Unlock with Biometrics - After re-configuring Windows Hello

[bgre033 (GB)]

Hello,

I’ve had to re-configure Windows Hello and since then Bitwarden Desktop won’t unlock using biometrics. Prior to this everything was working.

The ‘Unlock with Windows Hello’ option is there. When clicked Windows Hello opens up, verifies me, but when I click on ‘Ok’ nothing happens and Bitwarden remains on the ‘Your vault is locked’ screen.

I’ve run through the Biometrics setup guide and read other posts, but nothing mentions this scenario. Reinstalling Bitwarden Desktop did not fix the issue.

• OS: Win 11 24H2
• Version 2025.7.0
• SDK ‘main (f2bc708)’
• Shell 36.4.0
• Renderer 136.0.7103.149
• Node 22.15.1
• Architecture x64

Thanks for any input.

[bgre033 (GB)]

Just to add, the relevant log entry from app.log is as below.

[2025-08-16 00:06:17.746] [error] [Main Biometrics IPC Listener] unlockForUser failed Error: Cryptography Error, Error while decrypting cipher string

[Neuron5569]

There are a few outstanding biometrics bugs on GitHub. Since you have tried uninstalling/reinstalling/resetting up biometrics (which usually isn’t hard beyond making sure Windows unlock works with biometrics), there are two things that you can try (not at all sure if they work):

1. Log out from the desktop. Uninstall it. Delete anything with “Bitwarden” in “Control Panel\User Accounts\Credential Manager.” Reinstall.

2. To be tried separately or in addition to the above, remove biometrics from Windows and set it up again.

The easiest thing to do may be to just install version 2025.6.1 or 2025.5.1 and set the environment variable: ELECTRON_NO_UPDATER=1. Wait for a release with biometrics fixes and remove the environment variable above.

[bgre033 (GB)]

Thanks.

I managed to get it working with 2025.7.0 as below.

1. Logged out of Desktop app and uninstalled it.
2. Deleted the ‘%userprofile%\AppData\Local\bitwarden-updater’ folder
3. There was nothing Bitwarden related in the Windows credentials manager
4. Rebooted
5. Reinstalled 2025.7.0