Trezor Bridge is a small background application that allows your browser to talk securely to a Trezor hardware wallet over USB. Modern browsers stopped supporting direct USB access for certain flows, and Bridge restores a secure local connection for Trezor's web interface and desktop apps.
What is Trezor Bridge?
Trezor Bridge is an official, lightweight helper application created by SatoshiLabs (the maker of Trezor devices). It runs on your computer and exposes a secure local endpoint so the web app or desktop wallet can communicate reliably with your Trezor device when connected via USB.
How to install (Windows / macOS / Linux)
Always download Bridge from the official Trezor website or the official GitHub releases. Avoid third-party mirrors.
- Windows: download the installer and run it as administrator. After installation, connect your Trezor and open the Trezor web app or desktop wallet.
- macOS: download the .dmg, open it and move Bridge to Applications. You may need to allow the app in Security & Privacy if macOS blocks it.
- Linux: use the Debian/Ubuntu .deb package or the AppImage if available; follow distro-specific instructions. Some distros require udev rules for USB access — the package usually installs them automatically.
Using Trezor Bridge safely
- Only run Bridge from official sources. Verify checksums or signatures if you want extra security.
- Bridge listens only on your local machine (localhost); it does not open external network ports by default. Still, treat downloads carefully and keep your OS up to date.
Common troubleshooting
Fix: Make sure Bridge is running (look for the tray/menu icon), reconnect the USB cable, try a different cable or USB port, and ensure no other wallet app is blocking USB access.
Fix: Reinstall Bridge as administrator and check Device Manager for any Trezor entries with errors. Reboot after installing.
Fix: Open System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General, and click "Allow" for Bridge if present. You may need to unblock a kernel extension depending on macOS version.
Fix: Some users prefer native desktop wallets that can use direct USB or WebUSB where supported. However, for many browser-based flows, Bridge is the recommended secure approach by the vendor.
Security notes
Trezor Bridge is a small utility; the security of your seed and device comes from the hardware wallet itself. Never share your recovery seed. If something about Bridge looks suspicious (wrong domain, checksum mismatch), stop and verify with official Trezor channels.
Resources & next steps
- Official Trezor website (always verify domain)
- Trezor support & documentation for the latest Bridge installers and release notes.
# Example: check if Bridge is running (Linux/Mac)
ps aux | grep trezor-bridge