How to Handle Client Login Details Without the Drama
Clients sharing passwords is a freelancing rite of passage. Here's how to manage that access safely and professionally.
At some point, every freelancer gets a message that goes something like: here are the credentials, dive in whenever you're ready. It could be a WordPress backend, a hosting account, a social media profile, or an email platform. The access lands in your inbox and suddenly you're holding the keys to someone else's digital house.
The first thing to do is resist storing those credentials anywhere careless — a sticky note, a plain text file, or a chat thread you'll forget to delete. A dedicated password manager keeps client logins organized, encrypted, and easy to hand back when the project wraps. It also signals to clients that you take security seriously, which builds trust faster than any proposal ever will.
Whenever possible, ask clients to create a separate account or role for you rather than sharing their personal login. Most platforms — from WordPress to Google Analytics to social media tools — support user roles or team access. This means they can revoke your access cleanly when the work is done, without having to change their own password everywhere.
If a client insists on sharing their main credentials, make a note of it and remind them to update their password once your engagement ends. It's a small thing, but it protects both of you. Your job isn't just to do the work — it's to leave their accounts in better shape than you found them.
Inspired by reporting from Millo.co.