Trezor device

Trezor Bridge — The Secure Gateway to Your Hardware Wallet®

A clear, practical guide explaining how Trezor Bridge connects your computer to your hardware wallet, keeps your keys safe, and simplifies everyday crypto tasks.

Guide • Installation • Troubleshooting • FAQ

Trezor Bridge is a small but essential application that acts as the trusted intermediary between your desktop or browser-based wallet interface and your Trezor hardware wallet. While the Trezor device itself stores private keys in a tamper‑resistant environment, Bridge manages USB-level communications and exposes a constrained, well-defined API to applications. This separation means that web pages and host applications never get direct low‑level access to your device — they must go through Bridge — which reduces the attack surface and preserves the device's core security guarantees.

Trezor Bridge connection dialog
Placeholder screenshot: Bridge connection and permission prompt. Replace this with your own screenshots for tutorials or documentation.

In practical terms, when you initiate an action — for example, sending funds, exporting a public key, or signing a message — your browser constructs the request and sends it to Bridge. Bridge forwards the request to the Trezor device, which displays the transaction details on its secure, physical screen and awaits your manual confirmation. Because signatures are produced on the device itself, private keys never leave the hardware. This means that even if the host computer is compromised, an attacker cannot produce valid signatures without access to the physical device and the owner's confirmation.

Key isolation

Private keys remain inside the device; Bridge only relays structured requests and responses.

On‑device verification

All sensitive operations require explicit confirmation on the device screen to prevent silent approvals.

Usability

Bridge enables smooth integration with Trezor Suite and many third‑party wallets while preserving strong security guarantees.

Installation & compatibility

Trezor Bridge is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Always download Bridge from the official Trezor website or verified distribution channels to avoid tampered installers. The installation takes only a few minutes: Bridge typically runs as a background service and is detected automatically by supported browser wallets. On first use, you may need to grant your browser permission or reload the page to allow detection.

Best practices

  1. Use official sources: Download Bridge only from the vendor's site and verify checksums or signatures when available.
  2. Keep everything updated: Update Bridge and your device firmware regularly to receive security and compatibility fixes.
  3. Always confirm on-device: Verify addresses and amounts on the device display before approving any transaction.
  4. Prefer trusted machines: Use your personal computer rather than public or shared machines for managing significant funds.
  5. Secure your recovery seed: Bridge does not manage backups; keep your recovery phrase offline in a safe place.

Troubleshooting

If your browser doesn't detect the device, check that Bridge is installed and running. Try a different USB cable or port and ensure the device is unlocked. Reload the web page or restart the Bridge service. Some browsers or extensions can interfere with detection — try an alternate browser or temporarily disable conflicting extensions. If problems persist, compare Bridge and firmware versions, consult official support guides, or reach out to the community for help.