Trezor Bridge — Install, Use, and Troubleshoot

What is Trezor Bridge?

Trezor Bridge is a small, vendor-provided helper application that enables secure communication between a Trezor hardware wallet (such as Trezor One or Trezor Model T) and desktop web apps like Trezor Suite or browser-based wallet interfaces. It acts as a local bridge using USB to allow web pages and native apps to send commands to the device without requiring a browser extension.

Unlike browser extensions, Bridge runs as a local service and exposes a native transport layer to the operating system; this simplifies compatibility and improves user experience across many browsers and platforms.

Why you need it

• Enables communication between your browser (or desktop app) and the Trezor device over USB.
• Handles device detection, firmware status queries, and signing requests initiated by wallet software.
• Allows browser-based wallet pages to work without a legacy browser extension.

Supported platforms

Trezor Bridge is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Modern Trezor software and many third-party wallets rely on it. Check the Trezor documentation for exact OS compatibility and the latest installer builds if you are on an older or niche Linux distribution.

Installation & first-time setup (step-by-step)

1. Download the latest Bridge installer from the official Trezor website. Always verify you are on the correct domain (official Trezor domain) before downloading.
2. Run the installer and follow on-screen prompts. On macOS this will typically mount a DMG; on Windows you will run an .exe installer.
3. Plug in your Trezor using a good-quality USB cable. Use direct USB ports — avoid USB hubs for initial setup.
4. Open the web wallet or Trezor Suite. The app should detect your device. If prompted, unlock the device with its PIN and follow any on-device confirmations.
5. Allow permissions — the first time, your browser may ask for permission to talk to the Bridge process. Accept it only when you expect to use the device.

Tip: If a website asks you to install an extension instead of Bridge, check that you're using an up-to-date wallet interface — the modern flow uses Bridge or native Trezor Suite.

Updating Trezor Bridge

Bridge updates are released occasionally to improve compatibility and security. When an update is available you may see a prompt in Trezor Suite or in your browser wallet. It's safe and recommended to install official Bridge updates from the Trezor website. After updating, restart your browser and, if necessary, reconnect the device.

Common troubleshooting

Problems are usually simple to resolve. Below are typical issues and quick fixes.

Device not detected

• Try a different USB cable and a direct USB port (avoid hubs).
• Restart the Bridge service (close and reopen Trezor Suite or your browser) and reconnect the device.
• Reinstall Bridge from the official Trezor site if detection fails repeatedly.

Browser shows “Bridge not installed”

• Confirm Bridge is running — on Windows it appears in the system tray; on macOS check Activity Monitor.
• Ensure your browser is not blocking local connections. Some privacy/security extensions can block Bridge communication.

Firmware or compatibility errors

• Make sure your Trezor's firmware is up to date via Trezor Suite. Only update firmware using the official Suite on a trusted computer.
• If a third-party wallet reports incompatibility, verify the wallet's guidance about supported Bridge versions and required settings.

“Permission denied” or popups

Grant permission to the site only when you initiated the connection. If a site keeps prompting unexpectedly, close it and verify you are on the correct website.

Security considerations

Trezor Bridge itself is a local transport. The security model relies on the hardware wallet keeping private keys isolated and user confirmations required on the device. Keep in mind:

• Always download Bridge and Suite from the official Trezor domain. Check the URL carefully and prefer HTTPS.
• Never enter your recovery seed into a computer. Seed entry belongs only on the device when explicitly required (and only when initializing/recovering on the device itself).
• Only allow trusted websites to access your device. When connecting, confirm requests on-device — Trezor requires explicit approval for signing and sensitive operations.
• Keep your operating system and browser updated. Security issues in the host OS can undermine local services.

Using Bridge with third-party wallets

Many wallet interfaces (DeFi portals, block explorers, and alternate wallet apps) support hardware wallets via Bridge. When connecting:

• Prefer well-known and reviewed wallets.
• Check the wallet’s instructions for selecting a hardware wallet transport — choose Trezor or Bridge when available.
• Confirm on-device details before signing any transaction (amounts, addresses, chain).

Advanced: logs and diagnostics

If you need to share diagnostics with support, Bridge logs can help. Only share logs with official Trezor support channels and avoid exposing private keys or recovery phrases. When contacting support, provide details about operating system, Browser name and version, Bridge version, and a short description of steps you already tried.

Quick reference — commands and status checks

There are platform-specific methods for checking whether Bridge is running. On most systems, simply opening Trezor Suite or visiting the official Web Wallet will indicate Bridge status. If you prefer CLI or system tools, check running processes for trezord / trezor-bridge depending on your platform.