Trezor Bridge — Device connector for Trezor hardware wallets

A short guide: what Trezor Bridge is, how to install it, compatibility, security considerations, and troubleshooting.

What is Trezor Bridge?

Trezor Bridge is a small piece of background software that enables secure communication between a Trezor hardware wallet and web-based wallet interfaces (or native apps) running in your browser. It acts as a local intermediary that translates browser requests into the USB commands the Trezor device understands. Without it, many web wallets cannot detect or interact with the hardware device reliably.

How it works — the basics

When you connect a Trezor device, the browser cannot directly access the raw USB transport layer because of platform and security restrictions. Trezor Bridge runs on your machine and listens on a local port (only on localhost). Browser pages that want to communicate with the device send requests to that local service; Bridge then forwards commands to the Trezor using USB and returns the device responses back to the page. This separation keeps device communication explicit and easier to manage.

Installation & getting started

Bridge is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Typical steps:

  • Download the installer from the official Trezor website or repository (always prefer the official source).
  • Run the installer and follow on-screen prompts — administrative privileges are usually required to install system services or drivers.
  • After installation, open your browser and visit the web wallet or app. The page should detect your device via Bridge.

Tip: If you prefer not to install software, some Trezor workflows also allow direct USB transport via supported browsers and extensions, but Bridge is the recommended stable option for many environments.

Security considerations

Bridge itself is a small local-only service; it does not store your seed or private keys. The hardware wallet keeps secrets on-device. Security best practices:

  • Always download Bridge from the official Trezor domain or verified repositories.
  • Keep your Trezor device firmware up to date — firmware updates are signed and verified by Trezor.
  • Only approve transactions on the device’s screen. Never confirm unknown or unexpected actions from your browser.
  • Use a strong PIN and consider a passphrase if you require additional account separation.

Troubleshooting common issues

If your browser does not detect the device:

  • Restart the Bridge service (on some systems it appears as a background app or system service).
  • Try a different USB cable or port — data-only cables vs. charging-only can cause detection failure.
  • Ensure your browser allows connections to localhost and that firewall rules don’t block the bridge port.
  • Temporarily disable other wallet browser extensions that might conflict with Bridge.
  • Reinstall Bridge using the official installer if detection still fails.

Quick FAQ

Do I need Bridge to use my Trezor?
Not always — some native apps or browser extensions can communicate differently. Bridge is recommended for web interfaces and cross-platform stability.
Is Bridge open source?
Parts of the Trezor ecosystem are open source. Consult the official Trezor resources for current licensing and repository links.
Will Bridge access the internet?
No — Bridge runs locally on your machine and only handles connections to the connected device. Web apps still need internet for blockchain data, but Bridge itself does not broadcast transactions.