Why Use a Password Manager?

The average person has over 100 online accounts. Using the same password for multiple sites means that if one site is breached, all your accounts are compromised. A password manager solves this by generating and storing unique, strong passwords for every account.

You only need to remember one master password. The password manager handles the rest.

Getting Started with Bitwarden

Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager. Your vault is end-to-end encrypted, meaning not even Bitwarden can read your passwords.

1
Create an account at bitwarden.com. Choose a strong master password (at least 14 characters, mix of words, numbers, symbols).
2
Install the browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Brave, or Edge from the extension store
3
Install the mobile app from your device's app store (iOS or Android)
4
Log in to the browser extension and mobile app with your account
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Your master password is critical

If you forget your master password, Bitwarden cannot recover it. Write it down and store it in a physically secure location (a safe, not a sticky note on your monitor).

Adding and Managing Passwords

Adding Passwords

There are several ways to add passwords to your vault:

  • Auto-capture: When you log into a website, Bitwarden offers to save the credentials
  • Manual entry: Click the Bitwarden icon > "+" to add a new login manually
  • Import: If switching from another manager, export from the old one and import into Bitwarden (Settings > Import Data)

Auto-Fill

When visiting a login page, click the Bitwarden icon to see matching credentials and click to auto-fill. You can also use the keyboard shortcut:

Ctrl + Shift + L

Password Generator

When creating a new account, use Bitwarden's built-in generator instead of making up a password. Click the Bitwarden icon > Generator tab. Configure:

  • Length: At least 16 characters (longer is better)
  • Include: Uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
  • Or use passphrase mode: Generates memorable word combinations (e.g., "correct-horse-battery-staple")

Organizing Your Vault

As your vault grows, organization helps you find entries quickly:

  • Folders: Create folders like "Work," "Shopping," "Finance," "Social" to categorize logins
  • Favorites: Star frequently used entries for quick access
  • Notes: Store secure notes (recovery codes, license keys, WiFi passwords)
  • Cards and Identities: Store credit card info and addresses for auto-fill on shopping sites

Enabling Two-Factor Authentication

Protect your Bitwarden vault itself with 2FA:

1
Log in to the Bitwarden Web Vault (vault.bitwarden.com)
2
Go to Settings > Security > Two-step login
3
Enable an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Aegis)
4
Save your recovery code in a safe place in case you lose access to your authenticator
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Bitwarden can also store TOTP codes

With a Premium subscription ($10/year), Bitwarden can generate TOTP codes for your other accounts, acting as both password manager and authenticator.

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned:

  • Why password managers are essential for security
  • How to set up a Bitwarden account and install the apps
  • Adding passwords, auto-fill, and the password generator
  • Organizing your vault with folders and favorites
  • Enabling two-factor authentication for your vault
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Your passwords are now secure!

Start by adding your most important accounts (email, banking, social media) and gradually migrate all your logins. Change any passwords that were reused across sites.

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