How to Share Passwords Securely (Without Leaving Them in Slack or Email)

A password pasted into Slack or email can live forever in message history, synced devices, and searchable logs. Secure password sharing means giving the intended recipient access to login credentials without leaving passwords scattered across messages and data stores.

This guide explains what to avoid and the safest options: a password manager, secure notes, and expiring one time links.

Why password sharing is risky

Most channels retain messages and data by design. When you share passwords in chat or email, you create extra copies of passwords across devices, backups, and ticketing systems. Those copies can be forwarded to other users, screenshotted, or recovered later.

If you’re sharing sensitive information (admin logins, recovery codes, API keys, billing passwords, and backup logins), assume it will be copied. Your job is to reduce how many copies exist and how long passwords survive.

The safest way to share passwords depends on the scenario

There’s no single best way for every case. Choose based on whether sharing is ongoing (team members need repeat use) or temporary (a vendor needs it once). Your goal stays the same: restrict access, shorten retention, and improve security.

Option A: Use a password manager for ongoing sharing

For repeated use, a password manager is usually the most secure way to share passwords. Instead of sending passwords in a message or direct message, you share an account entry stored encrypted in a vault. A good password manager adds security controls so you can manage who can view or edit an account entry and who can use the account. In a strong setup, the credential data stays encrypted end-to-end and logins stay inside the vault.

Key features to look for:

• end to end encryption (or a zero-knowledge design)

• Shared folders for users, teams, and family members

• Roles/permissions to restrict access and control changes

• Logs and notifications for ongoing security visibility

A vault also makes it easy to generate strong passwords and unique passwords per account.

Option B: Use a secure one time link for one-off sharing

If you only need to send passwords once (contractor login, temporary admin, recovery code), use a secure one time link instead of pasting passwords into chat.

A secure one time link is a secure link that reveals a secret once and then expires. This reduces how long sensitive information and passwords exist in systems and on devices, and it limits access to a short window.

Option C: Encrypted email only when you must

Encrypted email can help in some environments, but it’s still a message channel that can be forwarded and retained. If you use encrypted email, keep passwords out of long threads, send the password separately, and use time limits.

What NOT to do when you send passwords

If you want to share passwords securely, avoid these mistakes:

• Don’t paste passwords into Slack/Teams, tickets, or shared docs

• Don’t send passwords in plain email

• Don’t store passwords in standard notes

• Don’t share a password with a whole group if one person needs access

Also: avoid password reuse. Treat passwords, logins, and credentials as confidential information—don’t put them in a message thread, and don’t leave them on unmanaged client devices. Reusing passwords is one of the fastest ways to turn a small slip into a bigger incident involving more accounts, more logins, and more sensitive data.

A practical checklist for securely sharing passwords

1. Confirm the intended recipient (a specific person, not a group).

2. Choose the right tool: password manager for ongoing sharing; one time links for temporary sharing.

3. Rotate the account password and create a secure password when possible.

4. Limit access to least privilege and control who can view passwords.

5. Add expiry; temporary secrets should be temporary data.

6. After use, rotate again or revoke access.

7. Tell the recipient: don’t paste passwords into standard notes or tickets.

That’s secure password sharing: control + short lifetime + fewer copies of sensitive information and passwords.

Step-by-step: sharing passwords at work

Scenario 1: Team members need ongoing use of a shared account

Best approach: vault sharing with shared folders.

• Put the account in a team folder

• Add only the users who need access

• Use roles so not everyone can edit the account

• Rotate account passwords when team membership changes

Scenario 2: A vendor or contractor needs use once

Best approach: secure notes + secure link + expiry.

• Create a separate vendor account if you can

• Put the login credentials into a secure note

• Generate a secure one time link

• Send the link in your normal channel

• Send the password out-of-band (call/SMS/another channel)

• Remove the vendor immediately after the task is done

Some tools can “automatically share passwords” via a controlled share flow (instead of copying secrets into messages). The point is to reduce risk by minimizing how many systems and users ever see raw passwords.

How to securely share passwords on iPhone

If you’re asking how to share a password on iPhone, there are three practical options:

• iCloud Keychain sharing (good for Apple-centric families)

• A password manager that syncs across devices for users on iPhone and desktop

• A one time link in Safari for a one-off share (works with an internet connection and on any internet browser)

If you must send passwords via iMessage, treat it as a fallback: delete the thread and rotate the password afterward.

Tools and features to look for

You don’t need a specific vendor, but you do need clear security properties and clear support. Look for products that encrypt data, control access, and reduce password sharing risk. Use them to share sensitive information only when necessary, and prefer expiring links.

Password manager “send” features

Some password managers include a “send” tool for one-off sharing. For example, Bitwarden Send can create a secure link to share a note or files with an expiration window. This is useful when you need to securely share credentials with external users without adding them to your vault.

This type of feature is valuable, and the best implementations make the feature easy to use without sacrificing security.

This type of feature should let you:

• generate one time links for passwords and other sensitive information

• limit access and set expiration windows

• manage and audit link use across users

Custom domain and trust signals

In business settings, a custom domain for shared links can reduce phishing risk and improve security trust. A “no credit card required” trial is fine, but it isn’t proof of encryption or deletion—evaluate the security model and link controls instead.

FAQs

What is the safest way to share passwords? What is the best way to share passwords?

For ongoing sharing, a password manager with shared folders and permissions is typically safest. For one-off sharing, use a secure one time link with expiry and send the password separately.

Why is password sharing so bad?

Because it creates extra copies of passwords in messages, logs, devices, and backups. Those copies are hard to delete and easy to rediscover.

How do I securely share passwords on my iPhone? How to share a password on iPhone?

Use iCloud Keychain sharing or a password manager. For a one-time handoff, send an expiring link and delete the note afterward.

How do I share passwords across devices?

Use a password manager that syncs across devices, then share a vault entry for the account. Avoid exporting passwords into files or email.

How to share password off iPhone? How to securely store passwords for spouse?

Use a shared vault so family members can access accounts across devices without sending passwords over text. For a one-time share, use an expiring link.

A simple “do this now” template

If you need to send passwords today:

• Create a secure password and rotate the account

• Put the login credentials into a secure note

• Send a secure one time link to the right person

• Send the password via a different channel

• Confirm it worked, then rotate again

That workflow is a secure way to share passwords without leaving passwords in Slack or email.