Vault search field and results do not clear when re-opening the plugin

[htbcallan]

Steps To Reproduce

1. Open any page, with matching vault items or not.
2. Left-click the BW plugin and enter a string in the vault search field
3. Interact with the results, or not, doesn't seem to matter
4. Select or spawn another tab to a page that has an associated vault item.
5. Left-click the plugin to select a credential to fill

Expected Result

Matching items for the current page will be displayed for easy selection

Actual Result

String is still present in search field and search results results are still displayed. Search field must be cleared to show matching items for current page

Screenshots or Videos

No response

Additional Context

This is a change in expected behavior from versions prior to 2025.3.2.
Clearing the search field to display matching items on a new or different tab requires additional steps and reduces app usability.

This affects Chrome 135, Edge (Chromium) 135 and Firefox 137. I have not tested older browser versions, other OS platforms or other supported browsers.

Operating System

Windows

Operating System Version

11

Web Browser

Chrome

Browser Version

135.0.7049.85

Environment Versions

Version: 2025.3.2
SDK: 'main (50f5a17)'
Server version: 2025.3.3

Issue Tracking Info

• 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.

[S-Kakar]

Thank you for reporting this issue! We've added this to our internal tracking system.
ID: PM-20177

[pamperer562580892423]

Another user here. I think, this could be the (new) "expected behaviour":

(from the Release Notes 2025.3.3 - https://bitwarden.com/help/releasenotes/#2025-3-3)

[bwbug]

Per Step 4 in the "Steps to Reproduce", the expected termination of persistence when "you change the active tab in your browser extension" does not seem to be working correctly.

[pamperer562580892423]

@bwbug I think in step 4 in the "Steps to Reproduce" the browser tab was changed. The Release Notes states a break of the persistence by "...or until you change the active tab in your browser extension" - and that seems to work, as when I change after a search in the extension to "Generator", "Send" or "Settings" tab, the search gets resetted.

[bwbug]

Well, in that case it's just a poor design decision.

[pamperer562580892423]

Well, that may depend on the current (or general / main) use case. Oftentimes, I would have liked for a search to be still there, when changing browser tabs. (BTW, some autofill functionality is active for the "search open - changed tabs"-scenario, like e.g. the inline autofill menu shows up on the new browser tab and Ctrl + Shift + L also works)

It would be nice, though, to have some control over the "persistence" - like enabling, disabling, setting the time...

Also, I could imagine, searches in the extension creating some kind of "horizontal tab(s)" in the extension window, allowing to quickly change between (one or more) search results and the "normal" extension window view (suggestions, favorites, items) back and forth.

This situation also reminds me of this feature request: https://community.bitwarden.com/t/pinned-and-collapsible-search-queries-to-customize-vault-view/77449