Trezor Bridge® – Official Setup & Guide

What is Trezor Bridge®? Historically, Trezor Bridge was a lightweight background application (a local daemon) that allowed web browsers and desktop apps to communicate securely with a Trezor hardware wallet. It acted as an intermediary so browsers could use WebUSB-like features without direct low-level access to the device. Over time, Trezor Bridge has enabled secure transaction signing and device detection across platforms. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Important update — Bridge and Trezor Suite

As part of Trezor’s product evolution, the standalone Trezor Bridge has been deprecated and much of its functionality has been folded into the Trezor Suite desktop bundle. New users are encouraged to run the official Trezor Suite desktop application — it contains the necessary communication components and receives automatic updates, reducing conflicts and improving reliability. If you have an older standalone Bridge install, it’s recommended to uninstall it before installing Suite. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Quick takeaway: For most users today — download and run Trezor Suite (desktop) instead of searching for a separate Bridge installer. Suite includes the required bridge functionality and simplifies updates. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Why this guide matters

Even though standalone Bridge is deprecated, many users still need clear steps: (1) to understand what Bridge did, (2) to migrate safely to Trezor Suite, (3) to uninstall old Bridge installs, and (4) to troubleshoot connectivity issues when browsers or apps don’t detect a Trezor device. This guide covers all of those topics and provides practical, up-to-date steps and security tips.

Before you begin — basics & safety

Prepare your Trezor device, your recovery seed (kept offline), and a computer with administrative rights. Important safety notes: never enter your recovery seed into a computer, website, or app; only download Trezor software from the official trezor.io domain; and avoid third-party “Bridge” downloads from untrusted sources. These precautions prevent phishing and supply-chain risks.

Step 1 — Check current status on your machine

Open your OS's application list (Windows: Programs & Features; macOS: Applications/Utilities; Linux: package manager) and check if a standalone Trezor Bridge is installed.
If present, note its version and whether you installed it previously — you may need to uninstall it before installing newer software. Official guidance from Trezor recommends removing standalone Bridge to avoid conflicts with Suite. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Step 2 — Download Trezor Suite (recommended)

Visit the official Trezor downloads page and choose the desktop installer for your OS. The official Trezor Suite bundle contains the communication components formerly distributed as standalone Bridge, plus the full wallet UI, firmware update tools, and extra privacy features. Always verify the download URL begins with trezor.io and, where available, verify checksums/signatures. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Tip: If you only need the web interface temporarily, Trezor offers a web Suite (suite.trezor.io/web) that uses the browser to communicate — but for the most reliable experience, install the desktop Suite so the embedded bridge component runs locally and automatically updates. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Step 3 — Uninstall old standalone Bridge (if applicable)

If you discovered a standalone Trezor Bridge in Step 1, follow platform-specific uninstall instructions before proceeding with Suite. For macOS, you may run the Bridge uninstaller from Applications > Utilities; on Windows remove it from Programs & Features; on Linux, remove the package via your distribution package manager. Doing so prevents port conflicts and duplicate daemons. Official Trezor documentation explains exact removal steps. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Step 4 — Install & initial setup

Run the downloaded Trezor Suite installer and follow the on-screen installer prompts for your OS.
After installation the Suite will start its local communication service automatically (the embedded bridge component).
Connect your Trezor device with the supplied USB cable. Suite should detect the device and guide you through any required firmware updates and the wallet setup process.

Step 5 — Browser & web app connectivity (if you use web Suite)

If you prefer using the web version of Trezor Suite, the site will prompt you to allow the local bridge component to connect. When Suite (desktop) is installed it serves the bridge locally; the browser page establishes a secure localhost connection to that service so your Trezor can be used in the web UI without a separate Bridge install. Confirm the browser's permission prompts and always check the web origin (suite.trezor.io). :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Troubleshooting — common issues & fixes

Device not detected: Try a different USB cable or USB port; avoid USB hubs for initial setup. Reboot the computer and reconnect the device. Confirm no older Bridge instance is running. If using Suite desktop, try reinstalling Suite to ensure the local communication service is properly installed.

Browser won’t connect: Ensure the Suite desktop app is running (it provides the bridge). Disable browser extensions that modify USB behavior or privacy protections temporarily, and clear the browser cache. On severe cases, reinstall the browser or use an alternate supported browser.

Firmware or update errors: If Suite reports a firmware update error, follow on-screen guidance and ensure the device remains connected. Do not disconnect the device during firmware installation. If recovery is needed, follow Trezor’s official recovery instructions on trezor.io guides. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Advanced topics — passphrases, permissions, and privacy

For advanced users, Trezor Bridge/Suite supports passphrases (to create hidden wallets) and privacy options like Tor routing in Trezor Suite. Passphrases add security but increase recovery complexity — if you enable them record the passphrase storage method securely. Use Suite's privacy settings to reduce metadata leakage when checking balances or interacting with dApps.

Security best practices

Only download software from trezor.io and verify checksums where provided.
Never disclose your recovery seed or type it into any website or app.
Uninstall deprecated standalone Bridge versions to avoid conflicts and potential security gaps. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Keep your OS, browser, and Trezor Suite up to date.

Migrating from older workflows

If you previously relied on a standalone Bridge + browser workflow, migrating to Trezor Suite is straightforward: uninstall the old Bridge, install Suite, connect your device, and let Suite detect and import existing accounts (Suite reads accounts from your device — nothing on-chain changes). Because Suite bundles the communication layer, the transition usually results in fewer connectivity problems and easier automatic updates. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

When to contact support

If you encounter persistent device detection failures, firmware update issues, or unexpected app behaviour that the troubleshooting steps do not resolve, reach out to Trezor support via the official support channels on trezor.io. When contacting support, never share your recovery phrase; support may ask for logs or screenshots but never the seed itself.

Wrap-up and final notes

Trezor Bridge played a crucial role historically as the secure link between hardware devices and browsers. Today, Trezor Suite integrates that bridge functionality into a single, maintained desktop application that simplifies setup, reduces potential conflicts, and provides a richer user experience. Follow the uninstall → install Suite → verify steps for the smoothest migration, and always adhere to security best practices to keep your assets safe. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Download Trezor Suite (official) Read official deprecation notice