What is Trezor Bridge?
Trezor Bridge is a secure, cross-platform helper application that lets your computer communicate with a Trezor hardware wallet®. It handles USB and WebUSB communication between your device and desktop apps — such as Trezor Suite — while isolating cryptographic operations on the device itself.
Why Bridge matters
Hardware wallets like the Trezor Model T and Trezor One keep your private keys isolated on a dedicated device. Bridge acts as a minimal, audited interface so that desktop software can interact with your wallet without exposing those keys. It reduces attack surface by keeping communication channels narrow, well-documented, and updateable.
How Bridge works — at a glance
- USB/WebUSB shim: Redirects browser and desktop app requests to your connected Trezor device.
- Process isolation: Runs on the host machine but never touches private keys — those remain on the Trezor hardware wallet®.
- Automatic updates: Notifies you when new Bridge releases are available so you can stay protected. See the latest releases on GitHub.
Installation & quick setup
- Download Bridge for Windows, macOS, or Linux from the official page: trezor.io/bridge.
- Run the installer and allow the helper to start. The Bridge runs in the background and listens on a secure local port.
- Open Trezor Suite or your supported web app and follow the on-screen instructions to connect your Trezor.
Security design — simple, verifiable, and transparent
Trezor Bridge is intentionally minimal: it relays messages between apps and the device but never performs cryptographic operations itself. The Trezor hardware wallet® keeps the private keys and signs transactions within a secure environment. The Bridge code is open-source and publicly auditable; you can review it on Trezor’s GitHub.
Common troubleshooting
- Bridge not detecting device?
- Make sure the cable supports data, try a different port, and confirm Bridge is running. Visit Support for step-by-step help: support.trezor.io.
- Browser prompts keep appearing?
- Ensure you have the latest Bridge version and the browser is up to date. Some browsers may require explicit permission to use WebUSB; check the compatibility page: trezor.io/compatibility.
- Is Bridge safe to run on public or shared computers?
- Running Bridge on untrusted machines is not recommended. Always use a machine you control and keep your OS patched. For the highest security, use Trezor Suite on a clean, personal computer.
Advanced & developer info
Developers integrating Trezor support can consult the official developer resources and API docs on the Trezor developer site. For release history and issues, see the project repository on GitHub: trezor-bridge on GitHub.
Want hands-on guidance?
Follow the step-by-step onboarding at trezor.io/start or read the official blog for best practices and security tips: blog.trezor.io.