Trezor Bridge Guide 🌉

I. What is Trezor Bridge? The Security Pillar 🧱

Trezor Bridge is the dedicated local application that serves as the cryptographic communication layer between your computer’s operating system and your physical Trezor device. While your Trezor hardware wallet holds your recovery seed and private keys offline, it needs a trusted agent to communicate with the online ecosystem, such as the official Trezor Suite application or compatible third-party web wallets. This agent is the Bridge.

At its core, Trezor Bridge runs as a **local server** (often seen as the trezord process) that monitors the USB connection for your hardware wallet. When Trezor Suite needs to sign a transaction or verify an address, it sends the request to the local Bridge. The Bridge then securely forwards this request to the Trezor device. The device calculates the signature offline, and the Bridge securely sends the signed (but private-key-less) transaction back to the software for broadcasting to the blockchain. This process is the foundational principle of hardware wallet security: **private keys never touch an internet-connected environment.**

The modern reality, as of the 2025 update, is that the *standalone* Trezor Bridge application has been officially **deprecated**. 🛑 **This is the key takeaway for all current users.** Trezor has seamlessly bundled the Bridge's critical functionality directly within the official **Trezor Suite** desktop application. By installing Trezor Suite, you automatically install and run the most stable and compatible version of the communication Bridge, eliminating conflicts and simplifying your setup workflow. Moving to Trezor Suite is the mandatory step for maintaining security and usability.

II. Installation & System Reference: Getting Connected 🚀

Since the Bridge is now part of the Trezor Suite desktop app, the installation process is straightforward across supported platforms. Always begin by navigating directly to the official Trezor website to download the Suite. **Beware of phishing links!**

Windows (10 or Newer) 🪟

• Download the `.exe` installer for Trezor Suite.
• The process is a standard double-click, click Install, and Finish.
• If Windows Defender flags the installer, ensure the publisher is Trezor Company s.r.o. before clicking **Run anyway**.

macOS (11 Big Sur or Newer) 🍎

• Download the `.dmg` file for your processor type (Intel x64 or Apple Silicon).
• Open the `.dmg` file and drag the Trezor Suite icon to your Applications folder.
• Launch the app. macOS might ask for permission; click **Open**.

Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch) 🐧

Linux requires special attention to UDEV rules for device detection, though modern distributions often simplify this.

• Download the AppImage from the official Trezor Suite page.
• Before running, ensure the file is executable: chmod u+x Trezor-Suite*.AppImage.
• **Critical:** Install the Trezor package to automatically set up UDEV rules. E.g., for Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install trezor.
• The Bridge component will run after you launch the AppImage.

III. Troubleshooting Common Bridge Issues (Reference) 🛠️

The most common anxiety-inducing message is "Trezor Bridge Not Running." Don't panic! The solutions are almost always simple software resets or removal of old files.

Issue 1: The Old Bridge Conflict (The Ghost Process) 👻

If you previously installed the standalone Trezor Bridge, its lingering background process might be conflicting with the version bundled in Trezor Suite. **MANDATORY:** You must uninstall the old standalone Bridge package completely.

• **Windows:** Find the uninstall.exe in the old `Program Files\TREZOR Bridge` folder.
• **macOS:** Run the uninstall.pkg found in `Applications/Utilities/TREZOR Bridge`.
• **Linux:** Use the command sudo apt remove trezor-bridge.

Issue 2: Bridge Daemon is Dormant 😴

• **Simple Fixes:** Close and re-open the Trezor Suite desktop app.
• **Browser Check:** If using the Web version of Trezor Suite, try restarting your browser entirely.
• **Process Check:** Verify the trezord process is running in your system's activity monitor (Task Manager/Activity Monitor/System Monitor).

Issue 3: Physical Connection Failure 🔌

Believe it or not, the cable is often the culprit!

• **Swap Cables:** Try a different, certified, known-good USB cable. Cheap or charge-only cables will fail to establish a data connection.
• **Port Change:** Plug the device into a different USB port on your computer, especially if you were using a hub.

Issue 4: Linux UDEV Rules Error (Permission Denied) 🚫

This indicates your system is not granting the necessary permissions for the Bridge to communicate with the USB device. The fix is ensuring the `trezor` package (or its equivalent) is installed, which correctly sets up the 50-trezor.rules file.