Secure Your Crypto Journey with Trezor Bridge
The essential communication protocol that securely connects your Trezor hardware wallet to your web browser. Fast, lightweight, and privacy-focused.
*Always download software from the official domain trezor.io
What is Trezor Bridge?
Trezor Bridge is a piece of software designed to facilitate communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and your internet browser. In the past, this communication was handled by browser extensions, but as browser technologies evolved and security standards tightened, a more robust, standalone solution became necessary.
Think of Trezor Bridge as a specialized translator. Your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) speaks one language, and your Trezor device speaks another (USB HID). Trezor Bridge runs quietly in the background of your operating system, listening for signals from the browser and translating them into commands your device can understand, and vice versa.
This architecture ensures that your private keys never leave the device. The Bridge only transports public data and signed transaction requests, maintaining the "air-gapped" nature of your cold storage while allowing you to interact with online interfaces like Trezor Suite for Web, MyEtherWallet, or MetaMask.
Why it replaced the Chrome Extension
Google phased out "Chrome Apps" in favor of newer technologies. Trezor Bridge was developed to be browser-agnostic, meaning it works independently of which browser you use. It offers better stability, faster communication speeds, and enhanced security compared to the legacy plugin system.
Why You Need Trezor Bridge
The backbone of your hardware wallet's connectivity.
Enhanced Security
By running as a local process rather than a browser extension, Trezor Bridge minimizes the attack surface. It only communicates with whitelisted domains and ensures that malicious websites cannot arbitrarily access your device information without your explicit confirmation on the device itself.
Universal Compatibility
Whether you are using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, or Microsoft Edge, Trezor Bridge provides a unified connection standard. It abstracts the complexity of USB communication, ensuring your device works seamlessly across different platforms and operating systems.
Background Operation
Once installed, Trezor Bridge runs silently in the background as a service (trezord). You don't need to open it or configure it every time you want to manage your portfolio. It automatically detects when your device is plugged in and establishes the secure link instantly.
How Trezor Bridge Works
The Technical Workflow
When you visit a compatible wallet interface (like the web version of Trezor Suite), the website attempts to communicate with a local server. This server is hosted by Trezor Bridge on your own machine, typically at http://127.0.0.1:21325.
- 1Detection: The web application sends a "ping" to the local port 21325 to check if the Bridge is running.
- 2Handshake: If the Bridge responds, a secure handshake is established. The Bridge then scans the USB ports for a connected Trezor device.
- 3Session: Once a device is found, a session is created. The browser sends requests (e.g., "Get Public Key") to the Bridge.
- 4Execution: The Bridge forwards this request to the hardware wallet via USB. The wallet processes the request (asking for user confirmation if needed) and sends the result back to the Bridge.
- 5Response: The Bridge relays the signed data back to the browser application.
Note for Advanced Users: You can check the status of your bridge by visiting http://127.0.0.1:21325/status/ in your browser. If it returns a JSON status object, your Bridge is active and running correctly.
Installation Guide
Follow these steps to get connected in minutes.
Windows
- Go to the official Trezor Suite page.
- Download the installer (usually named
trezor-bridge-x.x.x-win32-install.exe). - Run the executable file. You may need to grant administrator permissions.
- Follow the installation wizard prompts.
- Once finished, the
trezordprocess will start automatically. - Restart your browser to ensure the connection is recognized.
macOS
- Download the
.pkginstaller from the official Trezor website. - Double-click the downloaded file to open the installer.
- Follow the on-screen instructions. You might need to enter your system password.
- Once installed, the Bridge runs as a background daemon.
- If you use a VPN or firewall, ensure connections to
127.0.0.1are allowed.
Linux
- Download the appropriate package (
.debor.rpm) for your distribution. - Install using your package manager (e.g.,
sudo dpkg -i trezor-bridge...deb). - Important: You must also configure udev rules.
- Download the udev rules from the official Trezor GitHub or support page.
- Copy them to
/etc/udev/rules.d/and reload udev rules.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Device Not Detected
If the website says "Connect your Trezor" even though it is plugged in:
- Try a different USB cable. Many cables are "charge only" and do not transmit data.
- Try a different USB port on your computer. Avoid USB hubs if possible.
- Clear your browser cache and cookies, then restart the browser.
- Check if the
trezordprocess is running in your Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS).
Bridge Not Running
If the Bridge process isn't starting:
- Reinstall the latest version of Trezor Bridge.
- Check your antivirus or firewall settings. They might be blocking the local communication on port 21325.
- On Linux, ensure you have the correct permissions and udev rules set up.
Frequently Asked Questions
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