Why Bridge matters
Hardware wallets protect your private keys by keeping them offline. To use those keys with web applications, the hardware needs a safe, explicit channel to accept commands and sign transactions — that’s where Trezor Bridge comes in. Instead of exposing your keys to the browser, Bridge forms a local, permissioned connection between your computer and the device. This preserves the hardware wallet’s core security model while allowing modern user experiences.
How the secure connection works
When installed, Bridge runs as a small local service on your computer. The browser-based interface detects Bridge and asks for explicit user confirmation before any action. Crucially:
- All signing requests require confirmation on the physical Trezor device itself.
- Data exchanged is limited to transaction details and public information — private keys never leave the device.
- Bridge uses locally scoped communication (not a cloud relay), reducing attack surface and avoiding third-party servers for key operations.
Getting started — the quick path
1) Download the official Bridge installer from Trezor's website.
2) Run the installer and allow the application to run as a background service.
3) Open Trezor Suite or your chosen dApp — it should detect your Trezor and prompt to connect. When prompted, confirm actions on your device.
Security best-practices
To keep the connection secure: always install Bridge from the official source, keep your firmware up to date, confirm addresses and amounts on the device screen (not just in the browser), and avoid using Bridge on untrusted machines. If a site requests unusual permissions or you see unexpected prompts, cancel and double-check the origin.
Troubleshooting common issues
If Bridge doesn’t detect your device, try these steps:
- Ensure the device is unlocked and connected with a data USB cable (some cables are power-only).
- Restart Bridge or your browser. On some OSes you may need to grant permission to the Bridge service.
- Temporarily disable strict firewall or antivirus rules that block local services.
Privacy & transparency
Bridge itself does not collect private key material or transaction payloads beyond what the signing process requires. The service is intentionally minimal: its role is to relay messages between browser apps and the device while keeping user consent and device confirmation at the center of trust.
Quick tips for power users
Advanced users can run Bridge on multiple machines (install per-machine), use it with development tools, or inspect local logs for diagnostics. Always make sure logs don’t contain sensitive seed material — those belong only on the device.
Summary: Trezor Bridge is a secure, lightweight bridge between your hardware wallet and web interfaces. It preserves the device-first security model, provides a smooth user experience, and keeps sensitive operations explicit and local.