Trézór Bridge®™ — Secure Crypto Connectivity

A practical, focused guide to the Bridge utility: what it does, how to install and use it safely with Trezor Suite or the web interface, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

Approx. 1,000 words • Educational content — always follow official vendor pages for downloads and firmware.

What is Trézór Bridge?

Trézór Bridge is a small, local helper application that enables your browser or other desktop apps to communicate with a Trezor hardware wallet over USB. Modern web browsers lock down direct USB access for security — Bridge provides a controlled, local channel so the official web Suite or compatible web apps can reach your device without exposing private keys or the recovery seed.

Why Bridge matters

Without Bridge, many browser-based flows cannot access attached hardware wallets. Bridge makes those workflows possible while keeping the cryptographic signing and key storage on the physical device itself. It is intentionally minimal: its role is to relay encrypted messages between trusted software (the Suite) and the hardware.

Short takeaway: Bridge runs locally, does not store your seed, and cannot sign transactions without on-device confirmation.

Install Bridge — step by step

  1. Open your browser and navigate to the official Trezor start or downloads page (type the URL directly to avoid phishing).
  2. Download the Bridge installer matching your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux).
  3. Run the installer and accept any system prompts. On macOS you may need to grant permissions in System Settings after installing.
  4. After install, Bridge runs in the background and will usually appear as an icon in your system tray or menu bar; the web Suite will detect it automatically.
  5. If using Linux, ensure udev rules are installed so your user can access USB devices — the installer or distro docs typically show the command to add rules.

Using Bridge with Trezor Suite / web

Open the official web Suite or desktop Suite. If Bridge is running, the Suite will request permission to connect to your device. Important actions — firmware updates, transaction signing, address verification — always require a direct confirmation on the Trezor device screen; Bridge only transports the requests.

Security model — what Bridge can/can't do

  • Cannot access your recovery seed: the seed is only ever shown on the hardware device (if at all) or entered on the device during a restore.
  • Cannot sign alone: every signing operation must be approved physically on the Trezor device.
  • Local-only service: Bridge runs on your machine and does not broadcast your private keys to third parties.
  • Explicit permissions: the browser or Suite will prompt for access — never accept random prompts without verifying the origin.
Tip: If you prefer not to install Bridge, use the desktop Trezor Suite which often connects directly to the device without the need for Bridge.

Troubleshooting common issues

Browser can't find Bridge

  • Confirm Bridge is installed and running (look for the system tray/menu icon).
  • Restart your browser or the Bridge service.
  • Close other wallet software that may hold exclusive USB access.

Device not detected

  • Try a different USB cable or port — some cables are charge-only.
  • Unlock the Trezor and verify the device screen is active.
  • On Linux, reload udev rules: 
    sudo udevadm control --reload-rules && sudo udevadm trigger

Firmware update problems

Do not unplug your device during firmware updates. If an update fails, follow the Suite’s recovery instructions or contact official support. Never share your recovery phrase with anyone when seeking help.

Privacy & data handling

Bridge itself does not collect or transmit your wallet data. However, when using web-based interfaces, the web endpoints used to query blockchain data (balances, tx history) may be third-party services. For stronger privacy, use the desktop Suite, run your own node, or configure privacy-respecting endpoints where supported.

Developer & advanced notes

Developers can call Bridge from trusted origins to integrate hardware signing into web apps. If building integrations, require explicit on-device confirmation for every action, never request the recovery seed, and only call Bridge from secure, audited code paths.

When to contact support

Contact official support if Bridge installation logs show errors you can’t resolve, the device is unresponsive, or a firmware update fails. Provide OS, browser, Bridge version, Suite version, device model and exact reproduction steps — but never include your recovery seed.

Final thoughts

Trézór Bridge is a pragmatic, security-focused piece of infrastructure that enables modern browser workflows while preserving the essential security boundary: keys remain on the hardware device and signing requires physical confirmation. Install Bridge only from official sources, keep software updated, and always verify transaction details on your Trezor device. Those simple habits keep your crypto safe while letting you benefit from the convenience of web and desktop tooling.