Trezor Bridge® vs Browser Extensions: Which Connection Method Wins?

What it does

Trezor Bridge is a small local application that runs on your computer and provides a secure communication layer between browser-based applications (like web wallet UIs) and your Trezor device. It enables the browser to detect and talk to the hardware wallet for signing transactions and managing accounts.

Current status (important)

Note: the standalone Trezor Bridge has been deprecated by Trezor. Trezor now recommends using Trezor Suite (desktop or web) which includes modern device communication, and uninstalling any standalone Bridge installations to avoid conflicts.

Get official instructions / Start

Top 5 FAQs about Trezor Bridge

1. What is Trezor Bridge and why was it needed?

Trezor Bridge is/was a small local program that lets your browser securely detect and communicate with a connected Trezor hardware wallet for transaction signing and device management. It acted as a bridge between the web app and the USB device.

2. Do I still need to install Trezor Bridge?

Not usually. Trezor has deprecated the standalone Trezor Bridge and recommends using Trezor Suite (desktop or web) for the best, supported experience. If you have an old standalone Bridge installed, follow official guidance to uninstall it to prevent conflicts.

3. How do I install or remove Bridge safely?

Follow official instructions on the Trezor website (the Start and Guides pages) to download, verify, install, or uninstall software. Use only links from the official trezor.io domain, and verify downloads per Trezor’s guidance.

4. My browser/website can't detect my Trezor — is Bridge the fix?

First check whether you are using Trezor Suite (recommended). If you used standalone Bridge previously, it can sometimes cause conflicts. Follow the troubleshooting steps on the official support pages: update Suite/Bridge, reboot, try another USB cable/port, and ensure no other wallet software is blocking access.

5. Is Trezor Bridge safe? Could it leak keys?

Trezor Bridge itself is only a communication layer — private keys never leave the Trezor device. The Bridge relays messages between browser and device; signing still happens on the hardware wallet. Use only official software from Trezor and keep it updated for the latest security fixes.