Security
Can I delete Bitwarden from my Mac?
Yes, you can delete Bitwarden from your Mac, and your vault itself is not lost: it lives in your Bitwarden account or on your self-hosted server, while the desktop app only keeps an encrypted local copy. What you remove is the app and its local settings and cache; the folders it uses stay on disk until you delete them separately. The app typically occupies 100 MB – 500 MB of data.
See how much space Bitwarden really takes before you decide
Bitwarden data usually takes 100 MB – 500 MB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.
Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+
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Email me the link- Application
- Bitwarden
- Typical data size
- 100 MB – 500 MB
- Category
- Security
- File Location
~/Library/Application Support/Bitwarden
What you lose and what you keep if you delete Bitwarden
Specific to Bitwarden
Your logins stay safe in your account or on your server, so removing the app does not erase your vault. The local encrypted cache is tied to this Mac, and if you sign out or delete the app, that copy is no longer available offline here. Browser biometric unlock depends on the desktop app, so once it is gone the extension falls back to password unlock until you reinstall. If you use a self-hosted server, note its URL first, because the app is where you would otherwise look it up.
Where your Bitwarden data lives
Bitwarden keeps none of your own files in its folders; what it stores is rebuilt automatically or comes from your account.
- Account and sync
- Your vault lives in your Bitwarden account or self-hosted server; the desktop app keeps an encrypted local copy.
What to do before deleting Bitwarden
Export your vault from File > Export vault if you want an offline backup, since the local copy is not a substitute for one. Write down your server URL if you run a self-hosted Bitwarden server. Remove the browser extension separately from each browser, because it is not uninstalled with the app. Quit the app before you remove any of its folders, and remember that deleting the app itself leaves the folders and your own documents untouched.
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How to delete Bitwarden completely
Quit Bitwarden, move it to the Trash, then remove what it left in ~/Library/Application Support/Bitwarden. The full step-by-step guide:
Try it without risk
- Download and scan for freeSee every Bitwarden file and its size. No account needed.
- Clean free for 7 daysStart the 7-day free trial of the yearly plan inside the app.
- Keep it or cancelCancel in your App Store settings at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you won't be charged.
After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.