Trezor Bridge — Secure Connection for Your Trezor

Installing Trezor Bridge is straightforward. The official distribution is available from the Trezor website as an installer package or portable package for different operating systems. Below are platform-specific steps and a checklist for secure installation.

Windows (installer)

Download the official Trezor Bridge installer (EXE). Run the installer as an administrator and follow prompts. Reboot if requested. Make sure to download from the official domain; verify signatures when available.

1. Download trezor-bridge-x.y.z.exe from the official site.
2. Right click → Run as administrator.
3. Follow installer prompts.
4. After install, open Trezor Suite or your web wallet to confirm connection.

macOS

macOS packages are distributed as DMG or PKG files. Open the DMG, drag the Bridge app to Applications, or run the PKG. You may be required to allow system extensions or grant permission for the app — macOS will highlight this in Security & Privacy if needed.

Linux

Linux distributions may use an AppImage or package managed installs. For system integrations, a small daemon or snap may be available. Many users run the AppImage directly; ensure executable permissions are set (chmod +x) and execute the file. On headless systems, there are advanced instructions for CLI-only usage and udev rules to permit USB access.

Updating & verification

Keep Trezor Bridge updated; updates may include security fixes and new device firmware compatibility. Always verify you downloaded the binary from the Trezor site or official GitHub releases. When possible, check PGP or SHA256 signatures provided by the vendor.

Security is the core reason to use a hardware wallet and an official transport like Trezor Bridge. The tool is intentionally minimal and designed to run only on the local host machine. Key security properties include:

Threat model

Understanding what Bridge is *not* helps build correct assumptions: Trezor Bridge does not manage keys — the Trezor device does. Bridge is an intermediary; if your host is fully compromised (malware with root), Bridge cannot prevent every attack. However, it ensures the keys never leave the hardware, and signing still requires user confirmation on the device. For maximum safety, maintain good host hygiene, enable disk encryption, and limit software installed from untrusted sources.

Best hardening tips

• Verify binary signatures before install.
• Use an up-to-date OS with vendor security patches.
• Limit administrative privileges; do not run unknown binaries as admin/root.
• Keep firmware on your Trezor device updated (but only from official sources).

At a technical level, Bridge exposes a REST-like or websocket API on localhost. A wallet application issues API calls (for example, list connected devices, get device features, request a signature) and Bridge forwards those to the Trezor device using USB protocols. Responses are translated back to the format expected by the application. The hardware device signs transactions only after receiving a confirmation from the user directly on the device screen.

Typical communication flow

1. Wallet UI initiates connection to Bridge on a well-known localhost port.
2. Bridge queries the USB layer for Trezor devices and opens a secure session.
3. Wallet requests an operation (e.g., create transaction, get public key).
4. Bridge sends request to device; device shows details and asks user to confirm.
5. User approves on device; device performs cryptographic operation and returns result.
6. Bridge relays result back to wallet UI.

Developer notes

For developers building integrations with Trezor Bridge, use the official client libraries and follow the documented transport protocol. Avoid rolling your own USB handling unless you have deep expertise and understand cross-platform quirks. The official libraries account for device enumeration, user prompts, and error handling nuances.

Problems connecting to a Trezor device are often environment-specific. Below are common symptoms and step-by-step fixes.

Symptom: Browser says "No Bridge detected" or device not found

Solutions:

• Ensure Bridge is installed and running. On many systems an icon or a process named like "trezord" or "trezor-bridge" will be visible.
• Restart Bridge and the browser. Some browsers cache permissions and need a fresh process.
• Check firewall rules: Bridge listens on localhost — blocking localhost ports can prevent detection.
• Reboot the host if USB stack has issues.

Symptom: Device connected, but signing fails

Solutions:

• Verify device firmware is compatible with the requested operation.
• Make sure user is physically confirming operations on the device screen. Signing requires manual confirmation.
• Try a different USB cable and port — some cables are power-only and do not transmit data.

Advanced diagnostic commands (for power users)

# Check processes
ps aux | grep trezor
# On Linux, check udev rules and logs
sudo journalctl -u trezor-bridge --no-pager
# On Windows, check Services and Event Viewer for install errors

To keep your use of Trezor Bridge secure and reliable, follow these recommendations:

• Always download Bridge from official sources.
• Keep your Trezor device firmware and Bridge software up to date.
• Confirm signing details on the physical device every time.
• Use separate machines for high-value signing when possible (air-gapped or dedicated signers).
• Use hardware verification and tamper-evident packaging when first receiving a device.

Privacy considerations

While Trezor Bridge runs locally and does not exfiltrate seed material, the applications you connect to (wallet UIs, web apps) may query blockchain services that leak metadata. Use privacy-focused wallets, Tor, or VPNs for greater anonymity, and consider coin-privacy practices if needed.