Desktop app 2026.4.0 Usability Feedback and Bugs

Ask the Community Password Manager
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1

First off, thanks to all Bitwarden devs for always trying to improve the product and user experience. I appreciate all the efforts.

I have been a happy user for many years and I do support the project via paid subscription. As a heavy user of the desktop app on Linux (Flatpak) though, I found the recent release to be really disappointing and straight up worse in terms of usability for several reasons.

As a user, it feels that Bitwarden is almost always trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the way the Desktop app is designed when in reality simplicity is key. For example, I feel that the last two re-design versions of the app (before the background color of the app had been changed, deeper blue?) was totally fine and way more usable and bug-free than the current 2026.4.0 version.

Here are the problems in terms of bugs and usability encountered so far as a Linux/Flatpak user:

  1. Layout re-design (Part 1):

The most valuable piece of information from the Desktop vault is the actual page/card showing the details of each vault entry (e.g., Username, Password, Website, Notes, Custom fields, etc). We literally use the app to fetch data from this card and the whole service exists to keep this data safe. However, this particular page/card has now been placed in the right-hand side of the page. It’s too narrow, small, and takes away the focus from the most important part of my vault: my passwords. Before 2026.4.0 this was fine and this page was placed centrally, as it should because it’s the single most important place within the app.

  1. Layout re-design (Part 2):

If we close both right (View Login/Note) and left panels (Side Navigation) we get to see each item within the vault (rows). However, this view is horrible due to the large gaps between row 1 (Name), Row 2 (Owner), and Row 3 (Option) and.. we get a massive gap at the top too (on top of the Search vault field). This is a complete waste of space and makes the app genuinely uglier. I am not sure why this change has been done in the first place, but OK. To this end, I feel that the web vault is unironically a lot better in terms of UI than the actual desktop app as it is closer to the previous layout.

  1. Left-hand side panel:

This does not restore the user’s previous view. For example, one of the great ways we have to organize vault data is by using folders. However, we are now forced to not use them by default as we have to manually toggle the Folders button for them to show up. Fine. But if the user wants to see them all, why do we have to do this every time we login into the app? Previous Bitwarden versions showed them by default and this was GREAT.

  1. Search field keyboard shortcut is now broken:

Prior to 2026.4.0 I could simply CTRL+F and the app would allow me to search. This was great and made using the app easier. Now, this shortcut doesn’t work anymore (bug?). For me to get to the search field without using my mouse, I need to 1) manually select a row with a login/note/etc, 2) then press ALT 3 times. A login MUST be selected for this work. It’s annoying and straight up a loss in usability terms for users.

  1. Selecting items (rows):

Now that my vault looks like an Excel spreadsheet with endless rows, it would at least make sense for me to be able to more quickly navigate each individual login (row). How? Allow us to select an item by clicking in any part of the item’s row and not just on the actual item name in the left side. This makes usability a lot more inconvenient.

  1. Sorting:

Great to see some progress on this end after this being a feature requested many years ago. I appreciate this is early work. It’s good that we can now sort the first column (Name), but I don’t really see the value of sorting the second column (Owner). Instead, it would have been much better to be able to sort for example, by when we last edited the item or created the item. This would make a LOT more sense.

  1. Autostart by default.

I am not sure why the app now forces itself on each boot. It shouldn’t be like that. In fact, this behavior (autostart) should only happen if the user specifically opted in as it drains resources from the machine at boot.

Thanks!

2

@gleefulaxis : Thank you for this good and detailed description.
I use Bitwarden on MacOS. And here the same “problems” with version 2026.4. E.g. why is there the “Owner” in the middle of each entry? Also far too much “white” space (what a waste of space). Why not clicking anywhere on the item to see the details (now only the title is active) - or just a single click to switch to the next one?

I recommend: the Bitwarden team should get support expert for the UI design - to help designing an up-to-date interface. As @gleefulaxis wrote:

3

New things I like:

  • There is now an [ x ] to close the “View Login”.
  • That the Browser and Desktop UI are getting more alike.
  • Ability to sort columns.

