Trezor Bridge — Secure Device Communication Layer

Trezor Bridge is a small background utility that securely connects your Trezor hardware wallet to desktop applications such as Trezor Suite. It facilitates reliable communication between your computer and device while preserving strict isolation of sensitive data.

Purpose and function

The Bridge acts as a trusted intermediary between your computer’s browser or desktop app and your Trezor hardware wallet. Without it, the operating system may not properly recognize or authorize communication with the device. By design, Trezor Bridge handles only encrypted message transport and device access permissions — it never stores, logs, or processes wallet data.

Core design principles

Security isolation: Private keys remain exclusively on the hardware device; Bridge only manages transport-level requests.
Transparency: It runs locally and operates openly, with publicly auditable source code and reproducible builds.
Cross-platform stability: Designed for Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a unified communication interface across systems.
Minimal footprint: The utility runs silently in the background, using minimal system resources and without collecting analytics.

Installation overview

Download the correct Trezor Bridge package for your operating system from the official distribution source.
Install with administrator rights to allow system-level USB access for your Trezor device.
After installation, restart your browser or desktop wallet application to establish a secure connection.
When you plug in your Trezor, Bridge automatically facilitates encrypted communication without manual configuration.

Operational behavior

Once active, Trezor Bridge continuously listens for device events. When a desktop app or browser extension initiates a session, Bridge manages message routing between the software and the Trezor hardware. The process includes cryptographic handshakes that confirm device authenticity before any sensitive instruction is accepted. The software cannot bypass hardware verification, ensuring end-to-end trust.

Maintaining security integrity

Download Bridge only from verified, official channels.
Keep the software updated to the latest version to maintain compatibility and security fixes.
Use the Bridge in combination with the latest Trezor Suite release for optimal reliability.
Ensure that your operating system’s USB drivers are up to date to avoid connectivity issues.

Reminder: Trezor Bridge does not handle wallet backups, PINs, or seeds — those remain secured on your hardware device at all times.

Troubleshooting

If the device is not recognized by Suite or your browser, check that the Bridge service is running. Restart your computer, reconnect your Trezor, and reopen the application. If problems persist, reinstall Bridge or update your operating system’s drivers. Never attempt to download patched or modified versions of the software from unverified sources.