How to Use Bitwarden at UofL

Bitwarden is UofL’s recommended password management solution for securely storing, generating and sharing passwords. Using Bitwarden helps protect university accounts and sensitive data by enabling strong, unique passwords and secure credential management.

Before You Begin

• Ensure you have a valid UofL user account and login credentials.
• Review UofL Information Security policies and procedures for password management requirements.
• Download and install Bitwarden on your device or access the web portal.

Objective or Task

Learn how to set up, use and manage passwords securely with Bitwarden at UofL.

 

Share Credentials Securely

• Use Bitwarden’s secure sharing feature to share credentials with authorized team members.
• Never share passwords via email, chat or unapproved platforms.

Instructions

How to Download/Install Bitwarden Desktop Application for the First Time

1. DOWNLOAD the Bitwarden desktop application for your operating system by going to the Bitwarden website: https://bitwarden.com/download/#downloads-desktop
2. INSTALL the desktop application for your operating system.
3. OPEN the Bitwarden desktop application.
4. Click the drop-down menu. Under the "Email Address" box, select SELF-HOSTED.
5. In the box that appears, enter the SERVER URL: https://pwmgr.louisville.edu
6. Click SAVE.
7. Click CONTINUE.

How to Set Up Bitwarden

• Log in using your userID@louisville.edu and your password.
• Set a strong master password and enable two-factor authentication for your Bitwarden account.
• A box will appear stating that device approval is required. 
  1. CHECK the box next to "Remember this device"
  2. SELECT "Request Admin Approval".
     • NOTE: Security Operations does not receive notifications for pending admin approvals for devices; however, these dashboards are monitored on a regular basis. Please be patient will Security Operations approves your device.​​​​​​​
• You will receive a notification via email once your device has been approved.
• After your device is approved:
  1. CHECK the box next to "Approve login requests"
  2. CLOSE at the bottom of the window. This will allow you to approve your own devices (i.e., browser extension) moving forward.
  3. You will receive an invitation via your UofL email to use Bitwarden from the Security Operations team. To request an invitation, email Security Operations at secureit@louisville.edu.
  4. Once you have accessed Bitwarden and your vault is created, you can then install the Bitwarden browser extension or desktop application.

How to use the Bitwarden Browser Extension

1. After downloading the Bitwarden extension for your preferred browser, select EXTENSIONS.
2. Click on BITWARDEN​​​​​​​.
3. Click on the dropdown next to http://bitwarden.com.
4. Select SELF-HOSTED.
5. Enter https://pwmgr.louisville.edu in the pop-up.
6. Select SAVE.
7. Log in using userID@louisville.edu and your password.

How to Store and Manage Passwords

• Add your university and personal account credentials to Bitwarden.
• Use Bitwarden’s password generator to create strong, unique passwords for each account.
• Organize passwords into folders for easy access and management.

How to Use Bitwarden for Secure Login

• Use the Bitwarden browser extension or app to autofill passwords on login pages.
• Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts.
• Update passwords regularly and remove old or unused credentials.

 

How to Create a Bitwarden Collection

Bitwarden can be used to create collections. Collections gather together log-ins, notes, cards, and identities for secure sharing from an organization.

• Only organization members with collection management permission can create collections.
• Collections can only be created from the web application.

1. LOG IN to the Bitwarden web application: https://pwmgr.louisville.edu.
2. Select the NEW button.
3. Choose COLLECTION from the drop-down menu.
4. In the COLLECTION INFO tab, give your collection a name, choose the organization it should belong to, and select a collection to nest the new collection under (optional).

Outcome

After completing these steps, you will be able to securely manage and protect your passwords using Bitwarden, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to university accounts.

Respond to Security Incidents

• If you suspect a compromised password or account, unauthorized access or suspicious activity change your password immediately in Bitwarden and notify ITS Enterprise Security secureit@louisville.edu.