Unlock with PIN
You can set a PIN code as a method for unlocking your vault. PINs can only be used to unlock your vault, you will still be required to use your master password and any enabled two-step login method when you log in.
If you are not sure of the difference, see Understanding unlock vs. log in.
note
After five failed PIN attempts, the app will automatically log out of your account.
Unlock with PIN can be enabled for the Bitwarden browser extension, mobile app, and desktop app:
warning
Using a PIN can weaken the level of encryption that protects your application's local vault database. If you are worried about attack vectors that involve your device's local data being compromised, you may want to reconsider the convenience of using a PIN.
To enable unlock with PIN for your browser extension:
Open the Settings tab.
Scroll down to the Security section and check the Unlock with PIN checkbox.
Enter the desired PIN code in the input box. Your PIN can be any combination of characters (a-z, 0-9, $, #, etc.).
tip
If you share your device, it's important to create a strong PIN by avoiding easily guessable digits like date of birth or by using a PIN that's more than four digits.
The pre-checked option Lock with master password on browser restart will require you to enter your master password instead of the PIN when your browser restarts. If you want the ability to unlock with a PIN even when the browser restarts, uncheck the option.
note
If you turn off the Lock with master password on restart option, the Bitwarden application may not fully purge sensitive data from application memory when entering a locked state. If you are concerned about your device's local memory being compromised, you should keep the Lock with master password on restart option turned on.
Once set, you can change your PIN by disabling and re-enabling unlock with PIN.
When you log out of your browser extension, your unlock with PIN settings will be wiped and you will need to re-enable unlock with PIN.
To enable unlock with PIN for your mobile app:
Open the Settings tab.
Scroll down to the security section and tap the Unlock with PIN Code option.
Enter the the desired PIN code in the input box. Your PIN can be any combination of numbers (0-9).
tip
If you share your device, it's important to create a strong PIN by avoiding easily guessable digits like date of birth or by using a PIN that's more than four digits.
A dialog box will appear asking whether you want to require unlocking with your master password when the application is restarted. Tap Yes to require your master password instead of PIN when the app restarts. Tap No for the ability to unlock with the PIN when the app restarts.
Once set, you can change your PIN by disabling and re-enabling Unlock with PIN.
When you log out of your mobile app, your unlock with PIN settings will be wiped and you will need to re-enable Unlock with PIN.
Unlock with PIN is set separately for each account logged in to the desktop app. To enable unlock with PIN:
Open your Settings (on Windows, File → Settings) (on macOS, Bitwarden → Preferences).
Scroll down to the Security section and check the Unlock with PIN checkbox.
Enter the desired PIN code in the input box. Your PIN can be any combination of characters (a-z, 0-9, $, #, etc.).
tip
If you share your device, it's important to create a strong PIN by avoiding easily guessable digits like date of birth or by using a PIN that's more than four digits.
The pre-checked option Lock with master password on restart will require you to enter your master password instead of the PIN when the app restarts. If you want the ability to unlock with a PIN when the app restarts, uncheck this option.
note
If you turn off the Lock with master password on restart option, the Bitwarden application may not fully purge sensitive data from application memory when entering a locked state. If you are concerned about your device's local memory being compromised, you should keep the Lock with master password on restart option turned on.
Once set, you can change your PIN by disabling and re-enabling unlock with PIN.
When you log out of your desktop app, your unlock with PIN settings will be wiped and you will need to re-enable unlock with PIN.
In order to understand why unlocking and logging in are not the same, it's important to remember that Bitwarden never stores unencrypted data on its servers. When your vault is neither unlocked nor logged in, your vault data only exists on the server in its encrypted form.
Logging in to Bitwarden retrieves the encrypted vault data and decrypts the vault data locally on your device. In practice, that means two things:
Logging in will always require your master password, because your master password is the source of the key needed to decrypt vault data taken from the server. Additionally, this stage is where any enabled two-step login methods would be required.
Logging in will always require you to be connected to the internet (or, if you are self-hosting, connected to the server), because you need access to the encrypted vault in order to retrieve it for local decryption.
Unlocking can only be done when you are already logged in. In other words, only when your vault data is already stored (encrypted) on your device. Because your vault is already downloaded:
You don't necessarily need the decryption key derived from your master password, so you are free to use other access methods, such as PIN codes and biometrics.
If you are using a PIN code or biometrics, vault data is re-encrypted when your vault is locked and stored securely on-disk using an encryption key derived from the PIN or your OS's biometric subsystem. This allows vault data to be stored encrypted while your vault is locked, without requiring your master password to decrypt it.You don't need to be connected to the internet (or, if you are self-hosting, connected to the server).