Trezor Bridge was the background service provided by SatoshiLabs to help Trezor hardware wallets communicate with web-based and desktop applications. It acted as a small local helper that translated USB messages between your device and the browser or Trezor Suite, offering a stable connection across operating systems and browser versions.
Why the Bridge existed
Browsers historically restricted direct hardware access for security and compatibility reasons. Trezor Bridge filled the gap: instead of relying on a single browser API, the Bridge ran locally and allowed web apps to talk to the device through a trusted localhost endpoint. That made interactions smoother and avoided frequent permission prompts.
Key behaviors and user experience
When installed, Trezor Bridge typically launched on system startup and remained unobtrusive. Users connecting a Trezor device to a browser would be prompted to confirm operations on the physical device (the PIN and on-device confirmations are the last safety gate), while the Bridge relayed those requests securely to the browser or Trezor Suite.
Security & best practices
Trezor’s security model centers on the device itself: private keys are stored in hardware and never leave the unit. Even if a helper like Bridge were compromised, firmware protections and on-device confirmations limit what an attacker can do. Still, installing software only from official sources, keeping your system patched, and verifying downloads are essential practices.
What changed: deprecation of the standalone Bridge
Over time, Trezor’s product guidance evolved. The standalone Trezor Bridge package has been deprecated in favor of integrated solutions (notably Trezor Suite and updated browser integrations). If you have Bridge installed, follow official removal or update instructions so your system uses the current recommended stack.
Practical checklist for users
- Confirm you downloaded Trezor software from the official site.
- If you still have standalone Bridge installed, check the official guide for whether to uninstall or update it.
- Always verify that you confirm transactions directly on the device screen—never approve an action you did not initiate.
- Keep Trezor firmware and Trezor Suite up to date using official verification instructions.
Why the device still protects you
The hardware wallet model separates the private key from the host environment. All signing requests require explicit, visible approval on the Trezor device. That design considerably reduces attack surface compared to storing keys on a general-purpose computer or browser extension.
Where to go for downloads & updates
For the latest guidance, downloads, and verification instructions (including Trezor Suite), always use the official Trezor website. That page includes platform-specific installers, verification steps to validate downloads, and notes about deprecation of older installers.