Chrome extension biometric unlock not functioning correctly with Windows Hello

[OG-Foobarred]

Steps To Reproduce

Chrome Extension version: 2025.1.2
SDK version: 'main (28c7e29)'
Server version: 2025.1.4
Desktop client version: 2025.1.3

1. Enable Setting > Account security > Unlock with biometrics
2. Lock Bitwarden vault by manually locking or exiting and restarting browser.
3. Open Bitwarden extension UI to unlock Bitwarden.
4. Select "Unlock with biometrics"

Windows Hello biometric prompt will no longer pop to the front (it did previously). Submitting biometric authentication with "OK" will fail with an error despite successful authentication at the Windows Hello level.

Expected Result

Successful authentication and unlock of Bitwarden vault in Chrome Extension.

Actual Result

Non-specific error in Window Hello prompt window.

Screenshots or Videos

No response

Additional Context

No response

Operating System

Windows

Operating System Version

Windows 11 24H2

Web Browser

Chrome

Browser Version

Version 132.0.6834.160

Build Version

Chrome Extension version: 2025.1.2 Desktop client version: 2025.1.3

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-18054

[quexten]

Hi! Does windows hello unlock work for you directly within the desktop app?

[OG-Foobarred]

Yes, it works perfectly on the desktop app itself.

…

On Fri, Feb 7, 2025, 05:21 Bernd Schoolmann ***@***.***> wrote: Hi! Does windows hello unlock work for you directly within the desktop app? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#13291 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AVHHOD3S3VBIPT5J4WJQQ532OSCLZAVCNFSM6AAAAABWT3GJQOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDMNBSGUYTMOBTGY> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[cymbolz]

Am also experiencing this, have been for many weeks (my guess is, it was working fine up until about 1-2 months ago)

The changes I've observed:

• Dialog opens in background
• Face works OK for Bitwarden Desktop
• Face and Finger Print do not work (something went wrong) for browser extensions - both Chrome and Edge
• PIN works ok for the browser extensions

Browser extension versions I currently have:

Chrome
Version: 2025.1.2
SDK: 'main (28c7e29)'
Server version: 2025.1.4

Edge
Version: 2025.1.3
SDK: 'main (28c7e29)'
Server version: 2025.1.4

[Krychaz]

Hi there,

Thank you for your report!

I was able to reproduce this issue, and I have flagged this to our engineering team.

If you wish to add any further information/screenshots/recordings etc., please feel free to do so at any time - our engineering team will be happy to review these.

Thanks once again!

[dkol]

I have a similar problem. I've mainly noticed it recently (maybe a month). When clicking on the extension, the following scenarios occur (I don't know what it depends on):

• Bitwarden initiates biometric login and everything works fine.
• Bitwarden initiates biometric login, but the auth window is not in the font, so using the fingerprint reader does nothing. However, when I manually click on the Windows Hello window, I can log in successfully, and no error ever appears.
• Bitwarden does not initiate biometric login at all. I can enter my PIN right away, and the biometric login button in Bitwarden is grayed out.

Version: 2025.1.3
SDK: 'main (28c7e29)'
Server version: 2025.1.4

[genevievebrooks]

Hello all,

A similar issue is happening for me with Safari. I cannot progress past setting up biometrics in the extension.
Steps:

1. Enable Setting > Account security > Unlock with biometrics
2. Confirm locally on my Mac using biometrics
3. Error occurs

Version: 2025.1.3
SDK: 'main (28c7e29)'
Server version: 2025.1.4

[genevievebrooks]

I resolved the error by enabling unlocking with bometrics through the desktop app first. However, I'm not sure if this is the intended functionality. It may be confusing to other users as well.