Trezor Bridge is an essential software tool for anyone using a Trezor hardware wallet with web browsers. With modern browsers restricting direct USB access, your wallet cannot communicate directly with web applications. Trezor Bridge acts as a secure intermediary, enabling smooth communication between your wallet and web interfaces while keeping your private keys protected.
This guide explains what Trezor Bridge is, how it works, step-by-step installation, its features, troubleshooting tips, and best practices for secure usage.
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight program that runs quietly in the background on your computer. Its primary function is to allow web browsers to detect and communicate with your Trezor wallet safely. Without it, most browsers cannot recognize hardware wallets due to built-in USB restrictions.
Importantly, Trezor Bridge does not access private keys, passwords, or seed phrases. All sensitive operations—such as signing transactions or verifying addresses—remain inside the hardware wallet. The Bridge simply acts as a secure messenger between your wallet and the browser.
Your private keys never leave your Trezor device
Modern browsers block direct USB access for security reasons. Trezor Bridge provides a secure gateway that allows your wallet to work with browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave without compromising safety. This elegant solution maintains security while ensuring compatibility across all major web platforms.
Trezor Bridge ensures all communication is encrypted, preventing unauthorized access while still allowing your device to operate normally. Every message between your browser and Trezor is protected with industry-standard encryption protocols, creating an impenetrable tunnel for your sensitive wallet operations.
Your Trezor is recognized instantly whenever connected, making web-based wallet operations seamless. There's no need for manual configuration or complex setup procedures. Simply plug in your device, and the Bridge handles the rest, providing a plug-and-play experience that just works.
Trezor Bridge works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent experience for all users. Whether you're on a Windows desktop, MacBook, or Linux workstation, you'll get the same reliable, secure connection to your Trezor hardware wallet without any platform-specific issues.
Many decentralized apps (DApps) and cryptocurrency platforms require the Bridge for Trezor wallet integration. This includes popular DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, decentralized exchanges, and various Web3 applications. The Bridge enables you to interact with the entire blockchain ecosystem while maintaining the security of your hardware wallet.
Trezor Bridge functions as a secure intermediary between your wallet and web applications. Here's a simplified workflow:
When you connect your Trezor, the Bridge identifies the device and confirms authenticity. This involves verifying the device's firmware signature and establishing a secure connection channel. The Bridge performs multiple security checks to ensure you're connecting to a genuine Trezor device and not a counterfeit or compromised unit.
Web apps send commands to the Bridge, not directly to the device. This architectural design ensures that no web application can directly access your hardware wallet. The Bridge acts as a gatekeeper, validating and sanitizing all requests before forwarding them to your Trezor. This prevents malicious websites from sending harmful commands to your device.
Messages are encrypted, ensuring sensitive data is never exposed. The Bridge uses TLS encryption and other cryptographic protocols to protect all communication. Even if someone intercepts the data transmission between your browser and the Bridge, they cannot decrypt or read the contents. Your transaction details, addresses, and other sensitive information remain completely private.
Transactions, account verifications, and signatures are confirmed directly on the device. This is the most critical security feature—no transaction can be completed without your physical confirmation on the Trezor screen. You'll always see transaction details on your device's display, allowing you to verify amounts, addresses, and other details before approving any operation.
The wallet's response is securely relayed back to the web application through the Bridge. Once you confirm an operation on your Trezor, the signed transaction or requested data is encrypted and sent back through the secure channel. The web application receives only the information it needs to complete the operation, without ever having access to your private keys or seed phrase.
This entire process guarantees that your wallet remains isolated while fully functional online. Your private keys never leave the hardware device, and all critical operations require your physical confirmation. The Bridge creates a secure, auditable pathway for blockchain operations without compromising the security that makes hardware wallets the gold standard for cryptocurrency storage.
Step 1: Get the right version for your system
Visit the official Trezor website and download the Bridge version that matches your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Make sure you're downloading from the legitimate Trezor website to avoid malware or phishing attempts.
Important Security Note
Always verify that you're on the official Trezor website (trezor.io) before downloading. Check the SSL certificate and never download Trezor software from third-party websites or links sent via email.
Windows
Compatible with Windows 7 and later
macOS
Compatible with macOS 10.11 and later
Linux
Compatible with most distributions
Step 2: Quick and easy installation process
Locate the downloaded file and double-click to run the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions. The Bridge service will be installed in the background. The installation process is straightforward and typically takes less than a minute.
What Happens During Installation
Step 3: Confirm everything is working correctly
After installation completes, the Bridge will run automatically in the background. You won't see any windows or interfaces—it operates silently. To verify it's working, simply connect your Trezor device to your computer and visit the Trezor web wallet. If your device is recognized immediately, the Bridge is functioning correctly.
Testing Your Connection
Step 4: Ensure proper connection
If your browser was open during installation, you may need to restart it for the changes to take effect. Simply close all browser windows and reopen your browser. This ensures the browser can properly communicate with the newly installed Bridge service.
