How to Securely Share a Password With Someone

• December 21, 2025

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We’ve all been there: a friend needs the Netflix login, or a coworker needs access to a shared project account. Your first instinct might be to fire off a quick text message or an email, but that’s one of the riskiest things you can do with your digital security. When you send a password in plain text, it stays in your “sent” folder, their “inbox,” and potentially on every server in between.

Sharing a password doesn’t have to be a security nightmare. By using the right tools, you can ensure that your credentials get where they need to go without leaving a digital paper trail for hackers to find later.

Why Texting and Emailing is a Bad Idea

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” Standard SMS messages and most emails are not end-to-end encrypted. This means that if someone manages to intercept the data while it’s moving across the internet, they can read your password as easily as a postcard.

Even if the transmission is secure, the storage often isn’t. If your friend’s phone is stolen or their email is compromised six months from now, your password is still sitting there in their message history. The goal of secure sharing is to make sure the password is only visible to the intended person, and only for as long as they actually need it to log in.

Method 1: Use Your Password Manager

If you’re already using a password manager (and you really should be), you already have the best tool for the job. Most modern password managers like Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane have built-in sharing features designed specifically for this.

For example, Bitwarden Send allows you to create a secure, encrypted link that contains your password. You can set the link to “self-destruct” after it’s been viewed once or after a certain amount of time has passed. This is the gold standard because the password never actually leaves the encrypted “vault” environment in a way that can be permanently logged.

If you’re sharing with a family member, many managers offer “Family Plans” where you can create shared folders. This is perfect for things like the home Wi-Fi password or shared streaming accounts, as it keeps the credentials updated for everyone automatically.

Method 2: One-Time Secret Links

If you don’t use a password manager, or the person you’re sharing with doesn’t, “burn-after-reading” services are a great middle ground. Sites like One Time Secret or PrivateBin allow you to paste a piece of text and generate a unique URL.

Here is how the process usually works:

1. You paste the password into the secure site.
2. You set a passphrase (optional but recommended) and an expiration time.
3. The site gives you a link.
4. You send that link to your friend.
5. Once they click the link and view the password, the data is wiped from the server forever.

If a hacker gets hold of that link later, they’ll find nothing but an expired page. It’s like a digital version of those self-destructing messages from Mission: Impossible.

Method 3: Encrypted Messaging Apps

If you absolutely must send a password through a messaging app, make sure it’s one that uses end-to-end encryption by default. Apps like Signal or WhatsApp are much safer than standard SMS or Facebook Messenger.

However, even with encryption, the “storage” problem remains. If you use this method, the password will stay in your chat history. To fix this, use the “Disappearing Messages” feature. Set the timer to something short—like five minutes—so the message vanishes shortly after your recipient has copied the password into their own records.

A Few Final Tips for Staying Safe

No matter which method you choose, keep these three rules in mind:

1. Never share the username and password in the same place. If you send the link to the password via Signal, consider telling them the username over a phone call or in a separate app. This way, even if one channel is compromised, the attacker only has half the puzzle.
2. Change the password afterward. If you’re sharing a temporary password for a one-time event, change it once the person no longer needs access.
3. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Even if someone does steal a shared password, having 2FA enabled on your accounts provides a vital second line of defense that can stop an intruder in their tracks.

Sharing access is a part of modern life, but it doesn’t have to be a vulnerability. Take an extra thirty seconds to use a secure link or a password manager, and you’ll sleep much better knowing your digital front door is still locked tight.

• security
• passwords
• privacy
• how-to

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