TOTP Code Works Initially, Then Fails in Bitwarden (But Works in Google Authenticator)

Ask the Community Password Manager
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1

Hi everyone,
I’m experiencing a strange issue with TOTP/2FA in Bitwarden (desktop app).

  • When I set up 2FA (e.g., from Google Account,Instagram, CODM, etc.), I enter the TOTP key into Bitwarden.
  • It works initially — I can log in using the 6-digit code from Bitwarden, even from a private browser tab right after setup.
  • But after a few hours or the next day, Bitwarden’s TOTP codes stop working — I get a “wrong code” error during 2FA login.
  • I double-checked and my PC and phone times are perfectly synced.
  • When I input the same TOTP key into Google Authenticator, it works fine and lets me log in, so the issue seems to be Bitwarden-specific.

Additional Issue:

Sometimes, when uploading an attachment in the Bitwarden desktop app, I get this error:

“An error has occurred. The cipher you are updating is out of date. Please save your work, sync your vault, and try again.”

Even though the error appears, the attachment actually shows up after I close and reopen Bitwarden.

System Info:

  • Bitwarden desktop app
  • Windows 11

Thanks in advance!

2

@ank30 Welcome to the forum!

Regarding both your issues, I would recommend you do the following:

  1. log out in the BW desktop app (be sure you can log in again! → master password and 2FA or “new device email verification code”)
  2. deinstall the app
  3. check if the local data of the app is deleted (Data Storage | Bitwarden)
  4. restart your computer
  5. re-install the BW desktop app (BTW, desktop app version 2025.7.0 is the current one – see the notes below)
  6. log in again

 

Notes:

  • depending on how you installed the desktop app… version 2025.7.0 did not arrive in the Microsoft store yet (I just checked), so in that case you would have to wait for the update

  • but for your second issue alone, you should follow the reinstall/deinstall routine I suggested above

  • regarding your TOTP issue: desktop app 2025.6.0 had a bug regarding the TOTP code generation, so I think that is the issue you described (and that’s why you need the update to 2025.7.0 to fix that)

3

Hi, I just wanted to give an update. I read through some older posts and found users had a similar issue where switching accounts didn’t change the TOTP code. That led me to realize my Bitwarden app was not latest version. After updating to the latest version, the TOTP issue got fixed. Is just my application was pending so I was unable to edit it.

However, I’m still occasionally getting this error when uploading attachments:

“An error has occurred. The cipher you are updating is out of date. Please save your work, sync your vault, and try again.”

This error don’t show when I enter my account details close and reopen Bitwarden to attach file then the error don’t pop up, and the file uploads. Is just even when error comes my file/attachment still get uploaded, but just thought I’d report it since the error still appears.

Thanks again!

4

Please try the following:

  1. log out in the BW desktop app (be sure you can log in again! → master password and 2FA or “new device email verification code”)
  2. deinstall the app
  3. check if the local data of the app is deleted (Data Storage | Bitwarden)
  4. restart your computer
  5. re-install the BW desktop app (BTW, desktop app version 2025.7.0 is the current one)
  6. log in again
5

Just an update, after clean reinstall Bitwarden, I’m no longer seeing the “An error has occurred. The cipher you are updating is out of date” message when uploading attachments. Everything seems to be working fine now. Thanks!

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