Trézór Bridge®™ | Secure Crypto Connectivity
Trezor Bridge: A Complete Guide to Secure Hardware Wallet Connectivity
Trezor Bridge is a critical component in the Trezor ecosystem, enabling seamless communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and web-based applications. If you use a Trezor device to store, manage, or transact cryptocurrencies, understanding how Trezor Bridge works—and why it matters—is essential for maintaining both usability and security.
This comprehensive guide explains what Trezor Bridge is, how it works, why it’s needed, and how to install and troubleshoot it.
What Is Trezor Bridge?
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight software application that acts as a communication layer between your Trezor hardware wallet and your web browser. Modern browsers no longer support certain plugins and direct device communication methods, which makes Trezor Bridge necessary for secure interaction with your wallet.
Instead of relying on browser extensions, Trezor Bridge runs in the background on your computer and allows supported websites—such as Trezor Suite or third-party wallet interfaces—to communicate safely with your Trezor device.
Why Trezor Bridge Is Important
Trezor Bridge plays a crucial role in maintaining both security and compatibility. Without it, your browser would not be able to detect or interact with your Trezor hardware wallet.
Key Benefits of Trezor Bridge
- Secure device communication without exposing private keys
- Browser compatibility across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and more
- No browser extensions required, reducing attack surfaces
- Automatic updates to ensure stability and security
By isolating device communication from the browser itself, Trezor Bridge significantly improves the safety of hardware wallet interactions.
How Trezor Bridge Works
Trezor Bridge runs as a background service on your operating system. When you connect your Trezor device via USB and visit a supported web interface, the website sends requests to Trezor Bridge instead of communicating with the device directly.
The Communication Process
- You connect your Trezor hardware wallet to your computer
- Trezor Bridge detects the connected device
- A web wallet interface sends a request
- Trezor Bridge forwards the request securely to your device
- You confirm actions directly on the Trezor screen
This process ensures that sensitive actions such as signing transactions or approving addresses always require physical confirmation on the hardware wallet.
Trezor Bridge vs Browser Extensions
Earlier versions of Trezor relied on browser extensions for device communication. However, extensions have security and compatibility limitations.
Advantages Over Extensions
- More secure than browser-based plugins
- Works consistently across operating systems
- Not affected by browser updates or extension deprecations
- Runs independently of browser sessions
Because of these advantages, Trezor Bridge has become the preferred and recommended method for device connectivity.
Supported Operating Systems
Trezor Bridge is compatible with the most commonly used desktop platforms, ensuring broad accessibility.
Supported Platforms
- Windows (10 and newer)
- macOS
- Linux
Each version is optimized for its respective operating system, providing stable performance and background operation.