What is Vaultwarden?

Vaultwarden is a lightweight, self-hosted password manager that’s fully compatible with all Bitwarden client apps. It’s a community-built alternative server implementation written in Rust, using a fraction of the resources that the official Bitwarden server requires. You get the polished Bitwarden browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps — backed by a server you control.

Prerequisites

Docker and Docker Compose installed (Docker Compose basics)
Any server — Vaultwarden runs on as little as 128MB RAM (best mini PCs for self-hosting)
A domain name with HTTPS (required for browser extensions)
A reverse proxy with SSL (reverse proxy guide)

Docker Compose Configuration

# docker-compose.yml for Vaultwarden
# Tested with Vaultwarden 1.32+

services:
  vaultwarden:
    container_name: vaultwarden
    image: vaultwarden/server:latest
    ports:
      - "8082:80"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/data
    environment:
      # Domain where Vaultwarden is accessible (MUST be HTTPS)
      - DOMAIN=https://vault.yourdomain.com
      # Disable new user signups after you create your account
      - SIGNUPS_ALLOWED=true
      # Admin panel (generate a token with: openssl rand -base64 48)
      - ADMIN_TOKEN=${ADMIN_TOKEN}
      # Enable WebSocket for live sync
      - WEBSOCKET_ENABLED=true
      # SMTP for email (optional but recommended)
      # - SMTP_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
      # - SMTP_FROM=vault@yourdomain.com
      # - SMTP_PORT=587
      # - SMTP_SECURITY=starttls
      # - SMTP_USERNAME=your-email
      # - SMTP_PASSWORD=your-app-password
    restart: unless-stopped

Create a .env file:

# .env file for Vaultwarden
# Generate with: openssl rand -base64 48
ADMIN_TOKEN=your-generated-admin-token-here

Step-by-Step Setup

Create a directory for Vaultwarden:
Terminal window
```
mkdir ~/vaultwarden && cd ~/vaultwarden
```
Generate an admin token:
Terminal window
```
openssl rand -base64 48
```
Create the docker-compose.yml and .env files with the configs above.
Start the container:
Terminal window
```
docker compose up -d
```
Set up HTTPS — Vaultwarden requires HTTPS for browser extensions. Use Nginx Proxy Manager or Caddy to get a Let’s Encrypt certificate.
Create your account at https://vault.yourdomain.com
Disable signups — after creating your account(s), set SIGNUPS_ALLOWED=false in the compose file and restart.
Install Bitwarden clients — use the official Bitwarden browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps. In settings, set the server URL to https://vault.yourdomain.com.

Configuration Tips

Admin panel: Access at https://vault.yourdomain.com/admin using your admin token. From here you can manage users, view diagnostics, and change settings.
Two-factor authentication: Enable 2FA immediately after creating your account. Vaultwarden supports TOTP, WebAuthn/FIDO2, and email 2FA.
Emergency access: Set up emergency access for a trusted person who can access your vault if you’re incapacitated.
Disable signups: Always set SIGNUPS_ALLOWED=false after creating your accounts. An open Vaultwarden instance is a security risk.
SMTP: Configure email so you can receive login notifications and password reset emails.

Backup & Migration

Backup: The data folder contains everything — the SQLite database, attachments, and RSA keys. Back it up regularly and store copies off-site.
Terminal window
```
# Simple backup
tar -czf vaultwarden-backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz data/
```
Migration from LastPass/1Password: Export from your current password manager as CSV, then import through the Bitwarden web vault (Settings → Import Data).
Migration from Bitwarden cloud: Export as encrypted JSON from Bitwarden cloud, import into your Vaultwarden instance.

Troubleshooting

Browser extension can’t connect: Verify HTTPS is working and that you’ve set the custom server URL in the extension settings (click the gear icon on the login screen).
Live sync not working: Ensure WEBSOCKET_ENABLED=true and that your reverse proxy is forwarding WebSocket connections.
Locked out of admin panel: Delete the data/config.json file and restart the container.

Alternatives

The official Bitwarden server is the alternative, but it requires significantly more resources (multiple containers, Microsoft SQL Server) and some features require a paid license. For self-hosting, Vaultwarden is the obvious choice. See Best Self-Hosted Password Managers.

Verdict

Vaultwarden is one of the easiest and most impactful self-hosting wins. It uses almost no resources, works with polished Bitwarden clients on every platform, and puts your most sensitive data — your passwords — entirely under your control. If you self-host one thing, make it this.