Overview — What is Trezor Bridge®?
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight background service that historically acted as the communication layer between a Trezor hardware wallet and web browsers or desktop apps. It allowed web-based and native applications to talk with the device without relying on legacy browser plugins. While Trezor's long-term direction encourages the integrated use of Trezor Suite for the modern user experience, Bridge has served a crucial role enabling secure USB/HID communication for many wallets and developer integrations.
How Bridge fits into the ecosystem
Bridge operates as a local connector: the hardware wallet remains the single source of cryptographic signing, while Bridge facilitates message transport and session management between browser pages and the device. Architecturally, it is a small server (a local daemon) that exposes a stable API to clients; implementations like trezord-go on GitHub provide the open-source daemon code.
Security & privacy principles
- All private keys remain on the hardware wallet; Bridge only forwards protocol messages.
- Connections are local to your machine — Bridge listens on localhost, so remote parties cannot directly access your device without local compromise.
- Bridge avoids asking for secrets in the host environment; user approvals occur on-device.
Installing and managing Bridge
Historically users would download and install Bridge as a standalone helper for browser integrations. Today, Trezor recommends using the Trezor Suite application or web-based Suite workflow to manage interactions with the device. If you still run Bridge standalone, consult official uninstallation & migration guidance before switching to Suite to avoid conflicts.
Quick install checklist
- Download the latest Trezor Suite or Bridge package from the official site.
- Ensure your OS meets minimum requirements (modern Windows/macOS/Linux).
- Follow platform-specific instructions; when migrating, uninstall older Bridge installs if instructed.
Migration to Trezor Suite (recommended)
Trezor has moved much of the connection handling into the Suite ecosystem and has published guidance about the deprecation and removal of the standalone Bridge. Users are encouraged to transition to Suite for a unified update channel, fewer compatibility issues, and the latest security improvements. See official migration guidance for step-by-step uninstallation instructions and how Suite replaces standalone Bridge behavior.
Developer integration
Developers integrating Trezor devices into web apps should treat Bridge as a platform-level transport that exposes session-based APIs. For upstream integration, projects such as community bridge clients and the official trezord-go repository are primary resources. The key patterns are:
- Use a session-per-client model to avoid race conditions.
- Handle device detachment and reconnection gracefully.
- Keep UX clearly separated: always ask users to confirm signatures on-device and present minimal contextual data on the host UI.
Troubleshooting & best practices
Common issues with Bridge involve stale installations, permission problems, or conflicts with browser-level device APIs. If you encounter failures, try these steps:
- Restart the Bridge service and your browser.
- Confirm you aren't running both Suite and an old standalone Bridge at the same time.
- Check the official support guides for OS-specific steps and removal instructions.
Release cadence & updates
Trezor publishes release notes for Suite and firmware updates on their site; keep Suite and device firmware current to receive security fixes and improved device compatibility. Firmware changelogs and Suite update notices can be found on the official product updates pages.
FAQ — Concise answers
Q: Do I need Bridge to use my Trezor?
A: Most users should use Trezor Suite; Bridge historically provided the transport layer, but Suite reduces the need for a standalone installation. Follow official guidance when migrating.
Q: Are my keys safe?
A: Yes — private keys never leave the device. Bridge only relays protocol messages and does not store keys.
Call to action
If you're a user: download Trezor Suite for the recommended experience, read the migration/deprecation guide before uninstalling any legacy Bridge, and verify device firmware regularly. If you're a developer: study the trezord-go implementation, test across platforms, and design UI flows that minimize accidental approvals.