Trezor Bridge might sound technical, but at heart it’s simple: it helps your computer talk to your hardware wallet safely. If you’re setting up a wallet for the first time, Bridge is the friendly connector that makes device detection reliable. Follow this walkthrough to install it cleanly, confirm it’s working, and adopt safe habits you can repeat every day.
Close your browsers so no tab tries to talk to the device during installation. Run the installer, accept the prompts, and then reopen the browser. If you’re on a shared computer, create a separate user profile just for managing your wallet. This keeps cookies, extensions, and saved forms from other users away from your sessions with Trezor Bridge.
Use a direct cable rather than a hub the first time you connect. Some hubs underpower devices, which can cause the wallet to repeatedly appear and disappear while Bridge listens. If a prompt appears on the device screen, read it slowly and confirm only when you understand what is being requested.
Trezor Bridge sits quietly in the background, translating between your device and apps. Instead of every browser handling USB differently, the service standardizes the conversation. That’s why, once it’s installed, your device tends to “just show up” in supported tools without extra fiddling.
Bridge does not see or store your recovery seed. Your seed stays inside the hardware wallet at all times. Never type it on a computer or phone, and never photograph it. If any website or popup asks for your recovery words, stop immediately—legitimate flows do not request your seed through Trezor Bridge.
Keep your seed written on paper, stored offline in a safe place. Consider two separate locations to avoid loss from fire or water.
Device not detected? Unplug, wait a few seconds, and reconnect to a different port. Codes or approvals timing out? Close extra tabs and try again in a fresh window. If you moved to a new computer, install Trezor Bridge there as well—device communication does not transfer automatically between machines.
Before sending any transaction, check that the address on the device screen matches what you expect. Keep your operating system updated, and avoid installing random extensions that overlay your pages. A tidy environment ensures Trezor Bridge can do its work without interference.