Official Trézor® Bridge®®| Introducing the New Trezor®
Trezor Bridge – Secure Communication Between Your Trezor Device and Browser
Trezor Bridge is an essential software component that enables secure communication between a Trezor hardware wallet and your web browser. It acts as a background service, allowing web-based wallet interfaces and supported applications to detect and interact with your Trezor device safely.
Before modern wallet interfaces became more advanced, browsers had limited native support for hardware wallets. Trezor Bridge was created to solve this problem by providing a secure and reliable connection layer between the hardware device and web applications.
What Is Trezor Bridge?
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight program installed on your computer that runs silently in the background. Its main function is to allow supported browsers to recognize your Trezor hardware wallet when it is connected via USB.
Without Trezor Bridge, web-based wallet interfaces may fail to detect the device, preventing users from accessing their accounts or confirming transactions.
Why Trezor Bridge Is Needed
Web browsers are intentionally restricted for security reasons and cannot directly communicate with USB hardware devices. Trezor Bridge overcomes this limitation by acting as a trusted intermediary.
Key purposes of Trezor Bridge include:
- Enabling device detection in web wallets
- Supporting secure transaction signing
- Preventing unauthorized access to the device
- Ensuring encrypted communication
All sensitive operations remain protected by the Trezor hardware wallet itself.
How Trezor Bridge Works
When a Trezor device is connected to your computer, Trezor Bridge detects it and establishes a secure communication channel. Supported web applications then communicate with the device through Bridge instead of directly accessing the hardware.
Even though Trezor Bridge enables the connection, it never has access to private keys. All cryptographic operations are performed inside the Trezor device, and all transaction approvals must be confirmed on the device screen.
Installing Trezor Bridge
Trezor Bridge can be downloaded from official Trezor sources and is available for major operating systems, including:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Once installed, it runs automatically in the background and requires no manual interaction during normal use.
Trezor Bridge vs Trezor Suite
With the introduction of Trezor Suite, many users no longer need Trezor Bridge. The desktop version of Trezor Suite includes built-in device communication, eliminating the need for a separate bridge application.
However, Trezor Bridge is still useful in certain scenarios, such as:
- Using older web wallet interfaces
- Accessing third-party web applications
- Working in environments where Trezor Suite is not supported
For maximum security and functionality, Trezor recommends using Trezor Suite whenever possible.
Browser Compatibility
Trezor Bridge supports major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and others that allow local service communication. It ensures consistent device detection across supported platforms.
Browser updates or security settings may occasionally interfere with detection, in which case reinstalling or updating Trezor Bridge usually resolves the issue.
Security and Privacy
Trezor Bridge is designed with security as a top priority. It does not store any user data, passwords, or private keys. Its sole purpose is to facilitate secure communication between trusted software and the Trezor device.
Important security reminders:
- Always download Trezor Bridge from official sources
- Keep your operating system updated
- Never approve actions on your Trezor device unless you initiated them
- Ignore websites that ask for your recovery seed
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Users may occasionally experience issues such as:
- Device not detected in browser
- Bridge service not running
- Conflicts with firewall or antivirus software
- Outdated Bridge version
Most issues can be resolved by restarting the service, reinstalling Trezor Bridge, or switching to the Trezor Suite desktop application.
Is Trezor Bridge Still Necessary?
For many users, Trezor Bridge is no longer required due to advancements in Trezor Suite and modern browser technologies. However, it remains an important tool for compatibility with legacy systems and certain web-based environments.
Understanding when and why to use Trezor Bridge helps ensure smooth and secure access to your Trezor hardware wallet.
Conclusion
Trezor Bridge plays a crucial role in enabling secure communication between Trezor hardware wallets and web browsers. While newer solutions like Trezor Suite have reduced its necessity, Trezor Bridge continues to support users who rely on browser-based wallet access.
By acting as a secure connection layer and keeping private keys safely inside the hardware wallet, Trezor Bridge helps maintain the high security standards that Trezor is known for.