Firefox ext writes to disk every 10 seconds, connects to Native Messaging
- Dominant language
- TypeScript
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Description
### Steps To Reproduce
1. Install Bitwarden Firefox extension
### Expected Result
Extension does not try to connect to Bitwarden Desktop app over Native Messaging IPC
### Actual Result
Extension tries to connect to Bitwarden Desktop app over Native Messaging IPC every 10 seconds, which results in writing data (≈4 KB) to its database every 10 seconds.
Given the write amplification on such small writes of the modern file systems, this results in 500 KB - 1 MB writes to disk every 10 seconds.
### Screenshots or Videos
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ce615bc9-8ee3-47d7-b4ca-ec60d0b988eb
### Additional Context
I did not find a way to disable this integration with Desktop app. I don't use desktop app.
This also happens when Bitwarden is locked.
### Operating System
Linux
### Operating System Version
Fedora
### Web Browser
Firefox
### Browser Version
153
### Environment Versions
Version: 2026.7.0
SDK: 'main (3e060f8)'
Server version (Third-party): 2026.6.0
Connected to third-party server implementation, Vaultwarden. Please verify bugs using the official server, or report them to the third-party server.
### Issue Tracking Info
- [x] I understand that work is tracked outside of Github. A PR will be linked to this issue should one be opened to address it, but Bitwarden doesn't use fields like "assigned", "milestone", or "project" to track progress.
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by tracing the Firefox extension's Native Messaging connection and its 10-second polling path. Reproduce on Linux with Firefox while the desktop app is absent or locked, then verify that the extension no longer makes the periodic connection or causes the reported database writes.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- typescript
- Domain
- frontend
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Active
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 52/100