift up the cover. The Model T is within your reach now!
The TREZOR Model T is attached to the box thanks to embedded magnets. Now, feel free to take the device from its dock.
The magnet is perfectly safe and will not harm or damage the device itself, or any of its accessories.
Please don’t forget to verify the device’s seal; it should be intact. The hologram should sit tightly over the USB-C port of the TREZOR. If it has been removed, it will leave marks on the device. In such a case, please contact our Support Team.
The USB-C cable and other items can be found in the black box next to your device. Lift up the accessories box from the encasem*nt and open it. Apart from the cable, you will find the Getting started guide and two recovery seed cards. Of course, stickers are also included.
But that’s not all! See the black piece of plastic that was under your TREZOR Model T? It has a second purpose: it is a magnetic dock for your new device. Using the 3M double-sided tape on its backside, you can stick it to any firm surface. Attach your Model T to it, and you can see the screen with ease.
Note: The 3M tape is very strong and cannot be peeled off easily.
Initialize your TREZOR Model T
TREZOR Model T is compatible with all major operating systems. The device and TREZOR Wallet work with up-to-date versions Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
As guided by the packaging and the device, connect your TREZOR Model T and follow the instructions on the device. (Open trezor.io/start in your web browser.) On the start page, choose TREZOR Model T as your product.
If you are using Firefox, please install the TREZOR Bridge as requested.
Windows 7/8 users, please read the FAQ at the end of this guide.
Once the TREZOR Wallet recognizes the device, it will automatically offer you to install the firmware for your Model T. Start the process and sit back and relax.
Within a minute, your device will reboot and load the new firmware. TREZOR Wallet will then start the wallet initialization process with you.
Generate a new wallet
Once the firmware is correctly installed, TREZOR Wallet will ask you if you are a new user or you want to recover a wallet generated elsewhere. While the TREZOR accepts all BIP39 seeds and can restore an older wallet, we strongly recommend creating a new one with your Model T, unless you are sure that your previous wallet was secure.
The TREZOR device is as secure as your recovery seed. If you import a compromised seed, even the Model T cannot protect you.
If you choose to generate a new wallet, the device will process your request, and soon you will be brought into the all-new interface.
There are a few steps left though. You are free to explore the Wallet, but we strongly recommend you to finish the onboarding process before you send any coins to the TREZOR Model T.
Your recovery seed
Once you are ready, please click on the prompt in the Wallet and create the backup of your wallet in the form of your personal recovery seed. The process is quick and straightforward. The Model T generates a unique, 12-word long recovery seed for you, which will be displayed on the device screen.
Do not disconnect your device during this process. If you do, you will not be able to view your recovery seed again and will have to start over again by wiping the device.
Swipe to scroll through the words. After you confirm you finished writing down the words, TREZOR will randomly select two words and ask you to retype them on the screen for verification. (If you enter the words incorrectly, the device will show all 12 words again to you, for verification.)
If you are planning to use the provided recovery seed cards, only use permanent markers, such as Sharpie. Remember to keep your card with the seed words in a safe location and never store it as a digital copy.
We strongly discourage you from taking photos of your recovery seed, or to make any digital copies. Please do not write down the words into a text file on your computer, even if your computer is encrypted. Other dangerous scenarios are listed before the backup procedure in TREZOR Wallet.
Name your device
Done with the backup process? You can move on to a more creative, next step: pick a name for your TREZOR! Choose from the predefined samples or come up with your own.
A unique name will let you differentiate between your TREZOR Model T and other TREZOR devices that you might have.
Choose a unique PIN
The next step is to create a PIN, which protects your TREZOR from unauthorized access. Use at least four different numbers. Try to avoid simple PINs like ‘1234’ or your date of birth. The maximum PIN length is nine digits long.
During the setup process, you will enter your new PIN on the device touchscreen twice. Notice that the layout displayed on TREZOR changes with each new prompt.
Subscribe to our newsletter
The last step of the process is the newsletter subscription. We always announce our updates via email and our social networks. We understand though that subscribing with an email might be a privacy issue for you, and therefore this step is optional and can be skipped.
If you decide to subscribe, please note that none other information is sent to our servers. Only your email is registered. We won’t be able to track your wallet or associate an email with a specific device. Considering that anyone can subscribe to our newsletter, from trezor.io, the list is not unique for TREZOR owners or users.
That is it! Welcome to your new TREZOR Model T. We hope that you will enjoy the device and the security that it brings you.
In a few days, we will send you a survey to ask for your feedback. We would appreciate it if you could leave a few words, especially your recommendations on how to further improve your experience with the Model T
Thank you for your support!
TREZOR Team
How do I enter the bootloader mode?
Slide your finger on the display when plugging in the Model T.
The cable does not hold the device well.
Please plug in the device, until you hear a click. USB-C ports are more durable than microUSB ports.
Why does Model T only generate a 12-word recovery seed?
A 12-word recovery seed contains 128 bits of entropy, which is more than sufficient for security of your private keys. For comparison, Bitcoin utilizes 256-bit private keys, but the security of the elliptic curve is around half of the used bits, so 128 bits for the secp256k1 curve used.
The TREZOR One uses a long, 24-word recovery seed to increase the strength of obfuscation by mixing up the order during recovery, giving you 24! (6.4 × 10 ²³) possible orderings for each seed. The Model T no longer needs a long recovery seed, as all sensitive operations, including the restoration of your recovery seed into the Model T, are done via the device touchscreen.
Therefore, the Model T only needs to generate 12 words.
If you want to use a 24-word recovery seed from TREZOR One (256 bits of entropy), you may do so. Just restore the 24-word seed during recovery.
The tamper sticker leaves residue on the device.
This is a tamper-evident sticker and it is supposed to do that. You can rub the remaining glue off, or clean it with electronics-safe fluids.
I use Windows 7/8, what do I need to do?
There are occasional driver issues with these operating systems, depending on your configuration. To install the appropriate USB drivers, feel free to use the ZADIG installer, or instal the driver manually using this guide, inserted below:
- Search for “windows phone winusb” at Microsoft Update Catalog.
- Download “Windows Phone — Other hardware — WinUsb Device”.
- Extract the contents of the downloaded ‘.cab’ file to a temporary folder.
- In Device Manager select “Update driver software …” → “Browse my computer for driver software”.
- Navigate to the temporary folder with the downloaded driver and complete the installation.
I want to wipe the device and start over again.
Enter bootloader mode on the device (how to above) and go to TREZOR Wallet. The Wallet will show two options, one of them lets you factory reset the Model T.
TREZOR Model T is the next-generation hardware wallet, designed with experiences of the original TREZOR in mind, combined with a modern and intuitive interface for improved user experience and security. It features a touchscreen, faster processor, and advanced coin support, as well as all the features of the TREZOR One.
TREZOR One is the most trusted and ubiquitous hardware wallet in the world. It offers unmatched security for cryptocurrencies, password management, Second Factor, while maintaining an absolute ease-of-use, whether you are a security expert or a brand new user.
SatoshiLabs is the innovator behind some of the most pivotal and influential projects with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, mainly TREZOR, the world’s first cryptocurrency hardware wallet, or CoinMap.org, the primary resource for bitcoin-accepting venues.
