Whether your partner asks to use a banking login or a younger sibling keeps begging for your Netflix password, sharing credentials can be a delicate matter. If you don’t handle password sharing securely, you could quickly encounter serious problems.
Pause and consider whether you should share a password at all and what repercussions might follow if you hand out your secret information. Not every service permits password sharing, and in many cases there are smarter alternatives.
Let’s explore password sharing in depth and figure out the safest way to proceed.
Should You Share Your Passwords?
Before you attempt to share passwords securely, take a moment to decide if sharing is the right choice. First, understand exactly what access you’re granting when you hand over a password.
Sharing a bank login, for example, could give someone full access to your funds and sensitive financial records. That’s often unwise. As an alternative, some banks let you create limited-access accounts or designate authorized users, which can be a much safer option.
We suggest contacting your bank to learn about options for shared account access and restricted permissions for specific people. If you’re running a business, platforms such as Chase for Business allow you to create multiple users with different permission levels and controls.
Even for services that don’t seem critical, like streaming platforms — Netflix, HBO Max, or Hulu — you might want to rethink sharing. Allowing others onto your account could let them buy upgrades on your dime or expose partial payment details.
Many streaming providers don’t approve of sharing logins with people outside your household — the same caution applies to a number of other services. You could violate terms of service and risk having your account suspended or terminated. Always check a service’s rules before you share credentials.
If after weighing the risks you still want to share, read on for guidance on doing so in a way that minimizes the chance of unauthorized access.
How to Securely Share Your Passwords
We’ll be blunt — the safest method to share a password is with a password manager. If you’re not familiar with password managers, see our password manager guide to learn how they help you create and maintain a more secure digital life.
To simplify things, we’ll cover secure password sharing using two of our preferred password managers — 1Password and LastPass. Many other managers offer comparable features, so check the developer’s documentation for specifics.
If you’re a business needing streamlined credential sharing among employees, consider LastPass. It provides tools for protecting business-critical logins, reducing the risk of breaches, and keeping general security practices intact.
Sharing Passwords With 1Password
The team at 1Password provides several ways to share credentials. Family or team accounts can share entire collections, commonly called “vaults.” They also let you share individual passwords via a secure link, even if the recipient doesn’t have a 1Password account.
- Start by opening 1Password and selecting the password you want to share.
- Click the Share button. (On macOS it’s hidden behind a box-with-an-upward-arrow icon; on Windows, Linux and Android it’s behind a three-vertical-dots icon.)
- Under “Link Expires After,” choose how many days the secure link should remain active before it becomes invalid.
- Under “Available To,” decide whether to restrict who can access the link. If you choose to limit access, enter the email addresses of the people who should be allowed to view it.
- Check “Can Be Viewed Only 1 Time” if you want the link to permit a single viewing only.
- Finally, click “Get Link to Share” and send that link to the person you want to share the password with.
Sharing Passwords With LastPass
When you share a password from LastPass, the recipient must also have a LastPass account. That requirement stems from LastPass’s encrypted sharing system. Fortunately, LastPass offers a free tier so friends or family won’t have to pay.
- Open LastPass.
- Hover over the password you want to share and click the Two-People icon that appears.
- Enter the email address of the LastPass user you’re sharing with.
- If you want the recipient to be able to see the password itself, check “Allow Recipient to View Password.”
- Click Share.
Sharing Passwords With Other Password Managers
If your password manager isn’t 1Password or LastPass, there’s no need to worry — many alternatives support sharing. Below are links to documentation for common password managers and information about their sharing features.
Bear in mind that some password managers require a paid subscription to enable sharing. One of our top picks without that restriction is LastPass. For general recommendations about managers, see our roundup of the best password managers.
How NOT to Share Your Passwords
We’ve already stated that password managers are the safest method to share credentials — they provide encrypted, controlled environments for exchanging sensitive data. So what should you avoid?
Most ways of sharing passwords outside a password manager are insecure. Don’t send passwords over text messages, email, or store them in a Google Doc.
These channels are typically unencrypted and offer weak access controls. For instance, someone could sit at your unlocked computer or pick up your phone and read an unlocked Google Doc, then reach into your accounts.
Also avoid writing passwords on paper and handing them over. Even if someone locks a note in a safe, they might just leave it on their desk where others can find it.
Bottom line: use a password manager for storing and sharing account credentials.
How to Share Passwords Between Apple Devices
Apple devices have handy built-in tools for password sharing. On a Mac, iPad, or iPhone you can share credentials saved in Safari, and you can even share Wi‑Fi passwords in a few quick steps. Here’s how.
Share Passwords on iPhone
- Open Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Tap Passwords to access your saved logins — you’ll be asked to enter your device passcode or authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID.
- Select the login you want to share, then tap the share button (a box-with-an-upward-arrow icon).
- Use AirDrop to choose the device you want to send the password to.
For help with AirDrop, see Apple’s support page. Ensure both people have Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi enabled for AirDrop to work.
Share Your Wi‑Fi Passwords
If someone needs to join your Wi‑Fi, you can share the password without flipping over the router to read a long string of characters. Note that both users must have each other’s Apple IDs saved in Contacts and both devices must have Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi turned on.
- Make sure the device that will share the Wi‑Fi is unlocked and already connected to the network.
- On the device trying to connect, tap the network name to start the connection process.
- A prompt will appear on the already-connected device asking whether you want to share the password — tap Share Password.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sharing Passwords
Here are answers to some common questions about password sharing.
The safest way to share a password is via a password manager’s sharing feature. These tools encrypt shared data and give you control over access. If you haven’t tried one, consult our list of the best password managers for recommendations.
Yes — there are situations where sharing passwords is practical. But it must be done securely. Sharing out of convenience without precautions can lead to more trouble later.
Avoid sending credentials by email. Email is generally not encrypted and lacks the protections that password managers provide.
Jordan Morales is a senior writer for Savinly covering personal finance and technology.
