What happens to my Bitwarden Premium subscription when I delete my account?

Deleting your account does not automatically cancel your Bitwarden Premium or Family subscription. You must cancel your subscription separately through your account settings or payment provider to stop future billing. It's recommended to cancel the subscription first, use the remaining paid period, then delete your account.

Will I lose access to shared organization vaults when I delete my account?

Yes. Deleting your personal account will remove your access to any organization vaults you're a member of. If you own an organization, you should transfer ownership to another user before deleting your account, or the entire organization may be affected. Contact your organization administrator if you're unsure.

How do I export my Bitwarden vault before deletion?

Log in to the Bitwarden web vault or desktop app, go to Tools > Export Vault, enter your master password, and choose your export format (encrypted JSON recommended for security). Save the file to a secure location. The export includes all passwords, notes, identities, and cards, but file attachments must be downloaded separately from premium vaults.

What happens to my two-factor authentication codes stored in Bitwarden?

All 2FA TOTP codes stored in Bitwarden will be permanently lost when you delete your account. Before deletion, you should either export these codes or re-configure 2FA on your accounts using a different authenticator app like Authy, Google Authenticator, or another password manager.

Can I delete my Bitwarden account from the mobile app?

While some account management features are available in mobile apps, it's strongly recommended to use the web vault at vault.bitwarden.com for account deletion. The web interface provides clearer warnings, easier vault export, and a more comprehensive deletion process.

Is my data really deleted from Bitwarden's servers?

Yes. Bitwarden uses zero-knowledge encryption and permanently deletes all your vault data from their servers when you delete your account. According to their privacy policy, account deletion results in immediate and permanent removal of your encrypted data. However, backup systems may retain data for a short period as part of their disaster recovery protocols.

How to Delete Your Bitwarden Account - Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Written & Verified By

Delete.Directory Content Team

Our team of privacy advocates and former social media employees verify every deletion process through hands-on testing.

This guide helps you permanently delete your Bitwarden account. We believe in digital autonomy: your right to leave any platform should be as easy as joining it. Follow these verified steps to ensure complete account deletion.

How We Verified This Guide

Methodology: Hands-on testing with live accounts

Quick Information

Time Required

5 minutes

Difficulty

easy

Steps

5 steps

Official Resources

Bitwarden Help Center

Official deletion guide from Bitwarden

Additional Resources

[1]

Bitwarden Privacy Policy

Details about how Bitwarden handles your data and privacy

[2]

Export Vault Data

Complete guide to exporting your passwords and vault data before deletion

Step-by-Step Guide

Export Your Vault Data (Critical)

Before deleting your account, log in to your Bitwarden web vault or desktop app. Go to Tools > Export Vault, enter your master password, and download your vault data in a secure format (encrypted JSON or CSV).

Tips

•Choose encrypted JSON format for maximum security
•Store the export file in a secure location immediately
•Verify the export file contains all your passwords before proceeding

Warnings

•This is your ONLY chance to save your passwords - they cannot be recovered after deletion
•The export file contains all your passwords in readable format - protect it carefully

Log in to Bitwarden Web Vault

Open your web browser and go to vault.bitwarden.com. Log in with your email address and master password.

Tips

•Use the web vault for account deletion rather than mobile apps
•Make sure you're logged into the correct account if you manage multiple vaults

Navigate to Account Settings

Click on your profile icon or email address in the top right corner, then select 'Account Settings' from the dropdown menu.

Tips

•Look for the gear icon if you don't see your email displayed
•Settings may be under 'My Account' in some interface versions

Access Danger Zone and Delete Account

In the Account Settings, scroll down to the 'Danger Zone' section at the bottom of the page. Click on 'Delete Account' to begin the deletion process.

Tips

•The 'Danger Zone' is typically at the very bottom of settings
•Read all warnings carefully before proceeding

Warnings

•All vault data will be permanently deleted
•This action cannot be undone

Confirm Deletion with Master Password

Bitwarden will ask you to confirm your decision and enter your master password. Read the warnings about permanent data loss, type your master password to verify, and click 'Delete Account' to confirm.

