Recovering my password

Ask the Community Password Manager
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1

All, I forgot my password but while I have signed out of Bitwarden, I haven’t logged out. Is there any way I can recover my password on my desktop from a temp file or something like that?

Thanks

2

@gibbit Welcome to the forum!

Short first response:

I guess you mean the Bitwarden master password?

Okay, then probably you have the desktop app locked = still logged in. Good. Don’t log out! And best thing would be, to even cut that device off from internet access (to prevent the app from suddenly logging out, what can happen from time to time).

I guess the short answer is no.

Do you have an export of vault (best would be, not too old)?

Especially if not: copy everything from your vault manually. (I think there were some workarounds for even exporting your vault without the master password - maybe search in the forum for that)

3

Hi,

recover my password on my desktop from a temp file or something like that?

I am sorry this happened. To get the master password back, you have to try to recollect it.

  1. Have you put in a hint for your password? If so, on the web vault login’s password page, there is a link “Get master password hint” right under the edit box.
  2. Have you written the password down somewhere?
  3. Have you told other people about your password?
  4. Did you set up emergency access?
  5. Do you reuse passwords from somewhere?
  6. Do you normally use a patterned password? “monalisa9” was my favorite.
  7. The first email I got from BW had this message:

Your Master Password is the only way you can unlock the Vault and only you hold the key. Memorize it, or write it down and keep it in a safe place.

Did you do something about it?

1 Like
4

@gibbit Welcome to the forum!

At first glance, I’m afraid your prospects are slim. However would you mind clarifying the following?

  1. Did you only ever use this Desktop app, or have you also logged in to browser extensions? Have you ever logged in to Bitwarden on any other device?
  2. For the Windows Desktop app, did you install it from the Bitwarden website, or from the Microsoft App Store?
  3. When you open the Desktop app, does it say “Your Vault is Locked”, and do you see an Unlock button?
  4. If yes, is the unlock screen prompting you to provide your master password, or a PIN, or biometrics?
  5. Was your Bitwarden Desktop master password (or PIN, if your Desktop app is locked using a PIN) randomly generated (e.g., a random passphrase)?
  6. If the password/PIN was not random, do you remember anything about it that could narrow down the number of guesses that would have to be checked?
  7. Do you have any vault exports saved?