I use multiple Macs, iPads, and a Samsung Android phone. I use Safari and Chrome on the Macs, and Samsung Internet Explore on the phone as well as Chrome. I am tired of the different password managers and saw Bitwarden as a good alternative to let me consolidate and also the promise of using biometrics.
My user experience on just the Mac is not what I expected. Biometrics don’t work. The Bitwarden app is open on the Mac but the browsers keep prompting me for my master password, never giving a biometric option. I have read pages referenced to configure things but all is still pretty much unintegrated.
There are several places to enter settings and ample opportunity for confusion.
MacOS Sequoia (15.6.1) on a MacStudio M4 Max Settings:
- AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys: Off ← is this the root issue? I do not get Bitwarden presented as an option, only Apple’s native Password manager
- Touch ID & Password has all switches set on; i.e., to unlock your Mac, for Apple Pay, for iTunes Store, App Store, etc., for autofilling passwords and for fast user switching
Bitwarden app (v2025.9.0):
- It’s downloaded from the App Store (not bitwarden.com)
- It’s running, minimized, but running
- Unlock with Touch ID is on
- Ask for Touch ID on app start is on
- Start automatically on login is on
- Always show in the doc is on
- Allow Browser integration is on
Safari (v18.6)
- AutoFill is completely disabled; no contacts, user names and passwords, CC, other forms
- Extensions shows Bitwarden Password Manager is there and share checked. There is a growing list of sites I’ve visited. (BTW, AdGuard is active)
Chrome (140.0.7339.214):
- Google Password Manager is set to “offer to save passwords and passkeys” to Bitwarden
- The Bitwarden Password manager extension (2025.9.0) is on
It seems like I have the right pieces but they are not quite configured correctly. I need a different set of eyes to help me, please.
Thoughts?