Trezór Bridge® | Introducing the New Trézor App
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight background software developed by SatoshiLabs that securely enables communication between your Trezor hardware wallet and your computer’s browser or supported applications, ensuring safe and seamless management of your cryptocurrency assets.
Overview
Trezor Bridge acts as a secure intermediary between your Trezor hardware wallet and desktop environments such as browsers or the Trezor Suite application. It replaces older, less reliable methods that used browser extensions, offering a more streamlined, cross-platform, and robust communication layer. By running quietly in the background, it allows your device to be detected and used by various supported wallets and platforms without exposing sensitive information.
Why Trezor Bridge Matters
Hardware wallets like Trezor keep your private keys offline to protect against hacking and theft. However, to interact with cryptocurrency exchange platforms or wallet interfaces, your device must communicate with your computer’s software. Trezor Bridge facilitates this by:
- Enabling direct, encrypted communication between your hardware wallet and your browser or apps without needing browser plugins.
- Ensuring compatibility across major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave.
- Automatically detecting your connected Trezor wallet to simplify user experience.
- Protecting your private keys by never exposing them outside the hardware device during any operation.
How Trezor Bridge Works
After installation, Trezor Bridge runs as a local background service that listens for connections from browsers or wallet software. When you plug your Trezor device into the computer via USB and open a supported interface (such as Trezor Suite or web-based wallets), the Bridge establishes an encrypted channel to manage requests like transaction signing, address verification, or wallet data access. This ensures your sensitive data stays secure locally, and critical approval happens directly on the physical Trezor device.
Installation and Usage
Installing Trezor Bridge is straightforward:
- Download the version matching your operating system from the official Trezor website.
- Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions.
- Restart your browser if prompted to ensure proper detection.
- Connect your Trezor hardware wallet via USB, and your supported browser or app will recognize it automatically.
For many users, especially those who primarily use Trezor Suite’s desktop app, Trezor Bridge may not always be necessary. However, it remains essential for browser-based use cases, third-party integrations, legacy wallets, and certain Web3 applications.
Security Features
Trezor Bridge enhances overall security by:
- Running a trusted, official codebase regularly updated for compatibility and safety.
- Using end-to-end encryption for all communications with your device.
- Keeping private keys confined within the hardware wallet at all times, requiring physical confirmation for sensitive actions.
- Eliminating the need for vulnerable browser extensions, minimizing attack vectors.