If I sign in on the desktop app, I still have to sign in on each browser on the same computer as well. Also, if I sign in to a browser extension, I still have to sign in on the app and other browsers.
Is there a reason why logging in is set up like this?
The browser extensions and the desktop are set up to be independent clients, each with its own vault cache, and the extensions being restricted by the browsers’ sandboxes. You can use one without having to use another (except when using biometrics).
Other configurations that might alleviate the issues:
- Once you log into the client, typically, when you try to log in to the client the next time, the “Login with Device” option will be available, allowing you to approve the login on all the logged-in clients.
- If you set up the clients to never log out automatically and unlock with PIN or Windows hello, when you start the client again (after restarting the desktop or the browsers), you only need to enter the password once.
- In addition to 2, if you set up all the desktop and extensions to unlock via Windows Hello (with or without a biometrics device), you have the same password situation as in 2 for the desktop, but for the extensions, you can use Windows Hello to unlock.
In general, Bitwarden offers multiple paths for logging in (password, login with device, PRF-capable FIDO2 key) and as many methods to unlock (password, PIN, biometrics, PRF-capable FIDO2 key), so you can combine these options to create a setup that works for you. The challenge is overcoming your habit of using other password managers and adapting to Bitwarden’s features instead.
@dmkkg There is a related feature request: