Trezor Bridge — The Secure Gateway to Your Hardware Wallet®

Trezor Bridge is the essential application that securely connects your desktop and browser wallet interfaces to your Trezor hardware wallet®. This guide explains its functions, security benefits, installation tips, and practical best practices.

Trezor Bridge acts as a secure bridge between your computer and the Trezor hardware wallet. It ensures that private keys never leave the device and all sensitive operations, such as signing transactions, are performed inside the hardware. By providing a controlled API, Bridge prevents web applications or desktop wallets from accessing low-level device communication directly, which significantly reduces security risks.

How Trezor Bridge works

When you create a transaction or request a signature in your wallet, the request is sent to Trezor Bridge. The application forwards this request to the Trezor device, which displays transaction details like recipient address and amount on its screen. You must confirm each operation manually on the device. This ensures that even if your computer is compromised, malicious software cannot perform transactions without your approval.

Security benefits

  1. Key isolation: Private keys remain inside the hardware wallet, never leaving the device.
  2. On-device confirmation: Every transaction requires physical confirmation on the Trezor device.
  3. Secure communication: Bridge acts as a controlled mediator between your host and hardware wallet.
  4. Reliable integration: Works seamlessly with Trezor Suite and compatible third-party wallets.

Installation and setup

Download Trezor Bridge only from official Trezor channels. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. After installation, Bridge runs as a background service and is automatically detected by supported wallet software. To ensure smooth functionality, regularly update Bridge and your device firmware. Avoid downloading from third-party sources to prevent security risks.

Best practices

  1. Always verify transaction details on the device screen.
  2. Use trusted and secure computers.
  3. Keep your recovery seed offline and secure.
  4. Regularly update Trezor Bridge and your device firmware.
  5. Avoid using public or shared machines for critical transactions.

Troubleshooting tips

If your wallet does not detect the Trezor device, ensure Bridge is installed and running. Try a different USB cable or port, unlock the device, and reload your wallet application. Browser extensions or privacy settings may interfere; try another browser or temporarily disable extensions. Restarting Bridge or your computer often resolves connectivity issues. For persistent problems, consult official Trezor support and verify that device firmware and Bridge versions are compatible.