Trezor Bridge — Secure Connection for Your Trezor

What is Trezor Bridge?

Trezor Bridge is a small application that runs on your computer to provide a secure channel between your Trezor device and compatible applications such as Trezor Suite (desktop), web wallets, and firmware update utilities. Unlike browser-only solutions that rely on legacy plugins, Bridge offers a modern, cross-platform approach that improves reliability and security.

Why Bridge exists

Browsers have progressively restricted low-level device access for security reasons. To keep interactions smooth, Trezor Bridge acts as a trusted intermediary that exposes a controlled interface for the device while keeping sensitive operations on the hardware itself. This separation reduces attack surface and makes tasks like firmware updates, signing transactions, and address verification consistent across systems.

How Bridge protects you

• Isolates USB communication — the private keys never leave the device.
• Provides verified channels for firmware updates and signature requests.
• Enables user confirmations on the device display for every sensitive action.

Install Guide — Windows, macOS & Linux

Installing Trezor Bridge is straightforward. Below are concise steps for each platform. Always download Bridge from official sources to avoid counterfeit or tampered installers.

Windows

1. Download the Bridge installer for Windows from the official page.
2. Run the downloaded .exe and follow on-screen instructions. Administrative privileges are required for USB access.
3. After installation, reconnect your Trezor and open Trezor Suite or your preferred supported web wallet.

macOS

1. Download the macOS package and open the installer.
2. Grant the requested permissions; macOS may require you to allow the app in System Preferences → Security & Privacy.
3. Connect your Trezor and confirm it’s detected in the wallet application.

Linux

1. Download the Linux binary (AppImage or package) from the official site.
2. Set execute permissions if needed and run the package. Some distributions may require udev rules for USB access; official instructions cover this.

Pro tip: If a web wallet prompts you to install Bridge, you can usually click the provided link in the UI to the official installer.

Using Bridge Safely

Bridge itself is a facilitator — security primarily comes from how you manage your device, firmware, and the systems you connect to. Follow these best practices:

Best practices

• Download Bridge only from official sources (links below).
• Keep your Trezor firmware and Trezor Suite up to date.
• Verify firmware update prompts on the device screen — never accept an update you didn’t initiate.
• Use strong OS account passwords and keep your computer free of malware.

Device confirmations

Every transaction or sensitive action must be confirmed on the Trezor device screen. If an application requests signing without your confirmation, disconnect immediately and investigate.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Despite its simplicity, Bridge can occasionally run into problems. Here are common issues and quick fixes.

Bridge not detected

• Restart the Bridge service or app, then reconnect the device.
• On Windows, check Device Manager for USB issues and ensure drivers are up to date.
• On macOS, verify Security & Privacy permissions and reconnect the cable.

Browser still asks for a plugin

Clear your browser cache or restart it; Bridge runs outside the browser and a restart often resolves stale states.

Firmware update fails

Make sure Bridge is installed and that your USB cable is data-capable (some cables are charge-only). If failure persists, follow the official recovery steps on the support site.

Developer & Advanced Notes

If you build integrations with Trezor devices, Bridge offers a stable API surface for device communication. Always test against the official developer docs and run integrations in a safe environment before going to production.

Integration checklist

• Use the latest published API and confirm behavior across OS versions.
• Never request or log private keys — all signing requests must be approved on-device.
• Gracefully handle disconnects and present clear instructions to users to reconnect or update Bridge.

Security-first design

Trezor’s security model intentionally keeps private keys isolated on the device. Bridge should be treated as infrastructure: useful and necessary, but not a place to store secrets or sensitive configuration data.

Official Resources (quick access)

Here are 10 official links to download Bridge, read docs, and get support. Each button is color-coded for easy scanning.