Trezor Bridge is a small helper application that allows your Trezor hardware wallet to communicate with web applications running in your browser. Bridge runs on your computer and mediates USB connections so modern browsers can talk to the device securely without requiring browser extensions. It is a core component when you use web-based wallet interfaces that interact with a Trezor device.
Historically, browsers limited direct USB access. Bridge provides a secure, dedicated channel between the browser and the physical device, making device communication reliable and consistent across operating systems.
Trezor Bridge supports Windows, macOS and many Linux distributions. The installer creates a local service that listens for requests from the browser. Most modern browsers are supported, but the exact behavior may vary slightly between browsers and OS versions. For best results, keep both your OS and browser updated.
Installing Trezor Bridge is straightforward. Download the installer for your operating system, run it, and follow the prompts. After installation, connect your Trezor device via USB. When a supported web wallet needs to talk to the device, the browser will trigger Bridge to forward secure requests to your Trezor.
Typical steps: install → connect device → open web wallet → allow connection prompt in browser.
Bridge acts purely as a communication layer — sensitive keys and signing operations remain on the hardware device and never leave it. Always download Bridge from official sources and verify checksums when available. Keep the firmware on your Trezor up to date to benefit from security patches and new features.
Treat Bridge as a facilitator: it enables communication but does not access your private keys. Only approve operations on the device's screen; do not approve unknown prompts.
If the browser won't detect your device, try these steps before searching for advanced fixes:
If problems persist, consult official support resources and include system details and Bridge version to help diagnosis.
For users who manage multiple devices or multiple operating systems, keep a clearly labeled recovery card with your seed phrase offline and limit the number of machines that access your hardware wallet. Avoid public or untrusted networks when performing important operations. Use strong, unique passphrases if you enable them and test your recovery process periodically.
Do I need Bridge? — If you use a web wallet that talks to your Trezor directly, yes; some desktop apps include their own USB handlers and may not require Bridge.
Is Bridge safe? — Yes, when downloaded from official sources and used with verified wallets; private keys stay on the device.
Can Bridge run in the background? — Bridge runs as a local service and may start automatically depending on your OS settings.