Trezor® Bridge Guide | Secure Connection for Your

Step-by-step instructions, security guidance, and troubleshooting for Trezor® Bridge.

What is Trezor® Bridge and why it matters

Trezor® Bridge is a small helper application that enables secure communication between your Trezor® hardware wallet and your web browser (or Trezor Suite) over USB. It acts as a trusted translator so the browser can send commands to the device without exposing sensitive information. Using the authentic Trezor® Bridge ensures firmware validation, signed transactions, and prevents man-in-the-middle attacks that can occur with unofficial tools.

Before you begin — essential checklist

  • Use a personal, trusted computer with up-to-date OS and antivirus software.
  • Download Trezor® Bridge only from the official trezor.io/start page.
  • Have your recovery seed written down and stored offline (not on your computer).
  • Close other wallet apps and avoid public Wi-Fi when performing setup or updates.

Install Trezor® Bridge — step by step

Follow these steps for a reliable installation:

  1. Open your browser and go to trezor.io/start.
  2. Select your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) and download the Bridge installer linked on the page.
  3. Run the installer and accept the prompts. On macOS you may need to allow the app in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
  4. After installation, connect your Trezor® device with the supplied USB cable. The browser or Trezor Suite should now detect the device automatically.

Verifying the installation for security

After installing Trezor® Bridge, perform these quick checks:

  • Open trezor.io/start and confirm the page shows the device model and firmware status.
  • When prompted, always verify on the physical Trezor® display the fingerprint or address shown by the browser.
  • Do not approve any transaction or fingerprint unless it matches exactly what you expect on the device screen.

Using Trezor® Bridge with Trezor Suite and web wallets

Trezor® Bridge works with the Trezor Suite desktop/web app and many compatible web wallets. When you connect, the bridge establishes an encrypted channel; sensitive actions—like signing a transaction—require manual confirmation on your Trezor® device. Treat Bridge as infrastructure: it never exposes your private keys to the browser or the internet.

Updating firmware safely

Firmware updates are pushed by Trezor to patch vulnerabilities or add features. When the website or Suite suggests a firmware update:

  • Download firmware only via the official prompt from trezor.io/start or Trezor Suite.
  • Keep your recovery seed nearby in case a manual recovery is required.
  • Do not disconnect the device while updating; interrupting firmware flashing can lead to a temporarily unusable device until recovery is performed.

Troubleshooting common Trezor® Bridge issues

Here are practical fixes for the most common problems:

  • Device not detected: Reboot your computer, try a different USB port or cable, and ensure Bridge is running (check system tray / menu bar).
  • Browser warns about connection: Ensure Bridge is installed and that you gave the site permission to access the device. Try another supported browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox).
  • Permissions on macOS: If installation fails, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow the Bridge installer.
  • Stuck on firmware: Follow the guided instructions on trezor.io/start or contact official support—do not follow random forum advice.

Best practices & security tips

To maximize safety when using Trezor® Bridge:

  • Always verify addresses and transaction details on the device screen before approving.
  • Never enter your recovery seed into any computer or website—only write it on the provided card or a metal backup.
  • Keep Bridge and your browser updated. Remove old or unused wallet extensions.
  • If you suspect compromise, move funds to a new wallet after full device recovery and firmware reinstallation.

Advanced: automation & developer notes

Developers integrating with Trezor should use the official API and keep communications through Bridge. Automated systems that require unattended signing are high risk—avoid them unless hardware signing workflows are architected to preserve user consent.

Open Trezor.io/Start Troubleshooting tips

Quick command examples

If you're using Linux and prefer terminal checks, these snippets help confirm Bridge status.

## Check if bridge service is running (systemd)
systemctl --user status trezord.service

## macOS: check if Bridge app is running
ps aux | grep trezord

## Windows: check running processes
Get-Process -Name trezord -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue