Which install method to use
| Method | Best for | Updates | Admin rights |
|---|---|---|---|
winget install -e --id Bitwarden.Bitwarden | Anyone comfortable pasting one line | Bitwarden’s built-in updater, or winget upgrade | No |
Bitwarden-Installer-x.y.z.exe from GitHub | People who want the file | Built-in updater | No |
| Microsoft Store | Managed or family PCs | The Store | No |
Bitwarden-Portable-x.y.z.exe | USB sticks, no install | Manual | No |
All four are the same open-source desktop app. The Windows password manager build is signed by Bitwarden Inc. and published from the bitwarden/clients repository.
Method 1: winget (one command)
- Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal. On Windows 10, search for PowerShell.
- Paste the command below and press Enter.
winget install -e --id Bitwarden.Bitwarden- The first time you use winget it asks you to agree to the Microsoft Store source terms. Type
Y. - Wait for “Successfully installed”. Press the Windows key, type Bitwarden, open it.
-e means exact match, so winget cannot pick a similarly named package. Bitwarden.Bitwarden is the ID in the winget community repository, which pulls the installer from Bitwarden’s own release URL.
To update later: winget upgrade Bitwarden.Bitwarden, or let the app update itself.
Method 2: the .exe from GitHub
- Open the current release on GitHub (the install panel on this page links to it) and download
Bitwarden-Installer-<version>.exe, about 100 MB. - Double-click the file. If Windows protected your PC appears, click More info, check that the publisher reads Bitwarden Inc., then Run anyway.
- The installer runs silently and opens Bitwarden when finished. There are no bundled extras or checkboxes to decline.
The .exe is a per-user install under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Bitwarden. It does not need administrator rights, and User Account Control should not appear. If UAC does appear, you downloaded the machine-wide .appx or an installer from a third-party site; stop and get the file from GitHub instead. See how to download safely for the full checklist.
First run: account, master password, Windows Hello
- Choose Create account (free) or Log in. The free plan has no limit on passwords or devices.
- Pick a master password of four or more random words. Bitwarden never sees it; it derives the key that encrypts your vault on this PC.
- After logging in, open Settings, Security and switch on Unlock with Windows Hello. From now on the fingerprint reader, face camera or PIN unlocks the vault, and the master password is only needed after a restart.
- Set Vault timeout to something like 15 minutes and the action to Lock, not log out, so Windows Hello keeps working.
Add the browser extension
The desktop app stores and generates passwords; the extension fills them in websites.
- Edge: Edge Add-ons store, search Bitwarden, Get.
- Chrome: Chrome Web Store, Add to Chrome.
- Firefox: Firefox Add-ons, Add to Firefox.
Log in with the same account, then in Settings, Account security, turn on Unlock with biometrics. The extension talks to the desktop app so Windows Hello unlocks both. Finally, turn off the browser’s own password saving so you get one save prompt, not two: Edge edge://settings/passwords, Chrome chrome://password-manager/settings. The full walkthrough is in the browser extension guide.
Import passwords already saved in Edge or Chrome
Export a CSV from edge://wallet/passwords or chrome://password-manager/passwords (the three-dot menu, Export passwords), then in the Bitwarden web vault choose Tools, Import data, pick the matching format and the file. Delete the CSV afterwards and empty the Recycle Bin. Step-by-step: import from Chrome and Edge.
Uninstall or reinstall
Settings, Apps, Installed apps, Bitwarden, Uninstall. Your vault is not on the PC in any readable form; it is encrypted and synced, so reinstalling and logging in brings everything back. To remove the local cache as well, delete %APPDATA%\Bitwarden after uninstalling.
Troubleshooting
- winget: The term ‘winget’ is not recognized. Install App Installer from the Microsoft Store, close and reopen Terminal.
- Installer fails with error 0x80070005. Antivirus blocked the write to
%LOCALAPPDATA%. Temporarily allow it or use the portable .exe. - Windows Hello option is greyed out. Set up a PIN or biometrics in Windows Settings, Accounts, Sign-in options first.
- Extension cannot connect to the desktop app. In the desktop app enable Settings, Options, Allow browser integration, then restart the browser.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Windows password manager install need admin rights?
The standard Bitwarden-Installer .exe and the winget package install per user, so no administrator account is required. Only the machine-wide Windows 11 .appx package or a locked-down company PC will ask for admin approval.
Is winget already on Windows 11?
Yes. Windows Package Manager (winget) ships with App Installer on Windows 11 and on Windows 10 version 1809 or later. If PowerShell says winget is not recognised, install App Installer from the Microsoft Store and reopen the terminal.
Should I use the Microsoft Store version instead?
Either is fine. The Microsoft Store build is the same app, sandboxed and auto-updated by the Store. The winget and GitHub builds update themselves through Bitwarden's own updater. Pick one; do not install both.
Why does Windows SmartScreen warn about the Bitwarden installer?
SmartScreen flags installers that are new or not yet widely downloaded, which happens for a day or two after each release. The file is signed by Bitwarden Inc.; right-click the .exe, choose Properties, Digital Signatures to confirm before you click More info, Run anyway.
Can I install Bitwarden without an internet connection?
You can run the .exe offline, but the app needs a connection to log in the first time and to sync. After that the vault is cached on the PC and works offline.