How do I create a strong password?
By Bridget · Updated May 2026 · Reviewed by Locket Security Team
★ the short answer
A strong password is long (at least 16 characters), unique to one account, and random. The easiest way to hit that is a password manager that generates random strings for you. If you must memorize one, like your master password, use a passphrase of four or more unrelated words, which is both long and easy to recall.
What actually makes a password strong?
Length and unpredictability matter most. A 16+ character password is exponentially harder to crack than a short one, even a complex short one. Uniqueness is just as important: a strong password reused on a breached site is no longer strong. Randomness beats clever substitutions like “P@ssw0rd,” which attackers expect.
How does the passphrase method work?
Pick four or more random, unrelated words (like “copper-violin-meadow-trophy”) and you get a password that's long, memorable, and very hard to guess. It's ideal for the few passwords you must type from memory, such as your password-manager master password or your laptop login.
How do I remember a unique password for every account?
You don't. That's the password manager's job. It generates and stores a random password per account, so you only memorize one strong master passphrase. This removes the temptation to reuse or weaken passwords just so you can recall them.
Frequently asked
- No. Modern guidance says forced rotation leads to weaker, predictable passwords. Change a password only when it's strong, unique, and either reused or possibly exposed in a breach.
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