What is Trezor Bridge?
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight background service that allows your web browser to communicate directly with your Trezor hardware wallet. It acts as a trusted communication layer between Trezor devices and supported web applications like Trezor Suite Web.
Without Trezor Bridge, your browser cannot securely interact with the wallet. This is especially important for browsers that don’t natively support WebUSB or when you want a stable and more reliable connection.
Why You Need Trezor Bridge
While newer browsers support WebUSB, it’s not always reliable or consistent across devices. Trezor Bridge solves this by acting as a secure, local proxy that runs in the background and provides a standardized way to access your Trezor.
- ✅ Works across Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers
- ✅ Ensures smoother firmware updates and device communication
- ✅ Reduces connection issues caused by browser updates
- ✅ Required for older operating systems or browser configurations
How to Install Trezor Bridge
Installing Trezor Bridge is a simple 3-step process:
- Go to the official site: https://trezor.io/bridge/
- Download the appropriate version for your OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
- Install it and restart your browser after installation
Once installed, Bridge runs automatically in the background. You don’t need to manually open it every time — it launches on system boot.
Compatible Operating Systems
Trezor Bridge is available for:
- 🖥️ Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
- 🍏 macOS Monterey & later (Intel & Apple Silicon)
- 🐧 Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch
Trezor Bridge vs WebUSB
WebUSB is a browser-based method that lets websites talk to USB devices. While it's supported in Chromium-based browsers, it can be blocked by browser extensions, privacy settings, or OS-level security.
| Feature | Trezor Bridge | WebUSB |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | High | Medium |
| Browser Compatibility | All major browsers | Chromium only |
| Offline Support | Yes | No |
| Setup Required | Yes (once) | No |
How Trezor Bridge Works
Trezor Bridge acts like a tiny local server. Once installed, it listens on a local port (usually 21325) and facilitates requests between the browser and your Trezor device. It verifies digital signatures, handles encryption, and ensures your data is never exposed to malicious third parties.
Unlike browser extensions, Bridge doesn’t rely on your browser's security model. It’s sandboxed, local, and independently updated by Trezor’s development team.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you experience issues with Trezor Bridge, try the following:
- ✅ Ensure Bridge is running in the background (check system tray)
- ✅ Restart your browser or system
- ✅ Disable conflicting extensions (e.g., privacy blockers)
- ✅ Ensure no firewall or antivirus is blocking port 21325
Still stuck? Visit the official support center or join the Trezor community forums.
Security Best Practices
- 🔒 Always download Bridge from trezor.io — avoid third-party sites!
- 🔒 Verify digital signatures when installing software (especially on Linux)
- 🔒 Never share your recovery seed, PIN, or passphrase — not even with “support”
Bridge itself never accesses your seed — all cryptographic operations happen on the Trezor device.
Final Thoughts
Trezor Bridge is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes