Trézór Bridge®™ | Connect Your Trezor to Web Browsers

The complete guide to using Trezor Bridge with your hardware wallet

1. Introduction — Why This Matters

Hardware wallets like Trezor are prized for their security because they keep your private keys offline—away from internet threats. But to actually manage your cryptocurrencies, view balances, and sign transactions using a web browser interface, your computer must communicate with the Trezor device. Modern browsers, however, do not allow direct USB access from web pages for security reasons. That’s exactly where Trézór Bridge®™ comes in.

Trezor Bridge is the official communication interface developed by SatoshiLabs that bridges the gap between your hardware wallet and web applications, enabling secure interaction with browser-based wallets, DeFi platforms, and other blockchain tools.

2. What Is Trezor Bridge? — The Core Purpose

At its core, Trezor Bridge is:

  • A lightweight background service installed on your computer that runs locally.

  • A secure intermediary layer that relays communication between your browser and your Trezor hardware wallet.

  • A replacement for the older browser extensions (like the deprecated Chrome App), offering better security, broader compatibility, and improved reliability than legacy tools.

3. Why You Need Trezor Bridge

3.1. Browser Security Restrictions

Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, etc.) are built to protect users from unsafe USB device access. Direct USB access from a website is usually blocked or restricted to prevent web pages from arbitrarily talking to connected devices.

Trezor Bridge bypasses this restriction safely by acting as an approved local service that browsers can talk to, which, in turn, communicates with your hardware wallet. Without Bridge installed, web interfaces like Trezor Suite Web or third-party decentralized apps might not detect your hardware wallet, especially in non-WebUSB environments.

3.2. Cross-Platform Compatibility

Trezor Bridge works across major operating systems:

  • Windows (10, 11)

  • macOS

  • Linux distributions

It supports most mainstream browsers and ensures consistent connectivity regardless of platform quirks.

3.3. Support for Advanced Features

Bridge enables interactions beyond basic balance viewing:

  • Signing and submitting transactions securely

  • Firmware updates

  • Advanced account and passphrase management

  • Interaction with DeFi and DApps (via wallets like MetaMask or MyEtherWallet)

These tasks all require secure communication with the hardware wallet, and Bridge helps facilitate that reliably.

4. How Trezor Bridge Works — Technical Flow

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

  1. Bridge service runs locally on your machine after you install it.

  2. When you connect your Trezor device via USB, Bridge detects the device.

  3. A web interface (like Trezor Suite Web or another supported wallet) tries to talk to the device.

  4. The browser sends requests to Bridge over a local connection (HTTP/WebSockets on 127.0.0.1).

  5. Bridge securely forwards these requests to the Trezor device.

  6. The Trezor device processes the request (for example, signing a transaction) and sends the result back via Bridge to the browser.

This process ensures that:

  • Private keys never leave the Trezor device.

  • Only authorized commands are passed through.

  • Sensitive actions require physical confirmation on the Trezor hardware.

5. Installing Trezor Bridge — Step-by-Step

Step 1: Visit the Official Trezor Downloads Page

Go to the official download page at trezor.io/bridge. Always ensure you’re downloading from the official Trezor site to avoid phishing or compromised installers.

Step 2: Select Your OS Version

Choose the correct version for your operating system:

  • Windows executable installer

  • macOS .dmg

  • Linux packages (.deb, .rpm, or AppImage)

Step 3: Run the Installer

Follow the prompts:

  • On Windows, you may need admin rights.

  • On macOS, you might have to allow the application under Security & Privacy in system preferences.

  • On Linux, install via your package manager if preferred.

Step 4: Restart Your Browser

Once installation completes, restart your browser so it detects the Bridge service running in the background.

Step 5: Connect Your Trezor and Start Using

Plug in your Trezor wallet, visit a supported web interface (like suite.trezor.io), and confirm the connection prompts.

6. Security and Privacy — What You Should Know

6.1. Private Keys Never Leave the Device

Bridge does not have access to your seed phrases or private keys. Those remain fully secure inside the Trezor hardware wallet chip. Every sensitive operation is confirmed on the device itself.

6.2. Local-Only Communications

Bridge runs locally on your own machine and does not send data to remote servers. It acts solely as a local communication relay between your browser and your hardware wallet.

6.3. Open Source and Auditable

Bridge’s source code is open source, meaning it can be reviewed and audited by the community and security researchers.

7. Browser Support & Compatibility

Trezor Bridge works with all major browsers including:

  • Google Chrome

  • Mozilla Firefox

  • Microsoft Edge

  • Brave

  • Other Chromium-based browsers

Note: Some browsers like Safari and mobile browsers may not support Bridge due to their internal USB restrictions. In such cases, using the Trezor Suite desktop app or WebUSB where supported is preferable.

8. Trezor Bridge vs. WebUSB — Which Is Better?

WebUSB

Some browsers (like Chrome) now offer WebUSB, which enables direct browser-to-USB communication without a background service. This reduces dependency on Bridge and streamlines connectivity. WebUSB is modern and convenient but:

  • Isn’t supported in all browsers

  • Can be disabled by some enterprise or security policies

  • May behave inconsistently across OS versions

Trezor Bridge

Bridge remains the fallback solution that ensures stable connectivity when WebUSB is unavailable or unreliable. It provides:

  • Consistent performance across all supported browsers

  • Broader compatibility

  • Better support for advanced features

Many advanced users and third-party wallet integrations still rely on Bridge for reliable connectivity.

9. Using Trezor Bridge With Third-Party Wallets

Trezor Bridge not only works with the official Trezor Suite web app but is also used to connect hardware wallets with other services such as:

  • MetaMask

  • MyEtherWallet

  • MyCrypto

  • Decentralized finance platforms that require hardware signing

These interactions also rely on Bridge to relay messages securely between the browser and your hardware device. Most third-party wallets prompt you to install or enable Bridge if it’s missing.

10. Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Despite being straightforward, users occasionally face connectivity issues. Here’s how to handle them:

10.1. Bridge Not Detected

  • Restart your browser after installing Bridge.

  • Ensure Bridge is running in the background (check your system tray or processes).

  • Reinstall the latest version from the official Trezor website.

10.2. Browser Doesn’t Prompt USB Permissions

  • Manually allow USB access in browser site settings.

  • Try a different supported browser (Chrome tends to handle USB better).

10.3. Issues with Third-Party Wallets

  • Make sure you have the latest Bridge installed.

  • Sometimes clearing your browser cache helps.

  • Check if the wallet supports Trezor with Bridge or only WebUSB.

10.4. Device Not Recognized After Connecting

  • Use a different USB port or cable.

  • Reboot your computer.

  • Try using the desktop Trezor Suite as an alternative.

11. Developer Integration — How Bridge Fits In

If you are building web applications that support Trezor wallets:

  • Use the official Trezor Connect JavaScript API.

  • The API automatically detects whether to use WebUSB or Bridge.

  • You don’t need to manage Bridge directly—just integrate with Trezor Connect.

This makes development easier while ensuring compatibility with both Bridge and direct USB approaches behind the scenes.

12. Best Practices for Using Trezor Bridge

  • Always download Bridge from the official Trezor website to avoid phishing.

  • Keep Bridge updated alongside your wallet’s firmware.

  • Use supported browsers for best results.

  • Never enter your seed phrase into a browser; Trezor Bridge never requires it.

  • If unsure about security, prefer the desktop Trezor Suite app instead of browser interfaces.

13. Conclusion — Why Trezor Bridge Matters

Trézór Bridge®™ is a critical infrastructure piece for anyone who uses a Trezor hardware wallet with web browsers. It solves the significant challenge of secure, cross-platform USB communication, enabling browser-based wallet management, DeFi interactions, and advanced signing operations without exposing your private keys. Because it runs locally, is open source, and is actively maintained by SatoshiLabs, Bridge remains one of the most secure and reliable ways to connect your hardware wallet to web applications.

Create a free website with Framer, the website builder loved by startups, designers and agencies.