Unable to see "Ask for Biometrics on Launch" option in latest Bitwarden Firefox Addon

I am using latest Bitwarden extension on latest firefox desktop on Windows. Earlier there used to be 2 options for biometrics:

  1. Unlock with Biometrics and
  2. Ask for Biometrics on launch

Bug: Now I am unable to see the option of “Ask for Biometrics on Launch” in the firefox extension. But that option is present in chrome addon

2 Likes

Hello Sai Kiran,

Here’s a Bitwarden response:

This is expected new behavior for Firefox going forward. With the old behavior if you tried to cancel out of using biometrics, the extension closes, stopping you from choosing other methods of unlock. That locks you into a biometrics-only loop. This is specific to Firefox and we’re monitoring feedback.

TLDR; no more “Biometrics on launch” specifically for FF.

Thanks @Neuron5569
But, this is a bummer for FF users considering Chrome bitwarden experience is so smooth

1 Like

Yeah, I think the root is FF’s extension’s dropdown closing when the browser loses focus. This has repercussions here and there on how you use the extension, or how BW implements the different behaviors.

I don’t enjoy the extra click and the slow windows paint either… Being pretty is costly.

It’s making login a painful experience. Is this common to all Password Managers or just Bitwarden since 2025.2.0 version of the Firefox extension?

For KeepassXC, since there is no other option to unlock/login except using Biometrics, this is straightforward and works very reliably across all windows/software updates.

Bitwarden does have more variety of situations to deal with, but it probably should make this a better experience for people who rely on Biometrics for convenience while retaining safety. I wouldn’t say this is intolerable, but something you grudgingly live with, wishing for better things.

Hi all, just dropping in to let you know Bitwarden is monitoring this feedback on the change, and we are looking at other options to make biometric login easier that still allow users to choose another unlock option if they aren’t able to perform biometric unlock.

4 Likes

I don’t want another option. This is the only option I use to login via the browser, period. There is no other method I use. If another method is used either it’s initial setup of the browser or it’s rogue / not me. I do not see why I need another method to authenticate, nor why I would choose to use a much longer winded route to authenticate. If some people have broken / intermittent TouchID they can turn it off. As it stands, to cater for the off chance a user needs a different way to login (which BTW I have never, not once needed in the 5 years I have used bitwarden) you have broken the seamlessness of biometrics.

Just give me biometric only login as an option. I do not need, want or ask for another route at the expense of breaking the only route I use.

@bindingthedark Welcome to the forum!

It seems, the “Ask for biometrics on launch” option will get restored for the Firefox extension:

1 Like

Merged into main. So hopefully will be in the next release!

:+1::crossed_fingers:

Hey, just to be clear, we are not adding additional settings, we are adding back the previous setting and updating how the firefox extension behaves to improve the user experience.

Also, biometrics is not used for login or authentication. It is only used for unlocking your vault when you are already logged in. This may seem pedantic, but confusion about the difference can make it harder to debug issues.