Nobody can remember dozens of complicated passwords, and you shouldn’t have to. A password manager is a safe, locked notebook on your phone that remembers them for you.
What makes a strong password
- Long beats complicated. Three or four random words like lantern-pickle-harbor-sunrise are strong and easy to type.
- Use a different password for every account. If one gets stolen, the others stay safe.
- Avoid birthdays, pet names, and “password123”.
Use the password manager already on your phone
- iPhone: Open the Passwords app (on iOS 18 and later; on older versions, Settings → Passwords). When you create a new account, your iPhone offers a strong password and saves it automatically.
- Android: Google Password Manager is built in. Find it in Settings → Google → Autofill or search Settings for “Password Manager”. It saves passwords when you sign in.
- Other trusted choices include Bitwarden and 1Password, which work on any phone or computer.
Extra protection
- Turn on two-step verification for email and banking. It sends a code to your phone when someone signs in.
- Never share those codes with anyone who calls or texts you.
- Write down your one main phone passcode and keep it somewhere safe at home, not in your wallet.
Last reviewed: October 2026