---
title: Getting Started with Bitwarden
description: How to set up and start using Bitwarden for password management.
category: getting-started
tags: [getting_started, onboarding]
permalink: go.dbits.ca/dd/getting-started-with-bitwarden
---

# Getting Started with Bitwarden

## Why Bitwarden?

Managing dozens of passwords for work and personal accounts is overwhelming. Reusing passwords puts all your accounts at risk if one gets compromised. Bitwarden gives you a secure vault for all your credentials, accessible from any device.

digiBandit hosts its own Bitwarden server (VaultWarden), so your passwords are stored on our infrastructure in Canada, not on a third-party cloud.

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## Setup Steps

### 1. Get Your Invitation

Your digiBandit technician will send you an email invitation to join your organization's Bitwarden vault. Click the link in the email to create your account.

### 2. Create Your Master Password

Choose a strong master password. This is the only password you'll need to remember. Make it long and unique. A passphrase (e.g., "correct-horse-battery-staple") works well.

**Important:** If you lose your master password, we cannot recover it. Write it down and store it somewhere safe.

### 3. Install the Apps

| Platform | Where to Get It |
|----------|----------------|
| **Browser Extension** | Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, Edge Add-ons |
| **Desktop App** | bitwarden.com/download |
| **Mobile App** | App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) |

### 4. Configure the Server

When you first open Bitwarden, you need to point it to our self-hosted server:

1. On the login screen, tap the **region selector** or **Self-hosted** option
2. Enter the server URL provided by your technician
3. Log in with the account you created in step 2

### 5. Start Saving Passwords

- When you log into a website, Bitwarden will offer to save the credentials
- You can also manually add entries for accounts, Wi-Fi passwords, secure notes, and more
- Use the **password generator** to create strong, unique passwords for each account

---

## Tips

- **Enable auto-fill** in the browser extension for one-click logins
- **Use the mobile app** for filling passwords in apps on your phone
- **Share passwords** with team members using your organization's shared collections (ask your technician to set this up)
- **Enable biometrics** (fingerprint or Face ID) on mobile for quick vault access

---

## Related Documentation

- [Bitwarden Password Manager](../Products/BitWarden_Password_Manager.md) - Full overview of the Bitwarden service
- [Security Awareness Training](../Security/Security_Awareness_Training.md) - Security best practices