Unlock with Biometrics

Enable for desktop

Unlock with biometrics is supported for Windows via Windows Hello using PIN, Facial Recognition, or other hardware that meets Windows Hello biometric requirements and for macOS via Touch ID and for Linux with system authentication.

Unlock with biometrics is set separately for each account logged in to the desktop app. To enable unlock with biometrics:

1. In your device's native settings (for example, the macOS  System Preferences app), make sure your biometric method is turned on.

   tip

   Windows users may need to install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable before Windows Hello can be turned on in desktop preferences. Note that, the first time you activate Windows Hello on your machine, a required "Making sure it's you" prompt may appear in the background or timeout if not confirmed:

   

2. In your Bitwarden app, open your Settings (on Windows or Linux, File → Settings) (on macOS, Bitwarden → Preferences).

3. In the security section, select the biometric option you want to enable. What's available on this screen is determined by your device's hardware capabilities and what you've turned on (step 1). On Linux, this will always be Unlock with system authentication. Example:

   

4. Optionally, select either the Require password (or PIN) on app start or Ask for biometric on app start option to set how your desktop app will behave when you start the the app.

   tip

   If you're using Windows, Bitwarden recommends using the Require password (or PIN) on first login after start in order to maximize security.

   If you select neither option, you can simply select the Unlock with biometric button on the login screen to prompt for your biometric option:

   

About Biometrics in browser extensions

Unlock with biometrics is supported for extensions through an integration with the Bitwarden desktop app. In practical terms, this means:

1. For all browser extensions, you will need to enable unlock with biometrics in desktop before proceeding. For all except Safari, the Bitwarden desktop app must be logged in and running in order to use unlock with biometrics for a browser extension.

2. Browser extensions support the same biometrics options as desktop; for Windows via Windows Hello using PIN, Facial Recognition, or other hardware that meets Windows Hello biometric requirements, for macOS via Touch ID, and for Linux (Chromium-based browsers only) with system authentication.

Two things to bear in mind before enabling the integration are Permissions and Supportability, documented below:

Permissions

To facilitate this integration, browser extensions except Safari will ask you to accept a new permission for Bitwarden to communicate with cooperating native applications. This permission is safe, but optional, and will enable the integration that is required to enable unlock with biometrics.

Declining this permission will allow you to use the browser extension as normal, without unlock with biometrics functionality.

Supportability

Unlock with biometrics is supported for extensions on Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave, and more), Firefox 87+, and Safari 14+. Unlock with biometrics is currently not supported for:

• Firefox ESR (Firefox v87+ will work).

• Microsoft App Store desktop apps (a side-loaded Windows desktop app, available at bitwarden.com/download will work fine).

• Side-loaded MacOS desktop apps (an App Store desktop app will work fine).

Enable for browser extensions

To enable unlock with biometrics for your browser extension:

tip

Biometrics (Windows Hello or Touch Id) must be enabled in your desktop app before proceeding. If you don't see the Windows Hello option in your desktop app, you may need to install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. Additionally, if you are using Safari, you can skip straight to step 4.

Note that, the first time you activate Windows Hello on your machine, a required "Making sure it's you" prompt may appear in the background or timeout if not confirmed:

1. In your Bitwarden desktop app, navigate to settings (on Windows, File → Settings) (on macOS, Bitwarden → Settings).

2. Scroll down to the options section, and check the Allow browser integration box.

   note

   Optionally, check the Require verification for browser integration option to require a unique fingerprint verification step when you activate the integration.

3. In your Browser, navigate to the extensions manager (e.g. chrome://extensions or brave://extensions), open Bitwarden, and toggle the Allow access to file URLs option.

   Not all browsers will require this to be toggled on, so feel free to skip this step and circle back to it only if the remaining procedure doesn't work.

4. In your browser extension, open the  Settings tab.

5. Select Account security and check the Unlock with biometrics box.

   tip

   You may be prompted at this stage to allow Bitwarden to communicate with cooperating native applications. This permission is safe, but optional and solely enables the browser extension to communicate with desktop as described above.

   You will be prompted by your desktop app to input your biometric. Doing so will complete the initial setup procedure. If you have opted to require verification (step two), you will need to approve a fingerprint validation check.

6. If you want the browser extension to automatically prompt for your biometric input when launched, make sure the Prompt for biometrics on launch option is on.

The browser extension will automatically prompt for your biometric when you open it. If you turn the prompt option off (step six), use the Unlock with biometrics button on the Unlock screen:

Disabled pending master password verification

If you get a message reporting that biometric unlock is disabled for auto-fill pending verification of your master password:

1. Temporarily turn off auto-fill in Bitwarden.

2. Re-enable biometrics in Bitwarden.

3. Turn auto-fill back on in Bitwarden.