Secure Connection for Your
Trezor Hardware Wallet

What is Trezor Bridge?

Trezor Bridge is a lightweight application designed to run in the background of your computer system. Its primary function is to facilitate communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and web browsers. Without this bridge, web-based applications like the Trezor Wallet interface or third-party integrations (such as MetaMask or MyEtherWallet) may not be able to detect your device.

Originally, browsers allowed plugins to communicate directly with hardware, but as security standards evolved, these capabilities were restricted. Trezor Bridge was developed by SatoshiLabs to solve this issue, creating a secure local server (running on 127.0.0.1) that your browser can talk to, which then relays commands to the USB device. This ensures that your private keys remain isolated within the device while allowing you to interact with online services.

How It Works & Why It's Necessary

When you connect your Trezor to a computer, it acts as a USB device. However, web pages are generally sandboxed and cannot access USB devices directly for security reasons. Trezor Bridge solves this by running a local process that listens for requests from allowed domains (like trezor.io).

When you initiate a transaction on a web wallet, the website sends a request to the Bridge. The Bridge forwards this to your Trezor device. You confirm the transaction physically on the device, and the signed data is sent back through the Bridge to the browser to be broadcasted to the blockchain. This entire process happens without your private key ever being exposed to the computer or the internet.

WebUSB vs. Trezor Bridge

Some modern browsers like Google Chrome have implemented a standard called WebUSB, which allows direct communication with USB devices. While this can make the Bridge optional for Chrome users, Trezor Bridge remains the most robust solution. It is required for Firefox users and is often more stable if you encounter connectivity issues with WebUSB. Furthermore, having the Bridge installed ensures you have the necessary drivers for your operating system.

Installation Guide: Step-by-Step

Installing Trezor Bridge is straightforward. It supports all major operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Follow the guide below for your specific system.

Windows

1. Visit the official Trezor Wallet website. You will be prompted to download the bridge if it's not detected.
2. Download the trezor-bridge-latest.exe file.
3. Run the installer. You may need to grant administrative privileges.
4. Follow the installation wizard. It usually takes only a few seconds.
5. Once finished, disconnect and reconnect your Trezor device.
6. Refresh your browser page to detect the device.

macOS

1. Download the trezor-bridge-latest.dmg file from the official source.
2. Open the disk image file.
3. Drag the Trezor Bridge icon into your Applications folder.
4. You might need to allow the application to run in System Preferences > Security & Privacy if prompted.
5. The Bridge runs as a background process (trezord). No window will open.
6. Refresh your wallet interface to connect.

Linux

1. Download the appropriate package (.deb for Debian/Ubuntu or .rpm for Fedora/CentOS).
2. Install the package using your package manager (e.g., sudo dpkg -i trezor-bridge.deb).
3. Ensure your udev rules are configured correctly. The installer usually handles this, but you may need to add them manually if the device isn't recognized.
4. The service should start automatically. You can check status with systemctl status trezord.

Security & Best Practices

Security is the cornerstone of hardware wallets. Trezor Bridge is designed with a "least privilege" architecture. It does not have access to your recovery seed or private keys. It simply acts as a pipe for data.

• Official Sources Only: Never download Trezor Bridge from third-party file hosting sites. Always use trezor.io.
• Verify Signatures: Advanced users should verify the GPG signature of the installation package to ensure it hasn't been tampered with.
• Keep Updated: While the Bridge doesn't update often, keeping it up to date ensures compatibility with the latest firmware and browser security standards.
• Local Communication: The Bridge only listens on your local loopback address (127.0.0.1). It is not accessible from the wider internet.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with robust software, issues can arise. Here are the most common problems users face with Trezor Bridge and how to fix them.

Browser & Device Compatibility

Trezor Bridge ensures your hardware wallet works across a wide ecosystem.

Note: Trezor Bridge supports all Trezor models, including Trezor Model One, Trezor Model T, and the new Trezor Safe 3.