How to Generate Secure Random Passwords Online

Weak passwords are the leading cause of account breaches and identity theft. Security experts recommend using long, random passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols — but creating truly random passwords manually is difficult. This guide shows you how to generate secure random passwords using fixie.tools — a free online password generator that creates cryptographically strong passwords, no signup required, running entirely in your browser for privacy.

Step 1: Open the Password Generator

Navigate to fixie.tools/password in your web browser. The tool runs entirely in your browser using cryptographically secure random number generation, meaning your passwords are never sent to any server. No account creation or registration is required.

Step 2: Choose Password Length

Set your desired password length using the slider. Security experts recommend at least 16 characters for most accounts, and 20+ characters for critical accounts like email, banking, or password managers. Longer passwords are exponentially harder to crack. The tool supports passwords from 8 to 128 characters.

Step 3: Select Character Types

Choose which character types to include in your password. Options include uppercase letters (A-Z), lowercase letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and special symbols (!@#$%^&*). Including all character types creates the strongest passwords. However, if a website restricts certain characters, uncheck those options. The tool displays the entropy (strength) of your password configuration in bits.

Step 4: Generate Your Password

Click the generate button to create a random password matching your specifications. The tool uses the browser's Web Crypto API (window.crypto) to ensure true randomness rather than predictable pseudo-random generation. You can generate multiple passwords and compare them to pick one you prefer.

Step 5: Copy and Use Your Password

Click the copy button to copy your new password to the clipboard. Immediately paste it into your password manager (like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass) to save it securely. Never write passwords on paper or store them in plain text files. If you don't use a password manager, consider using one — they're the safest way to manage strong, unique passwords for every account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to generate passwords online?
Yes, if the tool runs entirely in your browser like Fixie's Password Generator. The passwords are generated using your browser's cryptographically secure random number generator (window.crypto.getRandomValues) and never leave your device or get sent to any server. However, avoid password generators that require server-side processing or don't clearly state they're client-side only.
How long should my password be?
For most accounts, use at least 16 characters. For critical accounts (email, banking, password managers), use 20+ characters. Each additional character exponentially increases the time required to crack your password. A 16-character password with mixed characters would take billions of years to crack with current technology.
Should I use special characters in passwords?
Yes, including uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special symbols maximizes password strength. However, some websites restrict certain special characters. If a site rejects your password, try generating a new one without special symbols. Length matters more than character variety — a 20-character password with only letters and numbers is stronger than a 12-character password with all character types.
Do I need a different password for every account?
Absolutely. Using the same password across multiple sites means a breach at one site compromises all your accounts. Use a password manager to generate and store unique passwords for every account. Password reuse is one of the most common causes of account takeovers.
What's a password manager and why should I use one?
A password manager is an app that securely stores all your passwords behind one master password. It auto-fills passwords on websites and generates strong random passwords for new accounts. Popular options include Bitwarden (free and open source), 1Password, LastPass, and Dashlane. Using a password manager lets you have strong, unique passwords for every site without needing to memorize them.

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