Master password works for desktop app but not for Chrome extension

[mwittmann]

Steps To Reproduce

This happens intermittently.
When it does, here are the symptoms:

1. The Chrome extension prompts for the master password. (Biometric option is not available.)
2. I enter my master password correctly.
3. The extension reports that the master password is incorrect.
4. I copy the master password, log out of the desktop app, and log back in using the master password copied from the Chrome extension. The login is successful.
5. I retry the same master password in the Chrome extension. It continues to report that the master password is incorrect.

Just now, I completely exited Chrome, restarted Chrome, and then was able to successfully log in to the Chrome extension with the master password. I don't know if this always works however.

Expected Result

The login with the correct master password should be successful.

Failing that, the error message should indicate that there is an internal error or issue -- NOT that the master password is invalid (since in fact it is not). It is unnerving and disconcerting to be told the password is wrong. It makes me think my Bitwarden account has been hacked.

Actual Result

Described in the steps to reproduce.

Screenshots or Videos

No response

Additional Context

I'm running in a Google Chrome profile linked to a Google Workspace for Nonprofits account.

Operating System

Windows

Operating System Version

Windows 11 Pro Version 10.0.26100 Build 26100

Web Browser

Chrome

Browser Version

Version 141.0.7390.54 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Environment Versions

Chrome Extension:
Version: 2025.8.2
SDK: 'main (29c6158)'
Server version: 2025.9.1

Desktop app:
Version 2025.9.0
SDK 'main (ab3c7db)'
Shell 36.8.1
Renderer 136.0.7103.177
Node 22.18.0
Architecture x64

Issue Tracking Info

• I understand that work is tracked outside of Github. A PR will be linked to this issue should one be opened to address it, but Bitwarden doesn't use fields like "assigned", "milestone", or "project" to track progress.

[bitwarden-bot]

Thank you for reporting this issue! We've added this to our internal tracking system.
ID: PM-26389

[mwittmann]

FYI, I've noticed this on just one of my two Windows 11 Pro laptops. I noticed it for the first time about two weeks ago.

[bwbug]

Have you confirmed that the correct server (bitwarden.com or bitwarden.eu) has been selected at the bottom of the login screen?

[rmcdowell-bitwarden]

Hi there,

I attempted to reproduce your issue and was unable to do so. I would recommend performing a clean reinstallation of your Bitwarden browser extension using the steps below:

• Uninstall the Bitwarden browser extension
• Restart the device (perform a full power cycle, shutting the device down completely and then restarting it)
• Reinstall Bitwarden from the download link below

Bitwarden Downloads: https://bitwarden.com/download

We use GitHub issues as a place to track bugs and other development related issues. If your issue persists, please write us back using our “Contact support” form located on our Help Center (https://bitwarden.com/help/).

You can include a link to this issue in the message content.

Alternatively, you can also search for an answer in our help documentation or get help from other Bitwarden users on our community forums (https://community.bitwarden.com/c/support/).

The issue here will be closed.

Thanks!

[mwittmann]

@bwbug

Have you confirmed that the correct server (bitwarden.com or bitwarden.eu) has been selected at the bottom of the login screen?

Yes, I confirmed the correct server.

@rmcdowell-bitwarden

I attempted to reproduce your issue and was unable to do so...

Hmmm... just because you cannot immediately reproduce it does not mean it isn't a bug! I hope at least that someone is keeping a tally of such intermittently occurring issues. As a software developer myself, I fear for the long-term health of this software project if you are always simply dismissing and ignoring problems that are not 100% reproducible.

If there is some kind of corruption or malfunction occurring that routinely requires a complete reinstall of the browser extension, it seems to me this is a software issue you would want to address, right? It certainly will give regular users an incentive to look for an alternative password manager.

I might add that when the problem occurred a couple weeks ago on this laptop, it cleared up subsequently "by itself" without requiring a reinstall. At the time I also checked to see if the Bitwarden service was down, but there did not appear to be any disruption in service.