Trezor Bridge® | Official Secure Gateway for Hardware Wallets®

Overview

Trezor Bridge® is a lightweight local application that acts as the secure gateway connecting your browser (or web apps) to your Trezor hardware wallet. It enables seamless and encrypted communication while ensuring that your private keys never leave your device. With Bridge installed, web interfaces, dApps, or wallet clients can talk to your hardware wallet safely and reliably.

Why Bridge Matters

Browsers generally have strict security restrictions for USB devices. Without Bridge, web-based wallet applications may fail to detect or communicate with Trezor hardware. Bridge solves this by creating a local communication channel that both your browser and device trust.

When You Need Bridge

If you use browser-based wallet interfaces, decentralized applications, or third‑party services that expect Trezor support, installing Bridge is essential. If instead you exclusively use Trezor Suite (desktop), you may not need Bridge because Suite supplies native drivers—but Bridge ensures compatibility in more contexts.

Relation to Other Tools

While Bridge is specific to Trezor, in the broader ecosystem there are similar tools (for example, Ledger Bridge or other hardware‑wallet connectors). Because of competition and user preferences, keywords such as Ledger.io/start, Ledger Login, Ledger Suite, Ledger Io Start, Ledger Bridge, and Ledger Hardware Wallet are common in hardware wallet discussions. Some users compare Bridge against Ledger’s tools to understand ease-of-use, security, and compatibility.

How It Works

Bridge runs as a background service (daemon) on your computer. When a compatible web wallet or dApp asks to connect a Trezor device, Bridge listens on a localhost port and forwards requests securely to the device. It abstracts low‑level USB communication complexities so wallet apps don’t need to manage them.

Connection Flow

Install Bridge from the official source (never from a third‑party clone).
Launch your browser or wallet web app and initiate a connection request.
Bridge receives the request and passes it to your hardware wallet.
Your Trezor shows prompts: you confirm details like addresses or transaction amounts.
Bridge relays the signed response to the web app—nothing sensitive ever leaves the device.

Cross‑Platform Compatibility

Bridge supports major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and works with popular browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.). It handles USB quirks, permissions, and driver differences transparently.

Local-Only Architecture

Because Bridge listens only on localhost, network exposure is minimal. It never sends data to remote servers and does not store private keys or seed phrases.

Security Design

Security is at the core of Bridge. Its architecture ensures that cryptographic operations remain confined inside your Trezor device. Bridge is purely a messenger.

Key Security Properties

**Private keys never leave the device.** Bridge only forwards requests.
**Transaction confirmation on-device.** You verify details on the Trezor screen itself.
**Encrypted local channel.** Communication between Bridge and browser is encrypted and permissioned.
**Minimal privileges.** Bridge requests only necessary OS-level permissions (USB).

Updates & Verification

Always verify Bridge installers (checksums, signatures) when downloading. Official releases are signed to prevent tampering. Keep Bridge updated for latest security patches.

Threat Mitigation

Because Bridge does not depend on browser extensions, it avoids many extension-based attack vectors. Malicious web pages cannot trick Bridge into exposing keys; user must approve actions manually.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I have to install Trezor Bridge to use my Trezor device?: If you exclusively use Trezor Suite desktop, Bridge may not be necessary. But for browser-based wallets, dApps, or web interfaces, yes — Bridge is often required to enable communication.
2. Does Trezor Bridge ever see or store my private keys or seed phrase?: No. Bridge is a conduit only. It never has access to private keys, seed phrases, or unapproved transaction data. All signing happens on the hardware device itself.
3. Can I use Bridge across different operating systems?: Yes. Bridge offers installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Just download the appropriate version and follow installation instructions.
4. What if my browser or OS updates — will Bridge break?: Bridge is maintained to remain compatible with browser and OS updates. Occasionally, you may need to reinstall or upgrade. Always fetch updates from official sources.
5. How is Bridge different from something like “Ledger Bridge” or “Ledger Login”?: Bridge is specifically for Trezor devices. **Ledger Bridge**, **Ledger Login**, **Ledger Suite**, **Ledger Hardware Wallet** are part of the Ledger ecosystem. People often compare usability, security, and features across Trezor Bridge vs Ledger’s tools when choosing hardware wallets.