Things I would like to see:

  • Ability to add/remove columns and adjust their width
  • Ability to adjust the width of the middle and right panes as one can do with the left pane.
  • Ability to uncheck “Show at risk passwords”, as one can do in the browser extension.
  • Compact mode, as exists in the browser. And maybe, a super-compact and a super-duper compact mode for those with pixel-perfect mouse-skills.
  • Bulk Actions as they exist in the web vault.
  • A settings UI similar to the “Edit Item” UI, including always-visible Save and Cancel buttons and an attached, matching scroll bar (as opposed to the current disembodied “dimmed” one).
4

If you like scrolling through white space with no option to condense the view, this new update is for you!

5

Actually, even though the vertical spacing has more than doubled in version 2026.4.0, the click targets are now smaller than before: only the actual text of the item name is clickable, instead of the entire rectangular area for the <div> containing the item name.

6

That is so not what I meant by super-duper compact mode :laughing:. Although, now that you point it out, a super-duper compact mode that reduced the height of each row to 24 pixels (the approximate size of the favicon) might make only being able to click on the text more tolerable.

More seriously, my thought was that if “compact mode” were introduced to restore last month’s padding, I’m hoping for an even tighter option, perhaps 24 pixels per entry (approximately the height of todays vault favicons).

As for the other observations on this conversation, I largely concur with all of them.

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  1. Shortcuts Ctrl-U (Copy Username) and Ctrl-P (Copy Password) are gone.
    Combined with ‘Minimize the Desktop app’ these shortcuts turned out to be a lifesaver.
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Does anyone know how the Bitwarden team tests its apps - only the backend, or also the UI? Who is responsible for decisions related to the user interface design?

In my opinion, the changes we see in the desktop apps 2026.4 are … “sub-optimal”. A step backwards compared to the previous versions. I wonder why these decisions were made for 2026.4.

9

I was genuinely shocked when I discovered the new layout.

At first, I assumed I had accidentally changed the zoom level, so I navigated through the menus trying to reset the view. It quickly became clear, however, that this new interface is intentional, and, frankly, a significant step backward in usability.

The vault record list now has far more spacing than in previous versions, drastically reducing information density. This makes navigation noticeably less efficient, especially for users managing large vaults or working on smaller screens. Introducing an optional compact layout is not just a “nice to have” but a necessary improvement to restore basic usability and reduce excessive scrolling. Even more problematic is the change in row selection behavior. Previously, simply selecting a row would immediately display its details in the right-hand panel. Now, updating the details requires clicking directly on the record title. This change is unintuitive, breaks established interaction patterns, and introduces unnecessary friction into everyday workflows.

Overall, the new interface prioritizes visual style over efficiency and usability. While it may appeal aesthetically to some users, it meaningfully degrades the experience for those who rely on speed and clarity in daily use.

I strongly support the request to restore the previous layout behavior, or at the very least provide it as an alternative option. The current design represents a regression in user experience that should be addressed to maintain productivity and usability.

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@blackstar I have moved your post into this corresponding feedback thread.

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Yeah, this is just adding insult to injury, or rather injury to insult. So, instead of selecting record, pressing Ctrl-P and having pass in clipboard and app minimized user have to select record (probably after intense scrolling bc everything is bloated), click three dots, choose “Copy password”, and since “Minimize when copying to clipboard” doesn’t work (probably bug) move mouse to window caption to minimize it. 4 actions instead of one keypress. It’s like someone deliberately tried to make app worse.

12

The team is currently reviewing bugs/enhancements related to the updated UI. Thanks for your patience everyone!

13

I just registered here to say I wholeheartedly agrees with all the detailed feedback in first post!

The new UI really sucks. Give me my credentials back in a simple view with the properties that matters. I do not want to scroll by a lot of empty space.

