The Top 10 Most Common Passwords (2026) and Why You Must Avoid Them

Every year, NordPass and other cybersecurity firms release the list of the most common passwords. The list barely changes — and that's the problem. If your password appears on this list, an attacker will try it within their first few guesses.

2026's Most Common Passwords

1. 123456 — Cracked instantly. Still #1 for the 12th consecutive year.
2. password — Instant. Often the first word a password cracker tries.
3. 123456789 — Instant. Adding length doesn't help if it's sequential.
4. 12345678 — Instant.
5. 12345 — Instant.
6. 111111 — Instant. Repeated characters are dictionary attack fodder.
7. qwerty123 — Instant. Keyboard patterns are well-documented in cracking dictionaries.
8. admin — Instant. Still the default on countless admin panels.
9. letmein — Instant. Common phrases are the first thing crackers check.
10. password1 — Instant. Appending a number to a dictionary word doesn't fool anyone.

Why These Passwords Are Dangerous

Attackers don't brute-force from scratch. They start with dictionaries containing the top 10,000 most common passwords, then expand to larger leaked-database lists. Any password on this list will be cracked in the first wave of guesses — often in milliseconds.

How to Choose a Password That's Not on Any List

• Use a password generator — Truly random passwords won't appear in any dictionary or leaked-password list.
• Make it long — At least 16 characters ensures it won't match common patterns.
• Make it unique per site — Even a strong password is compromised if it's reused on a site that gets breached.

Generate a unique, random password that's guaranteed not on any list. Try our generator.