Trezor Bridge – Secure Your Hardware Wallet®

Trezor Bridge is (or historically was) the small background service that enables secure communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and desktop/browser applications such as Trezor Suite and third-party wallets. While the ecosystem has evolved (with Trezor Suite and newer transports replacing some standalone functions), understanding Bridge — how to install it correctly and how to keep it safe — remains essential for secure on-device signing and transaction workflows.

Key sources: Official Trezor docs and the Trezor communication daemon repo. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

What is Trezor Bridge and why it matters

At its core, Bridge acted as a local HTTP/WebSocket service (a "daemon") that listens on your machine only and forwards communication securely to your connected Trezor device. That design isolates the hardware device from direct exposure to the internet and helps web apps use local endpoints instead of depending on raw USB/HID access.

Security model — local first, non-custodial control

Importantly, Trezor hardware wallets keep your recovery seed and private keys on the device itself — Bridge only relays commands and signatures. This means attackers who compromise a host machine still cannot extract seed material from the device unless the device itself is physically or firmware-compromised. Always pair this local transport with strict OS hygiene and verified downloads for the highest safety.

Note: Trezor emphasizes minimal personal data collection and hardware-side key protection as central to its security posture. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Installation & verification — best practice

Only download Bridge (or any Trezor software) from official Trezor domains. Installing an untrusted copy of Bridge risks malware that could intercept or spoof prompts. Today, Trezor encourages using Trezor Suite (which handles transport internally) and has deprecated some standalone Bridge installations — if you already have a standalone Bridge, follow the official deprecation instructions to uninstall or migrate safely. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Step-by-step (high-level)

Download Trezor Suite or Bridge only from the official site: trezor.io or the Suite download page listed below.
Install and verify signature checks where provided (follow Trezor's published steps).
Connect your device; confirm the device shows up in Trezor Suite — if it doesn't, consult official troubleshooting (links below).
Keep firmware and the Suite up-to-date via the Suite interface.

Common pitfalls

Conflicts can appear if an older standalone Bridge is present while Suite expects a different transport, or if OS permissions block the local service. The official troubleshooting guide explains these scenarios and how to remove the deprecated standalone Bridge safely. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Developer & advanced notes

For developers and power users, the Bridge/daemon code is public and available in official Trezor repositories. Reviewing the code and its changelog provides transparency and allows advanced integration via supported transports. If you build integrations, prefer the transport recommended by the current Trezor docs and keep an eye on the project's release notes. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

When to use Trezor Suite instead

Trezor Suite wraps most wallet features (portfolio, firmware updates, buy/sell, coin management) and now contains the transport logic that used to require a separate Bridge install for many users. For non-developers and general users, Suite is the recommended path: less manual setup and fewer compatibility headaches. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Security checklist — quick

Before you connect

Download only from official pages (links below).
Verify checksums / signatures when provided.
Ensure your OS and browser are up to date.

When you connect

Check the device screen for confirmation prompts — never confirm on the host alone.
Keep Trezor firmware current via Suite.
Uninstall deprecated standalone Bridge if directed by Trezor docs. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Troubleshooting pointers

If Trezor Suite doesn't see your device: try another USB cable/port, check OS drivers, remove older Bridge installs, and consult the official troubleshooting article which lists device firmware and HID/transport caveats. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Trezor Homepage Trezor Suite (download) Trezor Support Deprecation & removal of standalone Bridge Trezor Security Getting started / Setup Troubleshooting (device not seen) trezord-go (Bridge daemon repo) Firmware changelog Supported coins & tokens

Wrap up — trust, but verify

Trezor Bridge (and the surrounding transport stack) is a convenience and security layer that lets your desktop/web wallets talk to your hardware device while keeping keys isolated. The contemporary recommendation for most users is to run Trezor Suite and follow the official migration/uninstall guidance if you still have a standalone Bridge. Always validate downloads and rely on the device screen for final confirmation — that's the single most important control in the chain.