Still Using Sticky Notes? 3 Simple Steps to Start Using a Password Manager

If the thought of setting up a password manager sounds like an afternoon of tedious tech support, take a breath. It's actually easier than stocking up on sticky notes notes—or trying to remember whether you added !123 or !2026 to the end of your go-to password. In just a few minutes, you can set up a tool that quietly runs in the background, creates uncrackable logins, fills them in automatically, and even lets family members access your accounts in an emergency. Here is a simple, three-step guide to getting started on your phone or desktop—no tech degree required. Step 1: Pick the Password Manager That Fits Your Style The best password managers require a complex master password or passwordless login method to access your vault, so choose this carefully. I also recommend looking for password managers that offer digital legacy options so your loved ones can access your accounts if you’re unable to, and seeking out apps that can alert you to change passwords for accounts that have been breached or hacked. If you’re looking for a password manager with a streamlined setup and lots of options, I recommend Editors’ Choice award winners NordPass and Proton Pass . NordPass is my favorite premium password manager because it’s affordable and includes data breach report scanning for credit cards and email addresses. I like Proton Pass for its generous free plan, which includes email aliases and inboxes for them. Always try a free trial of a premium app before making a long-term commitment. If you need a 100% free password manager, check out my list of the best free password managers I’ve tested. You can also use Apple’s free Passwords app or Google’s free Password Manager , although they’re not nearly as feature-rich. Step 2: Download the App and Lock Down Your Vault , download the app or install the browser extension. Sometimes, you may need to adjust your browser or device settings to disable the browser’s built-in password manager to ensure the one you installed works correctly. Sign in to your account, then visit the Settings and turn on a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method. MFA adds an additional layer of security to your vault, so even if someone guesses or captures the master password you use, they can’t access your other passwords. Step 3: Let the App Save Logins Automatically (Zero Typing Required) Now that your password manager is installed, it’s time to start adding credentials to your vault. If you already have passwords saved in a browser or a spreadsheet, you can upload that list to your vault by visiting the settings in your chosen app and choosing import. Most modern password managers let you import directly from your old one or provide instructions on their websites to help you migrate. If you’re starting from scratch, however, or you’ve been keeping your passwords on sticky notes or in notebooks, don’t fret. Just log in to your accounts as you normally would, with the password manager running in the background, and the app will automatically save your credentials to your vault. You won’t need to manually type in your usernames or passwords again after that. Isn’t that nice? Some password managers even track changes you make to logins stored in your vault and update the stored information for you. Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.

Step 1: Pick the Password Manager That Fits Your Style

The best password managers require a complex master password or passwordless login method to access your vault, so choose this carefully. I also recommend looking for password managers that offer digital legacy options so your loved ones can access your accounts if you’re unable to, and seeking out apps that can alert you to change passwords for accounts that have been breached or hacked. If you’re looking for a password manager with a streamlined setup and lots of options, I recommend Editors’ Choice award winners NordPass and Proton Pass . NordPass is my favorite premium password manager because it’s affordable and includes data breach report scanning for credit cards and email addresses. I like Proton Pass for its generous free plan, which includes email aliases and inboxes for them. Always try a free trial of a premium app before making a long-term commitment. If you need a 100% free password manager, check out my list of the best free password managers I’ve tested. You can also use Apple’s free Passwords app or Google’s free Password Manager , although they’re not nearly as feature-rich. Step 2: Download the App and Lock Down Your Vault , download the app or install the browser extension. Sometimes, you may need to adjust your browser or device settings to disable the browser’s built-in password manager to ensure the one you installed works correctly. Sign in to your account, then visit the Settings and turn on a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method. MFA adds an additional layer of security to your vault, so even if someone guesses or captures the master password you use, they can’t access your other passwords. Step 3: Let the App Save Logins Automatically (Zero Typing Required) Now that your password manager is installed, it’s time to start adding credentials to your vault. If you already have passwords saved in a browser or a spreadsheet, you can upload that list to your vault by visiting the settings in your chosen app and choosing import. Most modern password managers let you import directly from your old one or provide instructions on their websites to help you migrate. If you’re starting from scratch, however, or you’ve been keeping your passwords on sticky notes or in notebooks, don’t fret. Just log in to your accounts as you normally would, with the password manager running in the background, and the app will automatically save your credentials to your vault. You won’t need to manually type in your usernames or passwords again after that. Isn’t that nice? Some password managers even track changes you make to logins stored in your vault and update the stored information for you. Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.

