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There is no single optimum password for every account. For most password-protected services, use a different, randomly generated password for each one and store them in a password manager. If you need to remember a password, make it a long, unique passphrase. Add multifactor authentication (MFA) or a passkey where the service supports it.
How do I create a good password?
- Use a unique password for each service. If a password exposed in one breach is reused elsewhere, attackers can try it on your other accounts. A password manager can generate and store a separate password for each login.
- Use a password manager for passwords you do not need to memorize. NIST recommends password managers for consumers. Autofill can also reduce the need to type passwords into websites, though it does not protect you from every threat. Secure the manager account with MFA if available, and check that its recovery options and supported devices suit you.
- Make a memorable password a long passphrase. Choose several words that are not a famous quote, personal fact, or phrase published as an example. Do not reuse a sample passphrase from an article or guidance page.
- Turn on another authentication method. Use MFA or a passkey where available. Check the service’s supported options and consider how you would regain access if you lost a device.
- Change a password when there is evidence it has been compromised. Routine calendar-based changes are not a universal security requirement.
When choosing a service, look for support for password-manager autofill and, where practical, MFA or passkeys. Those features can make safer sign-ins easier to maintain.
How long should a password be?
For a password you must remember, NIST’s consumer guidance recommends at least 15 characters. Its current SP 800-63B-4 requirements say a verifier must require at least 15 characters for a password used as a single factor; it may allow a minimum of eight characters when the password is used as part of MFA. These are requirements for the services that verify passwords, not a guarantee that every site uses the same limits. Follow the service’s stated rules.
NIST’s guidance also says verifiers should permit passwords of at least 64 characters. A service may still impose a limit, so check its actual requirements rather than assuming any particular maximum.
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Length helps defend against guessing, but the estimate depends on how a password was created and how an attacker tries to obtain it. NIST’s 2025 consumer page illustrates the point using an assumed rate of 100 billion guesses per second on a modern PC: it estimates about 200 billion combinations for an eight-character lowercase password and more than 500 years to exhaust all 15-character lowercase combinations at that rate. These are simplified examples, not universal cracking times or guarantees. They do not account for targeted guessing or other ways of stealing a password.
Should my password have special characters and numbers?
Length and uniqueness matter more than satisfying arbitrary character-class rules. Under SP 800-63B-4, verifiers must not impose composition rules such as requiring a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, or symbols. A service may nevertheless have its own rules, which you will need to follow.
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Adding symbols does not rescue a short, reused, or predictable password. If you create a password yourself, prioritize a long, unique passphrase rather than trying to meet a checklist of character types. Do not assume that a long or complex password can stop phishing, keystroke logging, or social engineering.
How does a password manager work?
A password manager stores login credentials so you do not have to remember a different secret for every service. It can generate unique passwords and fill them in when you sign in. That makes uniqueness practical without asking you to memorize dozens of passwords.
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- Use the manager’s password generator for new accounts and password changes.
- Protect the manager account with MFA if it supports it.
- Review recovery options and confirm you can use the manager on the devices you rely on.
- Use autofill carefully: it can help avoid typing a password into the wrong place, but it is not a complete defense against phishing or malware.
What can MFA and passkeys protect against?
MFA asks for another proof of identity in addition to a password. If someone obtains the password, the additional method may still help protect the account. Options can include a physical USB security key, an authenticator app, a push approval, or a text code; they do not all offer the same level of protection. NIST warns that text codes are particularly vulnerable.
Passkeys are an alternative to password sign-in and are designed to resist phishing. They require support from the service and compatible devices or hardware, so check what each account accepts and how recovery works before relying on them. A FIDO2 security key using USB or NFC is one possible hardware route for compatible MFA or passkey sign-ins; confirm service compatibility before buying one. A security key is not required to create a strong password.
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- USB-A Hardware Key for All Devices - Works with USB-A ports on PC, Mac, Android, and other laptop/notebook device. Enables secure, cross-platform login with FIDO2.0 passkey support.
- FIDO Certified Security Key - Meets FIDO and FIDO2 standards. Works with Google, Microsoft, GitHub, Dropbox, and more. Please check service compatibility before purchase.
- Passwordless Login with Passkey - Supports passkey login via WebAuthn and CTAP2. Enjoy password-free sign-ins where supported. Not all websites or services currently support passkeys.
- Advanced Multi-Factor Authentication - Offers 200 FIDO2 passkey slots and 50 OATH-TOTP slots. Strong, flexible 2FA/MFA support across various apps and authentication platforms.
What passwords cannot protect you from
A password can be guessed, reused from another breach, or stolen. A convincing phishing page can trick someone into handing over even a long password, while malware such as a keystroke logger can capture what is typed. Longer passwords and extra symbols do not by themselves prevent these attacks. Use MFA or passkeys where available, and stay alert to unexpected sign-in requests and suspicious login pages.
Should I change my password regularly?
No universal calendar-based rotation is needed. NIST says services must not require periodic password changes, but they must require a change when there is evidence of compromise. If you learn that a password has been exposed, change it on the affected service and replace it anywhere else you reused it with unique passwords.
Are passwords going extinct?
Not yet. Passkeys and other authentication options can reduce reliance on passwords, but availability depends on the service and the technology a person can use. NIST’s Digital Identity Program lead Ryan Galluzzo put it this way: “It’s going to be a long road to completely kill the password,” adding that “you’re always going to be constrained by what technology people have available.” Until an account offers and supports a suitable alternative, use a unique password and protect the account with MFA where possible.
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