When you embark on setting up your hardware wallet, **Trezor Bridge®** acts as the communication layer between your web browser and your device. The steps below guide you through how to get your **Ledger®**‑style device online, initiate secure setup, and ensure your environment is trusted. This walkthrough introduces you to the core concepts of device initialization, compatibility, and best practices.
Trezor Bridge is a lightweight intermediary application that runs locally on your computer. It bridges browsers and the Trezor device over USB or WebUSB, enabling your wallet interface (like Trezor Suite or supported web apps) to communicate with the device securely. Without Bridge, the browser cannot talk to hardware wallets. The Bridge must be installed and running before you start your device setup.
While **Ledger®** is a separate hardware wallet brand, some multi‑wallet managers support both Trezor and Ledger devices side by side. This guide addresses how to make sure your environment is compatible with both kinds of hardware. Even if you're using a Trezor device primarily, it's beneficial to understand how the setup philosophy aligns with general hardware wallet norms — device drivers, firmware updates, and browser integration.
Before beginning installation, confirm your system matches the following baseline requirements. These ensure smooth functioning of Trezor Bridge and avoid conflicts with Ledger connectivity in shared environments.
Trezor Bridge works on Windows (10, 11), macOS (Catalina and later), and major Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.). For **Ledger®**-compatible apps, ensure your OS also supports USB drivers and does not block WebUSB access.
A modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Firefox) that supports WebUSB is mandatory. You may need to enable WebUSB in browser flags or permissions. If your browser blocks direct hardware access, your device will not respond.
Use a high-quality USB cable (data + power) — not just charge-only. Avoid hubs with known issues. Plug directly into a USB port on your machine whenever possible.
Navigate to the official Trezor website, download the Bridge installer for your operating system, and follow on‑screen instructions. Once installed, the Bridge runs in the background as a minimal service.
After Bridge is active, open Trezor Suite or the compatible wallet interface in your browser. The interface should automatically detect your device. If you're also using a **Ledger®** app, make sure that only one hardware wallet is connected at a time to avoid detection conflicts.
Connect your hardware wallet to the computer. You will be prompted to either create a new wallet or recover from an existing seed. Follow on-screen guidance: set a PIN, write down your recovery phrase, and confirm it.
If a firmware update is required, the wallet interface will flag it. Approve updates only via verified channels. Never install firmware from unknown sources. This step ensures your device and the Bridge software remain synchronized.
Once setup is complete, perform a transaction verification or read your balances. The hardware device should confirm actions on its screen — never trust anything only shown in your browser.
For advanced security, you may enable a passphrase (25th word) for hidden wallets. Be careful—losing a passphrase means losing access permanently. Use a secure backup tool.
Trezor Bridge allows compatibility with external applications like Electrum or MyCrypto. When connecting, always verify that the third‑party app supports your device version.
If you own both a **Trezor** and a **Ledger**, never have both connected simultaneously to the same software interface. They may interfere with each other. Disconnect one before using the other.
Bridge includes a debug or verbose logging mode (accessible via settings). If the interface fails to detect your device, enable logs and check for errors. Report logs (only non‑sensitive) to official support when needed.
Trezor Bridge is a custom service specifically designed to securely forward commands between browser and device, using WebUSB or USB. It’s not a generic USB driver; it handles cryptographic commands and forbids unauthorized access.
In general, yes, but avoid connecting both devices simultaneously to the same wallet interface. Use one at a time to prevent confusing device enumeration or misdirection. Always disconnect one before switching.
Common causes include WebUSB being disabled, conflicting browser extensions, or missing USB permissions. Try a fresh browser profile or enable WebUSB flags. Also, verify that Bridge is running.
Yes — provided you use the official wallet interface and firmware files that are validated. Always ensure the update is signed, and never use community builds unless fully verified.
Your recovery seed phrase (24 words + optional passphrase) is the only requirement. Using that seed, you can restore your wallet on any compatible hardware or software wallet that supports the same standards.