Changed Email for Bitwarden, Now can't Login via Website, but App and Extensions still Logged In

[Mike_Tompson]

I just changed my email using the web version of Bitwarden in FireFox, and now when I try to log back in, (using the same web app) it says an “Error has occurred: Username or password is incorrect. Try again.” I definitely didn’t change the password, only the email, though I don’t recall clicking OK or submit because I started taking notes in another app. When I came back to Bitwarden, it was showing I needed to log back in. I tried both my old and new email, but I keep getting the same error above.

I’m confident I must have clicked OK to submit the changes because I had no issues logging in prior to the change, and now I can’t. Interestingly, when I attempt to login using my old email, I’m given the option to “Log in with Device”, but when doing so, I notice the fingerprint is different, and plus my device (phone) is never notified.

It was my understanding that changing my email would create a new fingerprint, so why when using my old email does it show as a new fingerprint? Shouldn’t it only show and work for my new email? When I use my new email to login, my only option is “Log in with master password”, which fails as stated above. Also, if I did click OK, shouldn’t I have received notification of this email change, because I haven’t?

When I close the browser and reopen it, my Bitwarden extension is still logged in, as well as the app on my phone. I’m scared to log them out for fear of not being able to log back in. Since the phone app and the browser extensions are still logged in, is there something I can do to remedy this?

[DenBesten]

Before you do anything else, disconnect the working devices from the Internet and export your vault. Your instinct is accurate. You are at serious risk of losing access. Having a current backup will turn that from catastrophe to no-big-deal.

[Mike_Tompson]

I tried that, but it still requires my master password whether I choose .json encrypted or not.

I also tried exporting it using a known workaround in Chrome and Firefox, but it to still required me to enter the master password at the end, so I guess this workaround doesn’t work anymore. Can anyone confirm?

Here’s the link; it was posted in this forum:

Forget master password but have access to vault through chrome extention

Try the following procedure (which I’ve tested for version 2024.6.2 of the Chrome browser extension; minor adjustments may be necessary for other versions): Open and unlock the browser extension, and then use the pop-out button to open the browser extension in a floating browser window. With the floating browser extension window in focus, press F12 to open the DevTools window. In the DevTools window, select the Sources tab in the top navigation menu, then use the left…

[grb]

If you are logged in to a Chrome browser extension, then do the following (after first disconnecting your device from the internet):

1. Pop-out the browser extension into a floating window.
2. Navigate to Settings > Vault > Export Vault.
3. Press F12 to open the DevTools window.
4. In the DevTools window, open the “Console” tab, paste the expression below at the console prompt (>), and then press Enter:

bitwardenContainerService.keyService.compareKeyHash = function(a,b,c) {return true}

Now proceed to export your vault(s) in the browser extension pop-up window. Select the file format “.json” (without encryption). You will be prompted to enter your master password, but you can enter any dummy value at the prompt. Save the export file.

---

P.S. I have tested the above method in Chrome (with version 2025.1.3 of he browser extension), but I have not tested it in Firefox. Firefox may need a different approach to access the background services, as explained here.

[Mike_Tompson]

That worked in both Chrome v133 and Firefox v135, so thank you!

[grb]

You’re welcome, glad I could be of help.

Moving forward, it would be advisable to make yourself a Security Readiness Kit.