Passwords are a headache. Most of us have dozens of accounts, and keeping track of every password is nearly impossible without help. A password manager is a simple tool that solves this problem — and you do not need to be technical to use one.
What Is a Password Manager?
A password manager is an app that stores all your passwords in one secure place. You only need to remember one main password — the one to open the manager itself. After that, the app fills in your other passwords for you automatically when you visit websites.
Why Not Just Use the Same Password Everywhere?
Using the same password for every site is very risky. If one website gets hacked, the attackers will try that same password on your email, your bank, and everywhere else. With a password manager, every site gets its own unique password, so a breach on one site does not affect the others.
What About Saving Passwords in My Browser?
Your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) can save passwords too, and that is better than nothing. However, a dedicated password manager is safer and works across all your devices and browsers. It also generates strong passwords for you automatically.
Built-In Options You May Already Have
Some password saving is already built into the devices and accounts you use. These options are free and easy to start with.
- iPhone and Mac: Apple Keychain is built into Safari and stores passwords for you.
- Android and Chrome: Google Password Manager saves and fills passwords automatically.
- Windows and Edge: Microsoft’s browser offers similar built-in saving.
Which Password Manager Should I Use?
There are a few kinds of password manager, and some are free or low-cost:
- A free manager: many password managers have a free version. Check what the free version includes before you rely on it.
- A paid manager: some charge a small monthly fee.
- A manager built into your devices: see the built-in options in the section above.
How to Get Started
- Type the manager’s official address into your browser yourself, or open its app from an official app store. Lookalike sites and browser extensions exist, so check the web address before you create an account. Do not type a code, password or card details into a page you reached from a message link. Open the official site or app yourself.
- Install the browser extension it offers only from the manager’s official site or an official browser store, and check the publisher’s name — this is what fills in passwords automatically.
- Start adding your accounts one by one, or let it capture passwords as you log in over the coming days. Each account you add or capture should then be saved in the manager, ready to fill in the next time you log in to that site.
- Choose a main password that is long and made of several unrelated words, with numbers or symbols added. Do not use anything personal, such as a name or birthday. Write it on paper and keep it somewhere safe at home.
It takes a little time to set up, but once your passwords are in there, logging into sites becomes faster and much more secure. Most people wonder how they managed without one.
Last updated: October 9, 2026