Lost Secondary Device | Bitwarden Help Center (2024)

My AccountTwo-step Login

Losing access to your secondary device(s) (for example, a mobile device with an installed authenticator, a security key, or a linked email inbox) has the potential to lock you out of your Bitwarden vault.

What to do when you have lost access to your secondary device(s) depends on whether you have saved your two-step login recovery code. If you are unsure, remember that recovery codes need to be actively saved (in other words, Bitwarden won't save it anywhere for you) and look something like this:

Lost Secondary Device | Bitwarden Help Center (1)

Have a recovery code?

Excellent! If you have have your recovery code saved somewhere, you can use it to disable all two-step login methods from outside your vault. Learn more here.

note

Recovery codes will not disable Duo for organizations. You can tell that a Duo prompt is organization-wide by the (Organization) header, as in the following screenshot:

Lost Secondary Device | Bitwarden Help Center (2)

If you are locked out of your vault by a Duo (Organization) prompt, reach out to the Duo administrator at your company for help bypassing the prompt.

Don't have a recovery code?

If you don't have your recovery code saved somewhere outside of your vault, there is unfortunately no way for the team to recover the account or data therein. You will need to delete your account and start a new one.

tip

Before proceeding to delete your account, try the following:

  1. Check if you have an alternative two step login method enabled by selecting Use another two-step login method on the log in screen.

  2. If you are using Duo, generate a bypass code. For Duo for organizations, your company's Duo administrator can generate a bypass code for you.

  3. If you are using emergency access: Two-step login methods can be disabled by trusted emergency contacts with Takeover access. Learn how to use emergency access to access a vault.

  4. Check if you are currently logged in to any Bitwarden client applications (mobile apps, browser extensions, and more). If you are, export your vault data to preserve your data.

To delete your account:

  1. Navigate to vault.bitwarden.com/#/recover-delete or vault.bitwarden.eu/#/recover-delete.

  2. Enter the Email Address associated with your account.

  3. In your email inbox, open the email and verify that you want to delete this Bitwarden account.

If any of your client applications were logged in (see the above tip), log out of them. If you delete a Bitwarden account that has a premium subscription associated with it, Contact Us and we'll reapply your existing subscription to the new account. If you were able to successfully export your vault data prior to deletion, you can easily import it into the new account.

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Lost Secondary Device | Bitwarden Help Center (2024)

FAQs

What if I lost my Bitwarden recovery code? ›

Don't have a recovery code? If you don't have your recovery code saved somewhere outside of your vault, there is unfortunately no way for the team to recover the account or data therein. You will need to delete your account and start a new one.

What is a recovery code for 2FA? ›

A recovery code provides an alternative method to verify your two-factor authentication if your authenticator app is not available. When you set up recovery codes, you get a list of codes that are unique to your login. Each code can be used once, and the system tracks each code as it is used.

Where to store Bitwarden recovery code? ›

The very best place to store your 2FA recovery codes is on a piece of paper you keep hidden in your home. At the bare minimum, this is what most people should be doing. This hiding spot could be a safe, a book, under the mattress, or wherever you consider a safe spot in your home.

Can you reset the master password in Bitwarden? ›

This article explains what to do if you forgot your master password, as Bitwarden has no way to retrieve or reset it. @michalektm Welcome to the forum! There is no way to recover an account if you no longer have the master password (and if the password hint does not help you remember it).

Can you recover lost authenticator codes? ›

You can restore from an authenticator cloud backup (assuming there was one) but make sure no accounts have been added to the newly install app. Then sign on with recovery account to do the restore.

What if I lose my Yubikey Bitwarden? ›

Losing access to your two-step login device can permanently lock you out of your vault unless you write down and keep your two-step login recovery code in a safe place or have an alternate two-step login method enabled and available.

What happens if you lose your 2FA code? ›

If you've lost access to your 2FA device, you can recover your account by using backup codes, alternative recovery options like a secondary email or phone number, or by contacting customer support. Be ready to confirm your identity by answering a few security questions or providing proof of ID.

How to remove 2FA without code? ›

Note: If you do not have access to your backup codes, we are unable to remove 2FA and you will have to create a new account.

How do I reset my 2FA authenticator? ›

How do I reset my 2FA?
  1. Go to Settings from the main menu and tap Security > 2-Factor Authentication.
  2. Tap the Reset 2FA button at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Confirm whether you still have access to your existing 2FA credentials.

Does Bitwarden have password recovery? ›

Bitwarden operates with zero-knowledge encryption. This means that Bitwarden has zero knowledge of, way to retrieve, or way to reset your master password. There are, however, a few steps you can take to try to regain access to your account: Check that you have the right server selected when you try to log in.

What is the Bitwarden password manager flaw? ›

Bitwarden flaw can let hackers steal passwords using iframes

Bitwarden's credentials autofill feature contains a risky behavior that could allow malicious iframes embedded in trusted websites to steal people's credentials and send them to an attacker.

How to access Bitwarden admin console? ›

The System Administrator Portal for your instance is available at https://your.domain.com/admin . The portal uses a secure means of passwordless authentication. When a user attempts to log in, a secure link is sent to their email address only if that email address is specified in adminSettings__admins= .

How to use Bitwarden recovery code? ›

Use your recovery code

When prompted, enter your recovery code in its entirety. On successful authentication of all three, you will be logged in to your vault and all two-step login methods will be disabled. Once used, get a new recovery code, as it will change with each use.

How to unlock vault if forgot password? ›

Android or iOS

In the Vault screen, tap the Menu icon , and then tap Settings. In the Settings screen, tap Reset Password. Approve using biometric authentication. In the Reset password screen, follow the on-screen instructions and tap Save.

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