How to Lock Bitwarden on a Mac
Bitwarden encrypts your vault and gives you a configurable timeout, but the desktop app can still sit open and unlocked on screen between timeouts. Here's the difference, and how to close it completely.
Why people want to lock Bitwarden
Bitwarden stores logins, secure notes, and sometimes 2FA seed keys — the same category of sensitive data as any password manager. If your Mac is shared, used in a common area, or just left open while you grab coffee, an unlocked Bitwarden window is an open door to every account you've saved. The vault's own encryption doesn't help if the app is already unlocked on screen.
What doesn't fully close the gap
Bitwarden's vault timeout (Settings → Vault Timeout) re-locks the vault after a period of inactivity, and you can also set it to lock on system sleep or screen lock. That's genuinely useful, but it only re-locks the vault — the app window itself stays open, visible, and ready to be unlocked with one click if someone catches it in that state. It's also easy to accidentally set a longer timeout for convenience and forget you did.
What actually works
Shoo! quits Bitwarden outright — not just locking the vault, but removing the app from your Dock and Mission Control — on whatever trigger you choose: screen lock, log out, or a schedule. There's no window left showing a lock icon for someone to poke at. Reopening Bitwarden afterward asks for your master password exactly as it normally would; your vault and settings are untouched.
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Frequently asked
Does Shoo! interact with my Bitwarden vault?
No. Shoo! only manages whether the Bitwarden app process is running — it has no access to your vault, master password, or stored items.
Does this replace Bitwarden's own vault timeout?
No, use both. Vault timeout protects you mid-session; Shoo! makes sure the app isn't sitting open when you don't want it there at all.
Does locking with Shoo! affect my saved encryption?
No. Shoo! doesn't touch Bitwarden's data or encryption in any way — it only starts and stops the application process, the same as quitting it yourself from the Dock.
Can I open Bitwarden with Touch ID after locking it with Shoo!?
Yes. Once Bitwarden is locked it only opens after Touch ID succeeds. If your Mac has no Touch ID, you can confirm with Apple Watch (double-press the side button) or a private backup password that is separate from your Mac login password.
Is Bitwarden still protected if I switch desktops or come back to it later?
Yes. Shoo! does not draw an overlay or check only at launch. It ends the Bitwarden process when locked, so switching Spaces or returning to the app later can't show what was on screen. It reopens only after you verify.