If you’re looking for a password manager with a streamlined setup and lots of options, I recommend Editors’ Choice award winners NordPass and Proton Pass . NordPass is my favorite premium password manager because it’s affordable and includes data breach report scanning for credit cards and email addresses. I like Proton Pass for its generous free plan, which includes email aliases and inboxes for them. Always try a free trial of a premium app before making a long-term commitment. If you need a 100% free password manager, check out my list of the best free password managers I’ve tested. You can also use Apple’s free Passwords app or Google’s free Password Manager , although they’re not nearly as feature-rich. Step 2: Download the App and Lock Down Your Vault , download the app or install the browser extension. Sometimes, you may need to adjust your browser or device settings to disable the browser’s built-in password manager to ensure the one you installed works correctly. Sign in to your account, then visit the Settings and turn on a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method. MFA adds an additional layer of security to your vault, so even if someone guesses or captures the master password you use, they can’t access your other passwords. Step 3: Let the App Save Logins Automatically (Zero Typing Required) Now that your password manager is installed, it’s time to start adding credentials to your vault. If you already have passwords saved in a browser or a spreadsheet, you can upload that list to your vault by visiting the settings in your chosen app and choosing import. Most modern password managers let you import directly from your old one or provide instructions on their websites to help you migrate. If you’re starting from scratch, however, or you’ve been keeping your passwords on sticky notes or in notebooks, don’t fret. Just log in to your accounts as you normally would, with the password manager running in the background, and the app will automatically save your credentials to your vault. You won’t need to manually type in your usernames or passwords again after that. Isn’t that nice? Some password managers even track changes you make to logins stored in your vault and update the stored information for you. Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.

Always try a free trial of a premium app before making a long-term commitment. If you need a 100% free password manager, check out my list of the best free password managers I’ve tested. You can also use Apple’s free Passwords app or Google’s free Password Manager , although they’re not nearly as feature-rich. Step 2: Download the App and Lock Down Your Vault , download the app or install the browser extension. Sometimes, you may need to adjust your browser or device settings to disable the browser’s built-in password manager to ensure the one you installed works correctly. Sign in to your account, then visit the Settings and turn on a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method. MFA adds an additional layer of security to your vault, so even if someone guesses or captures the master password you use, they can’t access your other passwords. Step 3: Let the App Save Logins Automatically (Zero Typing Required) Now that your password manager is installed, it’s time to start adding credentials to your vault. If you already have passwords saved in a browser or a spreadsheet, you can upload that list to your vault by visiting the settings in your chosen app and choosing import. Most modern password managers let you import directly from your old one or provide instructions on their websites to help you migrate. If you’re starting from scratch, however, or you’ve been keeping your passwords on sticky notes or in notebooks, don’t fret. Just log in to your accounts as you normally would, with the password manager running in the background, and the app will automatically save your credentials to your vault. You won’t need to manually type in your usernames or passwords again after that. Isn’t that nice? Some password managers even track changes you make to logins stored in your vault and update the stored information for you. Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.

Step 2: Download the App and Lock Down Your Vault

, download the app or install the browser extension. Sometimes, you may need to adjust your browser or device settings to disable the browser’s built-in password manager to ensure the one you installed works correctly. Sign in to your account, then visit the Settings and turn on a multi-factor authentication (MFA) method. MFA adds an additional layer of security to your vault, so even if someone guesses or captures the master password you use, they can’t access your other passwords. Step 3: Let the App Save Logins Automatically (Zero Typing Required) Now that your password manager is installed, it’s time to start adding credentials to your vault. If you already have passwords saved in a browser or a spreadsheet, you can upload that list to your vault by visiting the settings in your chosen app and choosing import. Most modern password managers let you import directly from your old one or provide instructions on their websites to help you migrate. If you’re starting from scratch, however, or you’ve been keeping your passwords on sticky notes or in notebooks, don’t fret. Just log in to your accounts as you normally would, with the password manager running in the background, and the app will automatically save your credentials to your vault. You won’t need to manually type in your usernames or passwords again after that. Isn’t that nice? Some password managers even track changes you make to logins stored in your vault and update the stored information for you. Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.

Step 3: Let the App Save Logins Automatically (Zero Typing Required)

Now that your password manager is installed, it’s time to start adding credentials to your vault. If you already have passwords saved in a browser or a spreadsheet, you can upload that list to your vault by visiting the settings in your chosen app and choosing import. Most modern password managers let you import directly from your old one or provide instructions on their websites to help you migrate. If you’re starting from scratch, however, or you’ve been keeping your passwords on sticky notes or in notebooks, don’t fret. Just log in to your accounts as you normally would, with the password manager running in the background, and the app will automatically save your credentials to your vault. You won’t need to manually type in your usernames or passwords again after that. Isn’t that nice? Some password managers even track changes you make to logins stored in your vault and update the stored information for you. Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.

If you’re starting from scratch, however, or you’ve been keeping your passwords on sticky notes or in notebooks, don’t fret. Just log in to your accounts as you normally would, with the password manager running in the background, and the app will automatically save your credentials to your vault. You won’t need to manually type in your usernames or passwords again after that. Isn’t that nice? Some password managers even track changes you make to logins stored in your vault and update the stored information for you. Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.

Sit Back, Log In Faster, and Forget Your Old Passwords

Give yourself a little time to adjust to using a password manager. Any changes to your online routine can be disorienting, but a password manager should make logging into your accounts much faster and more secure, and best of all, you only have to remember one (hopefully strong!) password going forward.