About the Password Generator
The Password Generator creates strong random passwords with the length and character types you choose. Reused and predictable passwords are the main reason accounts get hacked. A long random password for each website, stored in a password manager, protects you even when one site suffers a data breach.
How to Use the Password Generator
- Choose the length. 16 characters or more is recommended.
- Select which characters to include: uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols.
- Choose how many passwords to generate.
- Click Generate and copy the password you want.
- Save it in a password manager rather than in a text file or notebook.
What Makes a Password Strong?
Length matters most. Each extra character multiplies the number of possible combinations. A random 16-character password using all character types has so many possibilities that guessing it is not realistic. Avoid names, dates of birth, phone numbers, keyboard patterns like qwerty, and simple substitutions like P@ssw0rd, which attackers try first.
Passphrases
If you must remember a password, such as your computer login or password manager master password, a passphrase of four or five random words (for example river-lamp-cotton-seven-moon) is both strong and memorable. For everything else, let the password manager remember random passwords for you.
Extra Protection
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for email, banking, social media and hosting accounts. Use a unique password for your email account above all, because it can be used to reset every other password. Change a password immediately if a service reports a breach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my password be?
At least 12 characters, and 16 or more for important accounts.
Are generated passwords random?
Yes, they are generated with a cryptographically secure random number generator.
Should I include symbols?
Symbols add strength, but some websites reject certain symbols. If that happens, increase the length instead.
Which password manager should I use?
Popular options include Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePass and the managers built into Chrome, Edge and iOS. Any reputable manager is far safer than reusing passwords.