Secure Your Crypto Assets with Trezor Bridge
The vital communication link between your Trezor hardware wallet and your web browser. Ensure seamless, secure, and private management of your cryptocurrency portfolio.
What is Trezor Bridge?
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight, background application designed to facilitate communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and your web browser. Unlike standard USB devices that can interact directly with your operating system's drivers, hardware wallets require a specialized protocol to ensure that your private keys never leave the device while still allowing you to interact with web-based interfaces like Trezor Suite for Web, MyEtherWallet, or MetaMask.
Originally, browser plugins were used for this purpose, but as browser security standards evolved (specifically the deprecation of NPAPI), a more robust and standalone solution was required. Trezor Bridge fills this gap by running a local server that listens for communication requests from authorized web pages, acting as a secure courier for your transaction data.
Enhanced Security
By isolating the communication layer, Trezor Bridge minimizes the attack surface. It ensures that only signed transaction data is passed back and forth, keeping your recovery seed and private keys strictly confined to the hardware device.
Broad Compatibility
While modern browsers support WebUSB, not all operating systems or browser configurations handle it flawlessly. Trezor Bridge provides the most reliable connection method across Windows, macOS, and Linux distributions, ensuring your wallet connects every time.
How Trezor Bridge Works
When you install Trezor Bridge, it sets up a local communication daemon on your computer. This daemon runs quietly in the background (you can often see it as trezord in your task manager). It listens on a specific local port (typically 127.0.0.1:21325).
Here is the typical workflow when you initiate a transaction:
- Step 1: You visit a compatible wallet interface (e.g., Trezor Suite Web) and connect your device via USB.
- Step 2: The web page sends a signal to the local port where Trezor Bridge is listening.
- Step 3: Trezor Bridge detects the USB device and establishes a handshake.
- Step 4: When you confirm a transaction on the web interface, the data is sent to the Bridge, which forwards it to the Trezor device.
- Step 5: You physically confirm the transaction on your Trezor device. The device signs the transaction and sends the signature back through the Bridge to the browser to be broadcasted to the blockchain network.
Installing Trezor Bridge
Setting up the bridge is a one-time process. Follow these steps to ensure a secure installation:
Download the Installer
Always download from the official source. Navigate to the Trezor Wallet website or the dedicated start page. The site will automatically detect your operating system.
Run the Setup
Locate the downloaded file (usually trezor-bridge-x.x.x.exe on Windows or .pkg on macOS). Double-click to launch the installation wizard.
Confirm Permissions
Your operating system may ask for administrative privileges to install the communication drivers. Click "Yes" or "Allow" to proceed.
Clear Browser Cache
Once installed, it is highly recommended to clear your browser's cache or restart the browser to ensure the new protocols are recognized immediately.
Compatibility and Requirements
Trezor Bridge is built to be lightweight and broadly compatible. It supports the following operating systems:
- Windows: Windows 10 and newer (64-bit recommended).
- macOS: macOS 10.14 (Mojave) and newer.
- Linux: Most major distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian) via DEB or RPM packages.
- Android: Not applicable (Android uses WebUSB directly).
Note: iOS devices are currently not supported due to hardware restrictions on USB connectivity.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with robust software, connection issues can occur. Here are the most common solutions if your Trezor is not being detected:
Check the USB Cable
Many USB cables are "charge-only." Ensure you are using the original cable provided with your Trezor or a high-quality data cable.
Check the Process
Open your Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) and look for trezord. If it's not running, try reinstalling the Bridge.
Disable VPN/Firewall
Strict firewall settings or VPNs can sometimes block the local communication port (21325). Temporarily disable them to test the connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common queries about Trezor Bridge and connectivity.