The best ways to configure your Bitwarden desktop app

If you have a laptop or desktop computer, the Bitwarden desktop app gives you another secure way to access and manage your sensitive information, from logins to credit cards, identities, and secure notes. 

Similar to the Bitwarden browser extension and mobile app, the desktop app also supports offline access, enabling you to read all of your info without being connected to the Bitwarden cloud.

The desktop app also has biometric login and provides integration with the Browser Extension to support biometrics in the extension.

You can enable biometrics with the Bitwarden desktop application for two use cases:

1. Unlock your Bitwarden desktop app with biometrics
   Under Settings, select Unlock with Touch ID. This will allow you to open the App with biometrics.

2. Allow browser integration
   Also in Settings, enable biometric login within the browser extension of your choice by integrating it with the desktop app. Once you’ve done this, you’ll need to configure biometrics within the Bitwarden browser extension as well under Settings.

Together, these settings will help you craft the perfect passwordless experience.

Once you are hooked on biometrics, you’ll want to ensure that the Bitwarden desktop app fits into your operating environment just the way you like it. Bitwarden offers several options to ensure this:

App settings (all accounts)

✅ Show menu bar icon
Always show an icon in the menu bar.

✅ Minimize to menu bar
When minimizing the window, show an icon in the menu bar instead. 

✅ Close to menu bar
When closing the window, show an icon in the menu bar instead. 

✅ Start to menu bar
When the application is first started, only show an icon in the menu bar. 

✅ Start automatically on login
Start the Bitwarden desktop application automatically on login. 

✅ Always show in the Dock
Show the Bitwarden icon in the Dock even when minimized to the menu bar. 

✅ Allow browser integration
Used to allow biometric unlock in browsers that are not Safari. 

✅ Require verification for browser integration
Add an additional layer of security by requiring fingerprint phrase confirmation when establishing a link between your desktop and browser. This requires user action and verification each time a connection is created. 

✅ Use hardware acceleration
By default, this setting is ON. Turn OFF only if you experience graphical issues. Restart is required. 

If you use SSH to log into servers, the Bitwarden desktop app can enable that functionality.

✅ Enable SSH agent
Enable the SSH agent to sign SSH requests right from your Bitwarden vault. 

The Bitwarden desktop app offers integration with the DuckDuckGo Desktop Browser for macOS. Be sure you download DuckDuckGo Desktop Browser from the DuckDuckGo website, and not from the Mac App Store. Then follow the instructions on the Bitwarden help site to get started. 

✅ Allow DuckDuckGo browser integration
Use your Bitwarden vault when browsing with DuckDuckGo.

With multiple biometric functions, read access offline, DuckDuckGo integration, SSH options, and more, the Bitwarden desktop app offers you the perfect way to customize access to your most important information.

Enjoy all of the above options right away with an individual account, including a free account, or launch a free business trial for your organization today!