Trezor Bridge® is the essential communication layer that allows your Trezor Hardware Wallet to interface securely with your browser or the Trezor Suite application. It acts as a local connector, ensuring that your device and browser can talk to each other, while keeping your private keys safely inside the hardware device.
When you access the wallet interface via Trezor Login or the Trezor Suite web portal, Bridge ensures compatibility even with browsers that don’t natively support the direct protocols. Its role is purely intermediary — it does not store or manage your keys, nor does it host a user login interface on its own.
If you are beginning with your Trezor, the first step typically is visiting trezor.io/start (or Trezor Io Start). That wizard guides you to download Bridge (if necessary), set up your Trezor device, and access the Trezor Suite.
Trezor Bridge runs as a small background service on your computer (Windows, macOS, Linux). It listens on a local port (e.g. 127.0.0.1) and waits for a browser or the Trezor Suite web interface to request access to your Trezor device.
When the browser or web app attempts to communicate, that request is relayed to Bridge, which in turn interfaces with the Trezor hardware wallet via USB, WebUSB, or other permitted transport. Sensitive operations (like signing transactions) are always confirmed on the Trezor device itself.
Bridge merely transmits commands and data — it never has access to private keys or seed phrases. All sensitive cryptographic operations happen inside the Trezor hardware wallet, isolated from your operating system.
Some browsers may not support WebUSB or direct device access in certain configurations. Bridge fills that gap by acting as the fallback protocol translator. If your setup supports direct WebUSB, Bridge might not be required — but if it is, the trezor.io/start wizard will prompt you accordingly.
The official start page (Trezor Io Start) detects your operating system and browser. If Bridge is required, it will display a direct download link there — this ensures you always fetch Bridge from the correct, safe source.
Choose the correct installer for your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux). Run the installer and follow the prompts. On macOS you might have to approve a security prompt under “Security & Privacy” to allow the Bridge app to run.
Once installation is done, you often need to restart your browser (and sometimes reboot the system) so that the USB device can be recognized properly.
After Bridge is running, connect your Trezor device via USB, unlock it (enter your PIN), and go to the Trezor Login interface (in Trezor Suite). The browser or app should detect your device and let you proceed. If everything is in order, Bridge facilitates the secure channel.
The Trezor Suite **desktop application** does not always require Bridge — it can talk to the device directly via USB — so Bridge is mostly critical for browser-based web access.
Whenever a transaction or message is being signed, your Trezor device’s screen will show the details (addresses, amounts). Never approve something you didn’t initiate or do not fully understand.
Always get Bridge via trezor.io/start or the official Trezor website. Avoid third‑party or mirror sites to prevent phishing or malware.
Security updates are critical. When Trezor Suite or Bridge signals an update is available, apply it. Outdated software can harbor vulnerabilities.
Use a robust PIN on your Trezor device, and consider enabling a passphrase (advanced users) for hidden wallets. This adds another layer beyond Bridge or browser security.
Even though Bridge isolates much of the communication, avoid using untrusted or suspicious dApps, especially when interacting via browser + Bridge. Prefer the desktop Trezor Suite for high‑risk operations.
Trezor Bridge is simply a background service that handles communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and web interfaces. In contrast, Trezor Suite is the full wallet application (desktop or web) in which you view balances, send/receive crypto, manage settings, and more. Bridge does not provide wallet UI or login features; it just connects your device safely to Suite or the browser interface.
Not necessarily. If you use the Trezor Suite desktop application, it may communicate with the hardware device directly over USB, bypassing the need for Bridge. However, for browser‑based access (Trezor Login via suite.trezor.io), Bridge is often required if your browser or OS does not support WebUSB or direct device access.
Yes — the official Bridge is designed by Trezor (SatoshiLabs) with security in mind. It never stores your private keys or seed phrase, and all signing operations happen on the hardware wallet. But security also depends on downloading from official sources only and keeping firmware/Bridge up to date.
Try the following steps:
Yes, you can uninstall Bridge from your system if you no longer need browser-based access. However, if you return to using Trezor via the web interface (Trezor Login, suite.trezor.io), you may need to reinstall it. The Trezor Suite desktop app remains functional without Bridge.