Trezor™ Bridge — Full Desktop Setup & Security Guide

Introduction to Trezor Bridge

Trezor Bridge is a lightweight desktop application that serves as a secure intermediary between your Trezor hardware wallet and cryptocurrency applications or browsers. By running locally, it ensures that your private keys never leave your device while allowing seamless interaction with supported wallets.

Why Trezor Bridge is Essential

• Enables compatibility with browsers and apps lacking full WebUSB support.
• Provides stable communication across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Official signed builds ensure maximum security.
• Runs quietly in the background, requiring minimal user intervention.

Installation Guide

Follow these detailed steps to install Trezor Bridge safely on your desktop:

1. Download Official Installer: Visit trezor.io/start and select the appropriate installer for your OS.
2. Run Installer: Follow the on-screen instructions. On Windows, administrator privileges may be required; on macOS and Linux, allow necessary permissions.
3. Start the Service: After installation, Trezor Bridge runs in the background automatically, listening on a secure local port.
4. Connect Trezor Device: Use a quality USB cable and launch your preferred wallet interface.
5. Confirm Device Actions: All transactions or requests must be physically confirmed on your Trezor device.

Advanced Configuration

Advanced users can tweak Trezor Bridge behavior, logging, and debugging via configuration files or command-line flags. These options are useful for diagnosing issues, custom integrations, or testing network restrictions.

Security Considerations

• Always download Bridge from the official Trezor website.
• Keep your operating system and Bridge up-to-date to receive security patches.
• Restrict Bridge access to the local machine; do not expose ports externally.
• Bridge does not replace hardware security measures like device PIN or recovery seed protection.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Some common connectivity problems include:

Bridge Not Detected

• Ensure Bridge service is running in your system's background processes.
• Restart the service and the wallet application.
• Use a different USB cable or port.

macOS USB Permissions

After system updates, macOS may change USB permissions. Reinstall Bridge and grant necessary access for proper detection.

Firewall & Antivirus Interference

Temporarily allow local loopback connections for Bridge in your firewall/antivirus settings. Never expose Bridge to the public network.

Developer Integration

Developers integrating Trezor Bridge should:

• Follow official API documentation.
• Use ephemeral sessions for device requests.
• Always require user confirmation on the physical device.
• Never store recovery seeds on the host machine.

// Example pseudocode to detect Bridge
fetch('http://127.0.0.1:21325/info')
  .then(r => r.json())
  .then(info => console.log('Bridge status', info))
  .catch(err => console.error('Bridge not running', err));