Question :
I need to generate a random password for a new online account for an app, but for some reason, macOS doesn’t suggest a Strong Password as usual…
How can I easily generate a random strong password ?
Answer :
When using Safari on macOS, Safari will automatically suggest a Safari Strong Password (and backs it up to iCloud) whenever a field where you need to manually type a new password…
However : this feature is Safari-only (as the name Safari Strong Password suggests), so if you need to manually type a new password into an app (or anything outside of Safari) this automatic suggestion won’t kick into play…
Luckily, macOS has a Password Generator built-in… only tricky thing is it’s a little hard to access… there are 2 ways to get the Password Generator to start up (and an alternative in case you need extra features) :
– Option 1 –
- Apple Menu > System Prefs > Users & Groups > Change Password > Key Icon
- now Password Assistant opens in a separate window
- Close previous window (that is now in the background) by clicking Cancel-button
- Back to Password Generator window
- set type of password you need
- Generate password
- Copy password
- Close Password Generator window
– Option 2 –
- User’s Home Folder > Applications > Utilities > KeychainAccess.app
- now the Keychain window opens
- click on the Plus-sign button ( or press the CMD + N key combo on your keyboard )
- now a pulldown window opens
- at “Password”, on the right, click the ‘black key’-button
- now Password Assistant opens in a separate window
- note : leave the Keychain Access window in the background, as trying to close it will also close the Password Assistant window
- in the Password Assistant window, set the type of password you need
- then, generate the new password
- copy the password
- switch to the window where you need to paste the new password
- then, switch back to the Keychain Access window and close it
– Alternative option –
If macOS’ built-in Password Generator doesn’t allow you to get a random password that suits your needs, for example if you need a memorable password, you can get the StrongPassword.app for FREE from the Mac AppStore.
StrongPassword.app has 3 main options of automatic password generation :
- “Basic”
- “Advanced”
- “Words”
- note : all 3 come with the option of adding or omitting symbols like ! ? @ & * _ + =
- The “Words” option comes closest to the (now obsolete) “Memorable” option that used to be built-in in macOSX and OSX
that’s it !
enjoy 😉