About Trézór Bridge — secure local connectivity for hardware wallets
Trézór Bridge is an intentionally focused utility designed to solve one practical problem: reliable desktop connectivity. Modern browsers change how they handle USB and device permissions frequently, which can make hardware-wallet discovery fragile. Trézór Bridge provides a stable local service that applications can use to detect and communicate with your Trézór device. It does not alter the fundamental security model of the hardware wallet—private keys remain on the device and every signing request is shown on the device screen for you to approve.
Users often run into intermittent detection issues when using browser-only approaches. Installing Trézór Bridge simplifies the experience. Once installed, Bridge runs as a small, lightweight background process on your computer and exposes a secure local endpoint. Wallet interfaces and desktop tools can reliably enumerate connected devices and request operations through that local channel. The result is fewer errors, faster discovery, and a more dependable signing workflow.
Security is paramount. Trézór Bridge deliberately avoids storing sensitive information or taking part in the signing process. When a transaction is requested, the application sends the request to the local Bridge service, Bridge forwards the request to the Trézór device, and the device presents the full transaction details on its protected screen. Only after you physically confirm the operation does the device produce a signed response. This signed response returns to the requesting application via the Bridge service. In short, Bridge is a messenger; the device remains the source of cryptographic truth.
From a privacy perspective, Bridge follows a local-first philosophy. It runs only on your computer and does not broadcast device usage or personal data to external services. You control which apps are permitted to talk to the device—if you close an application or remove the device, that session ends. Bridge’s local-only nature aligns with the principle that custody and control should remain with the user, not outsourced to third-party servers.
For developers, Bridge is practical and stabilizing. It reduces the need for browser-specific hacks or experimental APIs that may break with browser updates. Developers can depend on a consistent local endpoint for device enumeration and operations, leading to stronger integrations across wallets, exchanges, and developer tools. This predictability improves the user experience and helps keep integrations secure.
Bridge is also built to be unobtrusive. It consumes minimal system resources, can be configured to start with your operating system, and is updated periodically to maintain compatibility with new OS and browser versions. The installers provided for Windows, macOS, and many Linux distributions make it straightforward to install or update. Documentation and troubleshooting resources are provided to guide users through any platform-specific concerns.
Common troubleshooting steps are simple: check cables and ports, restart the browser after installing Bridge, ensure only one application is holding the device handle at a time, and verify any platform-specific rules (for example, udev rules on Linux). These steps resolve the majority of detection issues and help users get back to managing their assets quickly.
Ultimately, Trézór Bridge strikes a balance between usability and security: it enables the convenience of modern web and desktop integrations while preserving the strongest guarantees of hardware wallets. If you use a Trézór device on a desktop machine, installing Bridge is a small, practical step that makes everyday crypto management far more reliable and dependable.