And the Owner tag, seriously, yes I see it could matter in a scenario where credentials are shared, but if not shared at all, the whole property is just useless. The owner of the credential belongs in the details. Instead I suggest implementing 3 small icons to tell the status:

  • Owned by me, not shared
  • Owned by me, shared with others
  • Owned by others, shared with me

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Thanks, and thanks for keeping my credentials safe.

14

Hi all,

I have also registered to the commnity forum to echo @gleefulaxis.

I agree with point 1- The card on the right is too narrow and the width can’t be adjusted. I would strongly like to see the card wider and more centrally in the window (preferred old layout).

If we could adjust the width that would be a bonus, but not necessary.

Also point 5- having to click directly on the name of the item to select the entry is a large pain point.

Kind regards Fraser

15

Thanks to all the people that took the time to write up detailed feedback. I can now piggyback and say, I agree with it all and to simply say ‘it sucks’. I only signed up to complain about the UI.

The last major UI update - I didn’t care for. Especially having to click the little tiny arrows on folders to expand, instead of the name. I dealt with it - in fact, it forced to me to just use search more because normal navigation was slowed down. But now… even searching is slower. I just don’t get why there is so much white/wasted space.

If you want to make accessibility changes or add parity between all apps; great. Just give us OPTIONS to get around said changes or restore previous functionality that we’ve been using for literally years.

16

As others have said - appreciate the efforts of those posting earlier.

I can only echo what has been said, the update was such a backwards step, I was compelled to sign up and lend my voice and vote here. What were you thinking!

17

I made account only for the UI, and the new version is really bad. The UI looks as if it’s a desktop application designed for touchscreens. In order to view the information about the record (‘View Login’) you have to click right on the record name. Shortcuts have been removed, and those of us looking to speed up our workflow now have to click 5-6 times to get the same result we used to get with shortcuts (copy username/password isn’t working) and the app no longer minimizes when you copy either of these two fields. Please, roll back the update until it’s fixed.

18

I also created a community account so I can add my voice to this thread to say I absolutely detest the new UI. As a previoous poster said, I disliked the previous UI update, but could deal with it. The latest update is just objectively terrible. I am sorry - I do not mean to insult anyone who worked on it for Bitwarden. I have genuinely loved using the product over many years. With this current UI, I will no longer recommend it for new users, though. I very much hope some of these suggestions are incorporated, mainly adding user settings that allow customization (#1 for me is control over information density). Please seek wide feedback before making such drastic UI changes in the future.

19

Wouldn’t it be possible to get some more feedback from the developers/“designers”? Their idea(s) about the new UX/UI. Also to avoid new mistakes when listening to us.

It looks like some releases of apps we have seen before (e.g. Liquid Glass MacOS) - company X designs something, does not communicate enough with the users, then bad feedback, and little by little make it better again. Instead of communicating and listening to the users on an earlier stage - before something is released/made public.

But the best would be to ask experts for User-Interface design.

20

I’m just going to preface this with an apology for the tone I’m about to use, but this and other things Bitwarden has done lately have frustrated me.

Please abort this change and revert back to the old layout immediately. This completely destroys the usability of Bitwarden Desktop on all platforms. It’s so bad that it beggars belief that whoever designed this ever uses the software themselves.

Here is my use case: I do not use your browser extensions and I never, ever will.

I copy & paste my credentials. I organize carefully. I pay for a subscription so I can also use TOTP in there. Your new layout has completely destroyed my work flow.

Honestly, what are you guys doing? You push updates like requiring email verification to login a new machine. This LOCKS PEOPLE OUT.

You should not be making any sweeping changes to the product without it being in a beta release channel for a year AT LEAST, with tons of public announcement and feedback. A change such as this should not have been pushed without an 8 week PR campaign with at least 16 blog posts, tweets, videos, etc. A password manager is supposed to be serious business, something we can rely on. It’s not some SaaS that’s supposed to keep moving everything around.

If you think about changing something, you should be thinking “okay, it’s June 2026, so this might roll out to normal users by March 2028”

Obviously security fixes come when they come, but the most important question for everything else should be “How do we keep this stable and NOT surprise anyone?”