Trezor Bridge — Comprehensive Guide

What is Trezor Bridge?

Trezor Bridge was a small background service developed by SatoshiLabs to let web browsers and desktop apps securely communicate with Trezor hardware wallets over USB. Because modern browsers restrict direct USB access for security reasons, Bridge acted as a local intermediary (a native helper process) that exposed a secure API the browser could call.

Why this layer existed

Browsers implement strict security sandboxes; Bridge provided a trusted, signed native process that could interact with USB devices and broker messages between the browser UI (or Trezor Suite web app) and the device firmware — without exposing private keys or seed material.

A brief history & current status

Historically, users installed a standalone Trezor Bridge package so the browser-based Trezor Suite or other web wallets could reach the device. However, Trezor has been transitioning functionality into the unified Trezor Suite app and has **deprecated the standalone Trezor Bridge**. The vendor recommends uninstalling the standalone Bridge and using the latest Trezor Suite or built-in connectivity instead. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Deprecation — what it means

Deprecation means the standalone Bridge is no longer the recommended installation path. Newer Trezor Suite releases fold the necessary connectivity into the app itself, reducing maintenance surface and simplifying updates. If you still have a standalone Bridge installed, Trezor’s official guidance shows how to remove it from Windows, macOS and Linux. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

How Trezor Bridge worked (technical overview)

Architecture

The Bridge service ran as a native process (often named `trezord` or `trezord-go` on some platforms) and exposed a localhost HTTP(s)-like interface that the Trezor web UI used. The native process then forwarded requests to the connected Trezor device using USB (libusb/udev on Linux). The project repository `trezord-go` contains an implementation of that communication daemon. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Browser compatibility

Older Bridge-based flows were compatible with major browsers (for example, Chrome and Firefox historically supported the flow via Bridge); however, the recommended approach is the bundled connectivity inside Trezor Suite, which avoids browser bridge dependencies. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Installation & migration

Should you install the standalone Bridge today?

If you are starting new or updating, you should prefer installing the official Trezor Suite desktop app instead of a standalone Bridge. The standalone Bridge is deprecated and may interfere with future releases; Trezor’s docs recommend removing it and using Suite. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Installing / uninstalling (summary)

Windows

Historically, Windows users downloaded an installer package that registered a background service. If you have the legacy Bridge installed, follow Trezor’s uninstall instructions before migrating to Suite to avoid conflicts. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

macOS

macOS users used an installer `.pkg` or installer app; the uninstall procedure removed the `trezord` binary and service. Again, remove the standalone Bridge if you will use Trezor Suite desktop. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Linux

On Linux, Bridge was available via packages and was even packaged by some repos (Homebrew / Linuxbrew formula exists). Some distributions had extra dependencies (e.g., systemd) and users needed udev rules and libusb to allow non-root access. If you prefer the CLI or package-managed installs, `trezord-go` and system packaging options exist (see official repos). :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Troubleshooting common issues

Device not detected

If the device is not detected, check whether any legacy `trezord`/`trezord-go` process is running and whether Trezor Suite is installed. On Windows, check Device Manager / driver prompts. On Linux, ensure udev rules are present and you have the appropriate permissions. On macOS, check System Preferences → Security & Privacy for blocked kernel extensions (older flows). :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Browser prompts or “permission denied”

Modern Trezor usage via Suite avoids browser permission wrinkles, but when using web-based integrations that historically relied on Bridge, ensure Bridge is running and the browser extension/popups are allowed. If the web app suggests installing Bridge, prefer installing Suite instead. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Multiple connectivity helpers

Having older Bridge + Suite installed can create conflicts. If you experience instability, uninstall the legacy Bridge and reinstall latest Suite — that usually resolves the conflict. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Security considerations

Bridge never has access to your recovery seed or private keys stored on the device — it only relays structured API requests between the UI and the hardware. The security model places trust in the hardware device firmware and the signed desktop application. Nevertheless, treat any local background process carefully: only install Bridge/Suite packages from official Trezor pages and verify signatures where provided. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Open-source & auditability

The communication daemon and related tools are open source (repositories on GitHub such as `trezord-go` and `trezor-connect`), which aids review and reproducibility. If your environment requires, you can compile from source and inspect the code before running. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Alternatives & migration to Trezor Suite

The recommended path for most users is to adopt the latest Trezor Suite (desktop or web) which incorporates connectivity and removes the need for a separate Bridge. Suite receives regular updates and release notes (Trezor Suite updates and firmware changelogs are published on the official site). If you rely on third-party wallets, check compatibility and prefer official integration instructions (Trezor Connect) where possible. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

When you might still use Bridge

Some legacy integrations, older OS setups, or specialized Linux distributions may still require the legacy Bridge package or trezord-daemon; these are edge cases. If you do use them, keep them isolated, updated, and remove them when you move to Suite. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

FAQ (short)

Q: Is Bridge safe?

A: Bridge is/was maintained by SatoshiLabs and is open-source; it only relays messages and does not expose private keys. Still, use official downloads and prefer Suite. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Q: Where can I download official packages?

A: Download Trezor Suite or Bridge installers from the official Trezor website or verify source code on the official GitHub organization. (Links below.) :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

Q: I see a notice about deprecation — what should I do?

Uninstall the standalone Bridge and install the latest Trezor Suite. Follow the official removal instructions first, then install Suite to restore full functionality. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}