How to Create a Truly Strong Password (2025 Guide)

Length matters most — learn simple rules that boost password entropy without complicated symbol soup.

Why Strong Passwords Matter

Weak or reused passwords cause most account takeovers. Attackers often rely on leaked credential lists and automated guessing scripts. Understanding password entropy helps show why adding even a few extra characters increases strength dramatically.

If you're unsure whether long passwords or passphrases are better, our guide on passphrases vs passwords explains how four random words can outperform many shorter mixed-character passwords.

The Two Things That Matter Most

1) Length — every extra character grows the search space exponentially. Aim for 16–24 characters for important accounts.

2) Unpredictability — mix character sets, or use unrelated words. Avoid patterns and sequential characters as covered in our keyboard-pattern warning article.

Recommended Settings in StrongPass

Use the slider to 16–24 characters. Select at least 3 character sets. For usability, enable pronounceable for medium-risk accounts, but keep high-value accounts fully random — see best settings for high-risk accounts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Reusing a password across multiple sites • Simple substitutions (e.g., Pa$$w0rd!) • Short passwords just to satisfy a symbol policy • Storing passwords in notes or screenshots • Creating passwords based on phrases attackers can brute-force using dictionary attacks

Storage & Rotation

Use a reputable password manager to store and auto-fill. Rotate only when compromised — forced rotation can lead to weaker patterns. If children or teens use shared devices, see our guide on teaching kids good password habits.