What Is Trezor Bridge®?
Trezor Bridge® is the official communication interface developed by SatoshiLabs that enables your Trezor® hardware wallet to connect securely to web applications, desktop tools, and browser interfaces. Unlike older browser plugins or legacy USB drivers, Bridge runs locally on your computer as a background service, acting as a translator between web apps and your hardware device.
🔗 Download only from the official site (trezor.io) — always verify checksums or digital signatures to avoid imposter or phishing downloads.
Bridge facilitates compatibility across platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) and works with modern browsers to maintain security, reliability, and ease of use.
Install & Setup Guide
Follow these steps to get Trezor Bridge up and running:
- Go to the official Trezor Bridge download page on trezor.io.
- Select your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) and download the installer.
- Run the installer and follow on‑screen instructions. On macOS, you may need to allow the application under Security & Privacy settings.
- After installation, restart your browser so it can detect Bridge.
- Plug in your Trezor device. The Bridge service should automatically detect it.
- Open Trezor Suite or a supported web app and allow access when prompted.
How to Use Trezor Bridge
Once installed, Bridge runs in the background. Here’s a typical usage flow:
- Launch a supported web application or Trezor Suite Web.
- Connect your Trezor hardware device via USB.
- The application will request permission to communicate with Bridge.
- On‑device, confirm the connection request and verify domain or origin.
- Perform actions like viewing balances, sending transactions, or interacting with dApps.
- For any transaction or signing request, the Trezor device itself will display details — you must confirm or reject physically.
Security & Best Practices
Trezor Bridge was built with a "local only" and minimal trust model. But security also depends on your behavior. Below are key points and recommendations.
Design & Architecture
-
Bridge listens only on
localhostby default — it does not expose network ports externally. - It only forwards JSON‑RPC style commands; Bridge does not store or handle your private keys or sign transactions itself.
- All signing and critical operations happen on the Trezor device — the host environment never sees secret keys or seeds.
Best Practices
-
Always download Bridge from the official Trezor site (
trezor.io), verifying checksums/signatures. - Keep Bridge, Trezor Suite, and device firmware updated to the latest versions.
- When prompted to approve a transaction or action, double-check the information shown on the device screen.
- Use a healthy, trusted computer — if your system has malware or rootkits, even Bridge cannot fully compensate for that.
- Store your recovery seed securely offline; never enter it into any device except when restoring a Trezor.
- Be alert to phishing attempts—never click suspicious links claiming to be a Bridge update or Trezor firmware prompt unless you initiated them yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Do I always need Bridge to use my Trezor?
- For many browser‑based interfaces (Firefox, non‑Chromium browsers), yes. Some Chromium-based browsers support WebUSB directly, but Bridge ensures wider compatibility and consistency.
- Is Bridge open source?
- Yes — the source is maintained by SatoshiLabs and is reviewable on GitHub under the Trezor / trezord / bridge repositories.
- Can Bridge ever access my private keys?
- No. Bridge acts only as a communication layer. Signing and key operations happen entirely inside the Trezor device itself.
- What if Bridge doesn’t detect my device?
- Common fixes include: reconnecting the USB cable, trying another port, restarting Bridge or your computer, reinstalling the latest Bridge version, or ensuring no conflicting software blocks USB access.
- Does Bridge auto-update?
- Bridge can check for updates and prompt you when a new version is available. Updates must be installed explicitly. Keep your software up to date.
- Can I uninstall Bridge later?
- Yes — use your operating system’s uninstall tool or the uninstaller bundled with Bridge. After removal, browser-based connections may fail unless WebUSB is supported natively.