Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: October 2026
Using the generator
Is it safe to use the PasswordMonkey generator?
Yes. All password generation happens in your browser using the Web Crypto API.
PasswordMonkey never sees, stores, or transmits your passwords. Nothing leaves your device. Randomness comes from your device's hardware random number generator via crypto.getRandomValues().
Does PasswordMonkey store or see my passwords?
No. PasswordMonkey never receives your passwords.
Generation is entirely local to your device. We don't log, store, or transmit generated passwords. No network request carries them.
How long should my password be?
Use 15 characters or more; 16 or more is recommended.
NIST SP 800-63B-4 sets a 15-character minimum for single-factor passwords and allows at least 64. Longer passwords are exponentially harder to crack. If a site limits length, use the maximum it allows and a unique password for that site.
Do I need symbols in my password?
No. Length and uniqueness matter most; symbols are optional.
NIST removed composition rules. You don't need mixed uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. A long password or passphrase works fine without symbols. If a site requires symbols, add them — but don't rely on them for strength.
What if a site limits password length or rejects symbols?
Use the maximum length the site allows.
If a site caps length or rejects symbols, generate the longest password it accepts using letters and numbers. Length still matters most. Pair it with a password manager so you don't have to remember it.
Random password or passphrase?
Both work.
A long random password and a passphrase of several random words are both strong. Store either in a password manager so you only need to remember one master password.
How do I generate a password with PasswordMonkey?
Visit the site, set the length, choose character types, and click Generate.
Set your desired length (4-50 characters), pick which character types to include, optionally exclude similar-looking characters, click "Generate Password," then use the copy button to copy to your clipboard.
What do the password strength indicators mean?
The indicator shows entropy in bits: weak (<32), fair (32-64), good (64-128), strong (128+).
PasswordMonkey calculates strength from the character set size and length. Higher entropy means harder to crack. Aim for 128+ bits for your most important accounts.
Can I generate QR codes for my passwords?
Yes. Click the QR code icon after generating a password.
The QR code encodes the password text so you can scan it with your mobile device. Only use this on your own trusted devices — the QR contains your password in plain sight.
How does PasswordMonkey ensure password randomness?
Via the Web Crypto API's crypto.getRandomValues().
This provides cryptographically secure random numbers from your device's hardware RNG — the same technology used by banks and security applications.
What's the difference between online and offline password generators?
PasswordMonkey runs in your browser but processes locally like an offline tool.
You get web convenience without server-side generation risks. All processing happens on your device; nothing is sent anywhere.
Saving and reusing
Is PasswordMonkey safe to use?
Yes. All generation happens in your browser; nothing is stored or transmitted.
Passwords are created locally via the Web Crypto API and never sent to our servers. The page uses GTM and AdSense for aggregate traffic measurement — neither sees your generated passwords.
Where should I save my passwords?
In a password manager.
Use a browser-built-in manager or a dedicated password manager. Never store passwords in notes apps, spreadsheets, email to yourself, or screenshots — those aren't designed to protect secrets.
Is it safe to save passwords in my browser?
Yes, browsers can save passwords.
Browsers store encrypted credentials on your device. One caveat: entries are filed under the page's origin (passwordmonkey.org for this site), not under the target site the password is for.
What is a password manager?
An app that stores your passwords in an encrypted vault.
You unlock it with one strong master password. The manager generates, saves, and autofills passwords for every site, so you never reuse passwords and never memorize dozens.
Why does my browser file the entry under passwordmonkey.org?
Browsers save credentials under the page's origin.
When you save a password while on passwordmonkey.org, the browser files it under our origin, not under the site the password is actually for. Browser credential storage is tied to the domain you're visiting when you save.
Can I reuse a password?
No. Use a unique password for every account.
If one account is compromised and you reused that password elsewhere, all those accounts are at risk. A password manager makes unique passwords practical by remembering them for you.
How can freelancers and small businesses use PasswordMonkey?
Generate secure passwords for client accounts, admin accounts, and API keys.
Use it for temporary access credentials, website admin accounts, and business social media. No account required; nothing is stored. Pair with a password manager for team credential sharing.
What password length should businesses use?
Use at least 15 characters; 16 or more is recommended.
NIST allows up to 64+ characters. Standard accounts: 16-20. Admin accounts: 20-25. Financial accounts: 25+. API keys: 32+. Longer is always fine.
How does PasswordMonkey compare to LastPass, Dashlane, Bitwarden?
PasswordMonkey is free, needs no account, and stores nothing.
LastPass/Dashlane/Bitwarden are password managers with storage and autofill. PasswordMonkey is a generator only — use it to create passwords, then save them in your manager of choice.
Losing access
What if I forget a password?
Use the site's "forgot password" reset flow.
Most sites reset by email. If you saved it in a password manager, check there first. Never reuse an old password when resetting — generate a new random one.
What if I lose my phone?
Use your password manager on another device, or your recovery codes.
Install your manager on a new device and sign in with your master password. Keep recovery codes and your emergency kit safe (paper, locked drawer) so you can regain access.
What if I forget my password manager's master password?
It may be unrecoverable.
Bitwarden cannot reset a forgotten master password. 1Password uses an Emergency Kit (Secret Key) and recovery codes. Apple needs a trusted device passcode, recovery contact, or recovery key. No "forgot master password" reset exists — that's the encryption's purpose.
After a breach
How do I know if a password was exposed?
Chrome warns about exposed passwords; Edge has Password Monitor.
Your password manager may also monitor for breaches and alert you if a saved password appears in a known breach. Act on those warnings promptly.
What do I change first after a breach?
Change the breached password first.
Then change any other account where you reused the same password. NIST says change on evidence of compromise — not on a fixed schedule. Use unique random passwords going forward.
Beyond passwords
Do I need two-step verification?
Yes, where available.
Two-step verification adds a second check beyond your password — an app code or security key. Even if your password is stolen, the second step protects your account.
What are passkeys, and do they replace passwords?
Passkeys are a password-free sign-in option supported by many platforms.
They can replace passwords where offered. Passwords still work everywhere, so use passkeys where available and strong random passwords elsewhere.
About us
Are there affiliate links?
Yes. Some product links are affiliate links marked "sponsored."
They're kept separate from educational content and help support the site. They never influence our security advice.
How do you make money?
Through affiliate links and donations.
Password generation itself is free and private. We don't sell your data or show your passwords to anyone.
Are there specific requirements for different social media platforms?
Platform minimums vary (for example, some require 6 or 8 characters).
These platform-specific minimums are not in the NIST fact sheet — check each platform directly for current requirements. NIST's 15-character minimum is a safer baseline.
How can I create memorable but secure passwords?
Use a passphrase of several random words, or a random password stored in a manager.
Both approaches work when the result is long and unique. A password manager removes the need to memorize anything except your master password.
Should I use memorable passwords or random passwords?
Random passwords are strongest when stored in a manager.
Use random passwords for accounts you don't need to type from memory. Use passphrases only where you must remember the password yourself (like your manager's master password).