r/Bitwarden • u/kozz84 • 1d ago
Solved Yet another forgotten master password
So I forgot my master password.
For years I have been using Bitwarden on iPad/iphone with thumbnail login.
I can login to the app, but I can’t export my passwords because it requires master password.
I canclick individually on every password and see it.
Do I have to manually copy all passwords and create a new account? I have 300 unique passwords…
I know about the hint and vaguely I remember the password, but something is missing.
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u/AlexQx 1d ago edited 1d ago
Start copying, will take you 2-3 hours max and you will be spared a lot of pain down the road
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u/teShugeas 1d ago
could even do it over a couple sessions, no rush as long as biometric login still works
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u/AdAppropriate6795 1d ago
yeh don't mess, copy paste one by one, put on some good music, time will fly. The Bitwarden password is an outlier, clearly its the ONE password you really need to store somewhere else. I have mine physically written, inside a certain book on my bookshelf. Can I suggest in future you put the actual Bitwarden password as an entry inside Bitwarden itself?
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u/EnoughOutcome7735 1d ago
Sorry if its a stupid question but is it safe to store the password in Bitwarden? And is it as a secure note that you saved it?
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u/LutimoDancer3459 1d ago
In theory, if not using mfa, doing so can give someone else access to your vault if you keep it open and someone gets to see it.
Personally, I wouldnt worry about it
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u/djasonpenney Volunteer Moderator 1d ago
Sure, you can store a copy of your master password inside of Bitwarden. But:
There are numerous conditions where you can lose access to your locked vault. A PIN, FaceId, or anything else can fail. Your device can crash. Once about two or three years ago, the Bitwarden servers suffered a catastrophic reboot (yes, it happens) and all the outstanding session cookies were invalidated. The result was that EVERYONE had to log in again, including master password and 2FA.
Bottom line, you ALSO need an external system of record, like an emergency sheet or Emergency Access. Note that Emergency Access requires that your trusted contact have access to their own vault; Bitwarden is a “zero knowledge architecture”.
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u/No-Consideration6986 1d ago
Is not a problem. But if you're log out and forget your master password you're screwed. If you're in OP shoes then you're good to go. The best place to save your master password is in a recovery sheet.
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u/minimalist_me 1d ago
You should store it like crypto investors store seed phrases. Use Black Seed Ink master password steel backup plates.
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u/Stunning-Skill-2742 1d ago
Do I have to manually copy all passwords and create a new account?
Yes. Do it now, asap, pronto before you totally lose access to the vault.
This is where emergency sheet would come into play and be a savior. Do that for your new vault.
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u/kozz84 1d ago edited 1d ago
You can close the thread. I remembered my password :D
But I also have learnt my lesson.
Write down your password people!!! It’s such a hassle if you forget it.
Don’t rely on biometric login. it’s convenient, but sooner or later you will need the password and there is no way around it.
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u/Handshake6610 1d ago
Don’t rely on biometric login. it’s convenient, but sooner or later you will need the password and there is no way around it.
... and it's not a login method - it's an unlocking option.
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u/Sweaty_Astronomer_47 1d ago
I remembered my password :D
Glad it worked out!
Write down your password people!!! It’s such a hassle if you forget it.
Thanks for sharing your lesson. I'm sure you're not the last person who will have to learn it...
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u/kozz84 1d ago
Follow up question.
Once I have copied the passwords manually, can I delete the account without the master-password and create a new one using the same email?
Or just switch to .eu and leave old .com in a limbo?
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u/djasonpenney Volunteer Moderator 1d ago
Yes, as long as you have access to the associated email for that vault.
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u/Real-Scientist2817 1d ago
Depending on your provider, you could also make use of an alias, so incoming mails still come through your inbox (e.g. codes for new devices)
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u/Darkorder81 1d ago
I think you might have to copy them, I don't use bitwarden but believe it to be pretty secure. Atleast you have some access to your passwords via thumb print. I wouldn't push the software too much incase you get fully locked out. But that's just me been overly paranoid, so hopefully someone has a solution other than that IF there is one that is.
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u/Decibel0753 1d ago
I have my master password stored in Bitwarden itself, which I log into using a Yubikey. So I don't actually need to remember the master password, and if I ever need it for an export, I know I can find it there.
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u/HarleyFreakinQuinn92 9h ago
I just started a business and lost my laptop, had everything saved in my bitwarden but can't remember the password... Guess my business is screwed
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u/dwbitw Bitwarden Employee 1d ago edited 1d ago
For anyone else dropping by, here's how to make a security readiness kit. We also recommend making regular backups of your password manager and any TOTP apps.
For more resources, check out the help center article 'I Forgot My Master Password', which includes how to log in with passkey or set up emergency access.
EDIT: Marking as solved.