Migration Procedures

To migrate from a self-hosted server to the cloud:

1. Create a full backup of the ./bwdata directory of your self-hosted Bitwarden server. In particular, you will need access to ./bwdata/core/attachments to manually upload file attachments to the cloud (Step 5).

   tip

   If users are exporting their individual vaults over a period of time, you may need to re-sync the items from your ./bwdata/core/attachments directory to your backup location and upload any new items in the event that they change during the cut-over period.

2. In your self-hosted web vault, export your individual vault data or export your organization vault data. If you are migrating an organization, encourage your end-users to export their individual vaults as well.

3. Open the cloud web vault. Most users will have previously created cloud accounts for billing purposes, so log in to that account. If you were previously a free user without a cloud account for billing, create an account now.

   tip

   If you are migrating an organization, you will already have a cloud organization established for billing and licensing purposes. For smoothest transition, we recommend using this already-established organization rather than creating a new one.

4. Still in the cloud web vault, import data to your individual vault or organization vault.

   note

   Importing data to an organization will automatically re-create your collections and add the relevant vault items to them.

5. Manually upload file attachments to your individual or organization vault.

Organizations-only next steps

If you are migrating an organization to the cloud, continue with the following steps:

1. (Enterprise organizations only) Re-implement your enterprise policy specifications and/or configure login with SSO.

2. Manually re-create user groups in the cloud and assign them to the proper collections.

3. Start inviting users to your organization manually or using directory connector.

To migrate from one self-hosted Bitwarden server to another:

1. Stop your existing Bitwarden server by running ./bitwarden.sh stop. When you run this command, Bitwarden will go down for anyone currently using it.

2. Make a full copy of the ./bwdata directory of the old server. This copy will be used to recreate your configuration, database, attachments, and more, for the new server.

3. Install and deploy Bitwarden to your new server.

4. Once the new Bitwarden server is set up, replace the newly-created ./bwdata directory with the copy from the old server.

5. Print the new Bitwarden server's UID by running id -u bitwarden.

6. Open the file ./bwdata/env/uid.env and check that the listed values match what was printed in the previous step. If they do not match, replace both values with the result of id -u bitwarden.

7. If you specified a different server domain during Step 2, edit the following:

   • In ./bwdata/config.yml, change the url: value to the new domain.

   • In ./bwdata/env/global.override.env, change globalSettings__baseServiceUri__vault= to the new domain.

8. Run ./bitwarden.sh rebuild to apply changes to config.yml and global.override.env.

9. Start your Bitwarden server with ./bitwarden.sh start.

To migrate from one Bitwarden cloud server to another, for example, from a US server to EU server:

1. Export your organization vault and instruct all organization members to export their individual vaults.

   tip

   Individually download any file attachments for vault items and note which items they belong to.

2. Create a new Bitwarden account in the desired region and start a trial organization. Bitwarden support will be able to migrate your subscription to the new region (see Step 4).

3. Set up your new organization, configuring things like enterprise policies, login with SSO, constructing group-collection relationships, and inviting users with Directory Connector or SCIM. For help, refer to the Proof-of-Concept Checklist.

4. Contact Bitwarden support to move your new organization off of trial and resume your subscription in your new region.

5. Import your organization vault data obtained in Step 1, and instruct organization members to import their individual vaults as well.

   note

   Manually upload the file attachments obtained in Step 1 back to the vault items they were associated with.

Migration FAQs

Q: Do I need to migrate?

A: Migrating regions is not required. The region selector allows organizations to specify the geographic location of vault data. Features and functions are identical across regions.

Q: Is there a process for migrating?

A: Bitwarden regions are distinct cloud environments. Bitwarden cannot migrate accounts from one region to another for customers. A script is available for organizations to help facilitate migrations. Subscriptions can be transferred from one region to another region by contacting us.

Q: What does the migration script do?

A: The script works with the Bitwarden CLI to move data from one installation to another. Instructions are available in this article. This script migrates all organization vault data, including attachments, as well as member roles (excluding the custom role), and collections permissions assigned both to members and groups. The script also automatically recreates your groups in the new organization if you’re not using directory integration for automatic provisioning. Note that this does not include the migration of individual user vaults.

Q: What does a manual migration look like?

A: A complete manual migration involves creating a new account in the preferred region and beginning the new organization creation process. Once the new organization is configured, re-invite users, and then export vault data from your old organization and import into the new one. Users will need to manually export/import their individual vaults.