Tips

•Double-check that you've exported your vault before confirming
•Cancel any premium subscriptions if you want to avoid future charges

Warnings

•Your account will be immediately and permanently deleted
•All passwords, secure notes, and 2FA codes will be lost forever

Important Warnings

Permanent Loss of All Passwords

Once you delete your Bitwarden account, ALL stored passwords, passkeys, secure notes, and identity information will be permanently lost. There is absolutely no way to recover this data. Make sure you export your vault before deletion.

Loss of Two-Factor Authentication Codes

If you store 2FA authentication codes in Bitwarden, you will lose access to all of them. This could lock you out of other accounts if you don't have backup recovery methods. Export and transfer your 2FA codes to another authenticator app before deletion.

Secure Notes and Documents Lost

All secure notes, file attachments, credit card information, and identity records stored in your vault will be permanently deleted. Export any critical information before proceeding.

Premium Subscription Charges

Deleting your account does not automatically cancel your Bitwarden Premium or Family subscription. Cancel your subscription separately to avoid continued billing charges.

Organization and Shared Vault Access

If you're part of a Bitwarden organization or family plan, remove yourself from those organizations first or transfer ownership. Deleting your account may affect other users' access to shared credentials.

Alternatives to Consider

1Password

easy

1Password is a premium password manager with strong security features, excellent user interface, and family sharing capabilities. It offers desktop apps, browser extensions, and mobile apps across all platforms.

Pros

•Polished and intuitive user interface
•Watchtower feature alerts you to compromised passwords
•Travel Mode to hide sensitive vaults when crossing borders
•Excellent family sharing with individual vaults

Cons

•No free tier - requires paid subscription
•More expensive than Bitwarden
•Cloud-only storage (no self-hosting option)

15 min

KeePass

medium

KeePass is a free, open-source password manager that stores your database locally on your device. It's highly customizable and offers complete control over your data with no cloud dependency.

Pros

•Completely free and open-source
•Full local control of your password database
•No cloud storage - maximum privacy
•Extensive plugin ecosystem for added features

Cons

•Less user-friendly interface than modern alternatives
•No built-in cloud sync (requires manual setup)
•Mobile apps are third-party community projects
•Requires more technical knowledge to set up properly

30 min

Dashlane

easy

Dashlane is a premium password manager with built-in VPN, dark web monitoring, and automatic password changing features. It focuses on ease of use and comprehensive security features.

Pros

•Built-in VPN included with premium plan
•Dark web monitoring alerts for compromised credentials
•Automatic password changer for supported sites
•Excellent browser extension and mobile apps

Cons

•More expensive than most competitors
•Limited free tier (50 passwords on 1 device)
•Some features locked behind premium subscription
•No self-hosting option

15 min

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Once your Bitwarden account is permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered under any circumstances. All vault data, including passwords, secure notes, and attachments, is permanently erased from Bitwarden's servers. This is why exporting your vault before deletion is absolutely critical.

References & Citations

[1]
Bitwarden Privacy Policy
Details about how Bitwarden handles your data and privacy
https://bitwarden.com/privacy/
[2]
Export Vault Data
Complete guide to exporting your passwords and vault data before deletion
https://bitwarden.com/help/export-your-data/

All citations verified as of 11/11/2025. We regularly review and update all external links to ensure accuracy.

Found incorrect information?

We strive for accuracy. If something's outdated or wrong, let us know.

Report incorrect information

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Critical Warnings

Permanent Loss of All Passwords
Once you delete your Bitwarden account, ALL stored passwords, passkeys, secure notes, and identity i...
Loss of Two-Factor Authentication Codes
If you store 2FA authentication codes in Bitwarden, you will lose access to all of them. This could ...
Secure Notes and Documents Lost
All secure notes, file attachments, credit card information, and identity records stored in your vau...

Last Updated

November 11, 2025

Bitwarden Account Deletion

How We Verified This Guide

Quick Information

Official Resources

Additional Resources

Step-by-Step Guide

Export Your Vault Data (Critical)

Log in to Bitwarden Web Vault

Navigate to Account Settings

Access Danger Zone and Delete Account

Confirm Deletion with Master Password

Important Warnings

Permanent Loss of All Passwords

Loss of Two-Factor Authentication Codes

Secure Notes and Documents Lost

Premium Subscription Charges

Organization and Shared Vault Access

Alternatives to Consider

1Password

KeePass

Dashlane

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Citations

Found incorrect information?

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

Critical Warnings

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