Trezor Bridge historically served as a small helper application that created a secure channel between your Trezor hardware wallet and a desktop browser or the Trezor Suite desktop app. It acted as a local bridge so browsers that lacked native USB access could communicate with the device. In recent years, Trezor has moved functionality into Trezor Suite and aligned with modern WebUSB standards, and the standalone Bridge component has been deprecated in favor of built‑in support and streamlined installers.
When hardware wallets first integrated with web interfaces, many browsers restricted direct USB access for security reasons. Trezor Bridge worked as a tiny local server: it listened on the local machine and translated requests between the browser (or Suite) and the hardware. This design prioritized simple, cross‑platform connectivity and reduced friction for users who didn’t want to manage low‑level drivers.
The primary goals were to make the user experience seamless, keep the connection encrypted and local, and ensure that signing actions still required physical confirmation on the hardware device — the ultimate security boundary.
Even with a helper like Bridge, every transaction or sensitive action still requires physical approval on your Trezor device. Install Bridge only from official sources and remove any standalone Bridge if instructed by Trezor’s official guidance.
Trezor’s official guidance has moved away from a permanent standalone Trezor Bridge install: the project incorporated connectivity into Trezor Suite, and users are encouraged to use the official Suite or web app for the best, most secure experience. If you still have an older Bridge install, official instructions show how to safely remove it and migrate to the current recommended workflow.
1) Prefer the official Trezor Suite desktop app or the official web interface; 2) Ensure your Trezor firmware is up to date; 3) If prompted to install Bridge, verify you are using the official download page; 4) Always confirm every transaction on the physical device.
If your device isn’t recognized: restart the browser, reboot the computer, try a different USB cable or port, uninstall old Bridge versions and reinstall the latest Suite if needed. Consult official product updates for known issues and fixes.
Many modern browsers now support WebUSB, which lets websites interact with USB devices under strict permission controls. This reduces the need for a separate helper app in many cases. Desktop applications (like Trezor Suite) bundle the necessary support and are often the easiest path for most users.
Some legacy browsers, older operating systems, or specific third‑party integrations might still prompt for Bridge. Before downloading, always confirm the source and version. If in doubt, use the official Trezor start/download pages or the Suite installer.
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