Bitwarden & Passkeys: Silent Failures Solved!

Understanding the Bitwarden Passkey Predicament

When you're diving into the world of enhanced online security, passkeys are often heralded as the future—a simpler, more secure way to log in without traditional passwords. Many users rely on fantastic tools like Bitwarden, a popular open-source password manager, to streamline their digital lives. However, a specific default setting within the Bitwarden browser extension can unfortunately lead to a rather frustrating and confusing experience, causing silent failures in passkey and WebAuthn operations. Imagine trying to set up or use a passkey, perhaps with a physical security key like a Yubikey, only to be met with an unhelpful, cryptic error message like "The operation either timed out or was not allowed." This isn't just a minor annoyance; it's a significant roadblock that can leave you scratching your head, wondering if your hardware is faulty or if the website itself is broken. This particular issue has been observed by users on systems like Ubuntu 24.04 using browsers such as Brave browser, where the Bitwarden extension is installed. The problem manifests when attempting to initiate a WebAuthn flow, for example, by visiting a demonstration site like the Yubikey Demo website and clicking the 'Try WebAuthn' button. Instead of seeing the familiar hardware key pop-up interface, which allows you to interact with your security device or the browser's built-in passkey manager, you're abruptly presented with the aforementioned generic error. This scenario is particularly troubling because it provides no indication that your trusted password manager, Bitwarden, is the underlying cause. Without this crucial piece of information, diagnosing the problem becomes an uphill battle, potentially leading to hours of wasted time and growing frustration with what should be a straightforward security enhancement. The silent nature of this failure is arguably its most vexing characteristic, as it obscures the true origin of the problem, making it nearly impossible for an average user to pinpoint the culprit without external guidance. This behavior can severely undermine a user's confidence in adopting newer, more secure authentication methods, pushing them back towards less secure, but seemingly more reliable, traditional password-based logins, which defeats the very purpose of employing cutting-edge security features like passkeys and hardware keys.

The Root Cause: Bitwarden's Default Passkey Hijack

The heart of this passkey conundrum lies in Bitwarden's default-on option called "Ask to save and use passkeys." When the Bitwarden browser extension is installed, this setting is enabled by default, which sounds incredibly helpful in theory. After all, a password manager's job is fundamentally to manage your credentials, and passkeys are indeed an advanced form of credential. However, the way Bitwarden currently implements this feature can inadvertently hijack the entire WebAuthn process, even when it's not actually prepared or configured to handle the request. This means that instead of allowing your browser's native passkey and security keys pop-up to appear—the one that lets you choose seamlessly between a physical security key, your operating system's built-in passkey manager, or a linked phone—Bitwarden steps in first. The critical problem arises because Bitwarden often cannot process these WebAuthn requests under certain common conditions. For instance, if you haven't logged into your Bitwarden account in the extension yet, or if you're not a premium subscriber (as some specific passkey features might be exclusive to premium users, depending on Bitwarden's current offerings), the extension will intercept the request but then fail to complete it. Instead of gracefully falling back to the browser's default passkey engine or clearly indicating that it needs you to log in or upgrade, it simply fails silently. This behavior effectively blocks any WebAuthn operation, whether you're trying to register a new passkey, log in with an existing one, or use a hardware security key for multi-factor authentication. The browser is essentially waiting for Bitwarden to act, Bitwarden can't act (or chooses not to without proper configuration), and the entire process grinds to a halt, resulting in that unhelpful operation timed out error. This unintended interception of a core browser security function is what creates the problematic user experience, turning a helpful security tool into an unexpected barrier. Users expect their security tools to work seamlessly together, not to create conflicts that prevent fundamental security mechanisms from functioning correctly. It's a classic case where a well-intentioned feature, enabled by default, can create more problems than it solves for a segment of its user base, particularly for those who are just starting to explore or depend on passkey technology for enhanced security and convenience.

Diagnosing the Cryptic Error: "Operation Timed Out or Not Allowed"

Encountering the cryptic error message, "The operation either timed out or was not allowed," during a passkey or WebAuthn flow is incredibly frustrating. This generic message offers zero clues about its true origin, making troubleshooting a nightmare for even tech-savvy users, let alone the average person who just wants to log in securely. When you see this error after attempting to use a WebAuthn prompt, your first instinct is likely to blame the website you're trying to access, your physical security key (like a Yubikey), or perhaps even your web browser itself. You might spend valuable time trying to restart your browser, update your operating system, check your network connection, or even consider purchasing a new security key, all without addressing the actual, underlying problem. The silent failure aspect is what makes this issue so pernicious. There's no Bitwarden pop-up saying, "Hey, I tried to handle that passkey request, but I couldn't! Please log in to Bitwarden," or "This feature requires premium access." Instead, the process simply stalls and eventually errors out with a vague message, leaving you completely in the dark and feeling helpless. This lack of clear communication is particularly problematic if the Bitwarden extension was installed without the user's explicit immediate knowledge, perhaps through a Brave extensions sync feature that automatically installs extensions across devices, or if it was part of an initial setup that was quickly forgotten. An average user, unfamiliar with the deeper workings of WebAuthn and the intricate interactions between browser extensions, would have almost no chance of connecting this vague error to a specific setting in their password manager. They simply know that their highly anticipated Yubikey or passkey for 2FA isn't working as expected, and the technology feels unreliable. This scenario undermines confidence in new, more secure authentication methods and creates unnecessary barriers to adoption. Good software, especially security software, should always provide clear, actionable feedback when something goes wrong. A vague timeout error, without any context, doesn't just block a single authentication attempt; it erodes trust and can lead users to abandon more secure practices in favor of older, less robust ones simply because they