Every household shares something: the Wi-Fi, a streaming service, an insurance login. There are safe and unsafe ways to do it. This guide is part of our guide to passwords for families and digital legacy.
The ways people share, from worst to best
| Method | Risk |
|---|---|
| Reusing the same password for the whole family | One leak affects everyone |
| Text or email | Stays in histories and backups |
| Paper on the fridge | Seen by every visitor |
| Sealed note in a safe | Fine for emergencies |
| Shared vault in a password manager | The best everyday option |
| Separate accounts for each person | Best where a service allows it |
How a shared vault works
Most password managers have a family plan, covered in free vs paid. You put shared logins in a folder or vault that everyone can use. When someone changes a password, it updates for all. Some let you share a login without revealing it, though a determined person may still be able to see it.
Set up the family vault
- Choose a manager with family sharing.
- Give each person their own vault and master password.
- Create a shared vault for household logins.
- Add Wi-Fi, streaming, utilities and shared shopping accounts.
- Turn on two-factor login for each person.
What to share and what to keep private
| Usually share | Usually keep private |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Your personal email |
| Streaming | Your password manager |
| Utility and insurance accounts | Personal banking |
| Household shopping | Work accounts |
| Emergency contacts | Crypto recovery phrases |
Where a bank offers joint accounts or authorized users, use those instead of sharing a login. Sharing bank passwords may break the bank's terms and affect fraud protection.
When things change
Change shared passwords when someone moves out, a relationship ends, or a child's friend learned the Wi-Fi password. Remove people from the shared vault too. See should couples share passwords? for the emotional side of this.
Teaching the family
Agree on a few rules: nobody shares logins outside the family, and everybody tells the others if something strange happens. Our yearly password check-up is a good moment to review them. Keep a crypto recovery phrase out of all shared systems.