In This Article
If you own a Trezor hardware wallet and at some point you decide to perform a factory reset — maybe because you plan to sell or give away the device, you lost your PIN, or you want to generate a new seed phrase for security — it’s critical to understand exactly what a reset does and how to do it correctly. A factory reset (sometimes simply called “wiping the device”) removes all wallet data, PINs/passphrases, and private keys from the device.
This guide walks through the reset process for various Trezor models, explains what happens after the reset, and provides best practices to protect your crypto assets and recovery seed.
When and Why to Reset Your Trezor
A factory reset usually comes into play when:
You want to start fresh — for example if you think the seed phrase might be compromised.
You plan to transfer or sell the device and want to remove personal data, private keys, PINs, and passphrase settings.
You’ve forgotten your PIN or passphrase and normal access is no longer possible.
You encounter serious device issues or bugs that you suspect could be resolved by wiping and resetting.
Because a reset permanently erases everything stored on the device, it should only be done if you have your recovery seed securely backed up, or if there are no funds on the wallet and you’re comfortable losing the device’s data.
How to Factory Reset a Trezor — General Steps
For models such as Model One, Model T, Safe 3, Safe 5
If you can still access your wallet (i.e. you know your PIN), the reset can be done via the official software, Trezor Suite.
Open Trezor Suite while your Trezor is connected and unlocked. Go to Device Settings, then scroll down to the “Danger Area” section and choose “Wipe device”. Confirm on-device when prompted.
After wiping, the device will be empty. At that point you can re-initialize it — either by recovering your previous wallet using the recovery seed, or by creating a brand new wallet (which will generate a new seed).
If you do not know the PIN (for instance because you forgot it), you must put the device into bootloader mode to perform a full factory reset:
For Model One: connect the device while holding down the left hardware button so it enters bootloader mode. Then, via bootloader’s menu, pick the “Factory reset” option. Confirm on-device.
For Model T (or similar newer models): plug in while swiping the touchscreen (or following the model-specific instructions to enter bootloader), then in bootloader choose “Reset device / Factory reset,” confirm, and allow the device to wipe.
After reset (if firmware was erased) you may need to reinstall firmware via Trezor Suite before re-initializing.
What Happens After Reset
Once wiped or reset, your device becomes “empty”: no private keys, no account data, no passphrase settings, and no PIN remain. The only thing that matters to restore access is your recovery seed phrase (and passphrase if you used one). If you restore using that seed (and passphrase), all previous funds and accounts become accessible again. If the seed is lost or incorrect, access to funds will be gone.
If the reset was done via bootloader and wiped the firmware too, the device will prompt you to reinstall firmware before you can re-initialize. After that, you can either recover your old wallet or set up a brand-new wallet.
Because some versions of “wipe device” in Trezor Suite only erase user data (not firmware), some users report that after wiping they still have firmware — in which case reinitialization is straightforward without reinstalling firmware.
Tips, Warnings & Best Practices
Treat your recovery seed phrase as the master key to your funds. Always keep it stored offline (on paper, or better, on a durable medium) and never in a cloud-connected or digital format.
If you plan to resell or give away your device, a full factory reset (preferably via bootloader) is ideal to ensure no traces of your keys remain. However — and especially with used/second-hand devices — a reset cannot guarantee that the hardware hasn’t been tampered with or compromised at a deeper level.
If you want maximum security after reset, do a “dry-run” recovery on a separate device (or fresh install) to ensure your backup seed works. Only after confirming that should you transfer any funds back.
If you have funds on the wallet and plan to reset, it may be wise to move them to another wallet first — or be sure you have the seed phrase to fully recover afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will I lose my crypto if I factory-reset my Trezor?
Not if you have your recovery seed phrase (and optional passphrase) securely stored. After reset you can recover your wallet with the seed and regain access to funds. If you don’t have the seed, then yes — reset will make funds irretrievable.
Do I always need to reinstall firmware after a reset?
Not always. If you wipe the device via Trezor Suite (while unlocked), this typically removes wallet data but preserves firmware. If you do a reset from bootloader mode, firmware may also be erased — in which case you’ll need to reinstall firmware before re-initializing.
What if I forgot my PIN — can I still reset the device?
Yes. Bootloader-mode factory reset allows you to erase the device even without PIN. After reset you can re-initialize and recover the wallet using your recovery seed (if you have it).
What should I do before I hand over or sell my Trezor device?
Perform a full factory reset (preferably via bootloader if supported), verify the wipe is complete, and then confirm that no data — keys, PINs, passphrases — remain. If possible, run a clean re-initialization without restoring your old seed to ensure the device is truly clean.
Conclusion
A factory reset of your Trezor wallet is a powerful and sometimes necessary action — whether for security, resale, or device recovery. Because it permanently erases private keys and wallet data, it's only safe if you have a correct and secure backup of your recovery seed. After a reset you can either restore your wallet or set up a new one. Always use the official Trezor Suite (or instructions from the official site), treat your recovery seed with care, and double-check each step.