Troubleshooting Tip
If your device still isn't recognized after restarting your browser, try restarting your computer. This ensures all services are properly initialized and running.
Trezor Bridge automatically checks for and installs updates to ensure you always have the latest security patches and feature improvements. This happens seamlessly in the background without requiring any action from you.
Updates are digitally signed by Trezor and verified before installation, ensuring that only authentic updates from Trezor can be applied to your system.
The Bridge is designed to be lightweight and efficient, using minimal CPU and memory resources. It typically uses less than 50MB of RAM and has virtually no impact on your computer's performance.
You can run resource-intensive applications alongside the Bridge without any slowdown or performance issues.
If you own multiple Trezor devices, the Bridge can manage all of them simultaneously. You can switch between devices easily, and the Bridge will handle device detection and authentication for each one.
This is particularly useful for users who manage different wallets for personal and business use, or who maintain separate wallets for different cryptocurrencies.
Trezor Bridge is open source software, meaning its code is publicly available for review by security experts worldwide. This transparency ensures there are no hidden backdoors or malicious code.
The security community regularly audits the Bridge code, and any discovered vulnerabilities are quickly patched and disclosed responsibly.
Always keep your operating system, browser, and Trezor firmware up to date. Security patches are released regularly to protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates whenever possible.
Never download Trezor Bridge from unofficial websites, third-party app stores, or links received via email. Always go directly to the official Trezor website. Verify the URL is correct and check for the secure HTTPS connection with a valid certificate.
Always verify transaction details (recipient address, amount, fees) on your Trezor screen before confirming. Never trust information shown only on your computer screen—if the details don't match, reject the transaction immediately.
Avoid using public WiFi networks when accessing your cryptocurrency wallet. If you must use public networks, use a VPN to encrypt your connection. Preferably, conduct wallet operations on trusted, password-protected networks.
While this isn't directly related to the Bridge, remember that your recovery seed is the master key to your wallet. Store it securely offline, never take digital photos of it, and never enter it on any computer or phone. The Bridge will never ask for your seed phrase.
While the Bridge enables many third-party applications to work with your Trezor, always research and verify the legitimacy of any application before connecting your wallet. Read reviews, check the developer's reputation, and understand what permissions you're granting.
If your Trezor isn't recognized, try these solutions:
If you're experiencing timeout errors when trying to connect:
If specific browsers aren't working with the Bridge:
Linux users may need to configure udev rules:
Yes, Trezor Bridge is completely safe. It's open source software that has been audited by security experts worldwide. The Bridge never accesses your private keys or seed phrase—it only facilitates secure communication between your browser and device. All sensitive operations are performed exclusively on your Trezor hardware wallet, which never exposes your private keys to your computer or the internet.
Yes, Trezor Bridge is required for all modern browsers. While older versions of some browsers allowed direct USB access through browser plugins, this functionality has been removed for security reasons. The Bridge is now the only supported method for connecting your Trezor to web applications, ensuring consistent security across all platforms.
No, the Bridge is essential for web-based wallet operations. Without it, your browser cannot communicate with your Trezor device. However, you don't need the Bridge for the Trezor Suite desktop application, which has the necessary drivers built-in. For web wallets and DApps, the Bridge is mandatory.
No, Trezor Bridge is designed for desktop operating systems (Windows, macOS, and Linux). Mobile devices use different connection methods. For mobile use, Trezor offers the Trezor Suite mobile app, which uses different protocols to communicate with your device wirelessly or through special adapters, depending on your device model.
No, Trezor Bridge is extremely lightweight and uses minimal system resources. It typically consumes less than 50MB of RAM and has virtually no CPU usage when idle. The Bridge only activates when you're actively using your Trezor device with a web application. You won't notice any performance impact on your computer.
Trezor Bridge updates automatically in most cases. You should allow these updates to install when prompted. Updates contain important security patches and compatibility improvements. If you haven't received updates in a while, you can manually check for updates by visiting the official Trezor website and downloading the latest version.
While malware on your computer could potentially try to send transaction requests through the Bridge, your Trezor's security model prevents unauthorized access. You must physically confirm all transactions on your device's screen. Even if malware compromises your computer, it cannot steal your cryptocurrency without you confirming the transaction on your Trezor. This is why you should always verify transaction details on your device screen before confirming.
If you uninstall Trezor Bridge, you won't be able to use your Trezor device with web-based wallets or DApps. Your funds remain completely safe on the device—they're not affected by the Bridge at all. You can reinstall the Bridge at any time to regain web wallet functionality. Your wallet, balances, and transactions are stored on the blockchain and secured by your device, not by the Bridge software.
Download Trezor Bridge today and enjoy secure, seamless connectivity between your hardware wallet and web applications. Join millions of users worldwide who trust Trezor for cryptocurrency security.
Also available for Linux • Free and Open Source