An overview of how Trezor Bridge securely connects desktop applications and the web to your Trezor hardware wallet, why it matters, and best-practices for users and organizations.
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight desktop service that runs locally and mediates communication between a browser or desktop app and a Trezor hardware wallet. It exposes a secure local channel so web apps can request signing, address derivation, and device management without exposing private keys to the network.
When a user installs Bridge, it runs as a local background service. A web app communicates via HTTP(s) requests redirected to the local bridge endpoint. Bridge forwards structured requests to the connected Trezor device over USB or WebUSB, waits for the device to require user confirmation, and returns signed responses to the application.
Trezor Bridge separates three trust zones: the web application, the local desktop/bridge, and the hardware device. Private keys never leave the hardware device; Bridge never stores them. The device displays transaction details so users can independently verify amounts and destinations.
Even if a web app or the desktop environment is compromised, the hardware confirmation and isolated signing prevent silent fund exfiltration. Bridge enforces strict message typing and isolates transport-level access.
Bridge keeps the UX simple: plug the device, open the app, approve operations on-device. This minimizes user mistakes and fosters correct security behavior. Clear device prompts and consistent messaging reduce phishing risk.
Wallet providers and enterprise platforms integrate with Bridge via documented APIs. Proper integration must enforce permission prompts for every signing operation and implement rate-limiting and logging on the application side to detect anomalies.
Use managed deployment for Bridge in enterprise settings, maintain an update policy, and monitor endpoint access. Consider network-level policies that restrict untrusted local services from interacting with user browsers unless whitelisted.
Risks include social engineering, malicious web apps requesting excessive permissions, and outdated Bridge builds. The device mitigates many risks by requiring manual confirmation, but user training matters.
A crypto custody platform integrated Bridge to enable users to sign transactions via Trezor devices. The platform enforced explicit on-screen transaction summarization and recorded signed-session metadata for audits.
The integration reduced phishing-related losses, improved customer confidence, and allowed audit trails that helped detect unusual sign requests during incident response.
Install Bridge from official distribution channels. For users: download the installer for your OS, run the install, and open a supported wallet app. Bridge runs automatically in the background and prompts when the browser needs device access.
Official resources and documentation should be consulted for the most current installers and release notes. Always verify signatures or checksums if provided.
Trezor Official Website — start here for authentic downloads and security guidance.
Bridge is the secure, local gateway that enables web and desktop applications to safely interact with a Trezor hardware wallet. Its local-first approach, strict message handling, and device confirmation model dramatically reduce risk by keeping private keys inside hardware.