htpasswd Generator

What is htpasswd Generator?

htpasswd Generator creates Apache-compatible password hash entries for HTTP Basic Authentication .htpasswd files. It supports multiple hash algorithms — bcrypt (recommended), MD5 (Apache-specific APR1), SHA-1 (insecure, legacy only), and crypt (DES-based, very insecure). The tool generates complete username:hash lines ready for appending to .htpasswd files, and can produce Nginx-compatible entries which use the same format. It also validates existing hash entries to identify which algorithm was used.

System administrators securing web directories, DevOps engineers protecting staging environments, and web developers setting up basic auth for client review sites. The tool runs entirely in your browser — your data never leaves your device.

How to Use htpasswd Generator

1. Enter the username and password for the new credential
2. Select the hash algorithm — bcrypt is strongly recommended for new entries
3. Copy the generated username:hash line
4. Append the line to your .htpasswd file on the server

Common Use Cases

• Creating .htpasswd entries for Apache or Nginx password-protected directories
• Generating bcrypt-hashed credentials for staging site access restriction
• Migrating legacy MD5 or SHA-1 htpasswd entries to more secure bcrypt hashes
• Setting up basic authentication for CI/CD preview deployment environments

Pro Tips

• Always use bcrypt ($2y$) for new entries — MD5 ($apr1$) and SHA-1 ({SHA}) are preserved only for backward compatibility and are considered cryptographically weak by modern standards
• The bcrypt cost factor defaults to 10, which means 2^10 = 1024 iterations — increase to 12 for higher security, but be aware that each authentication request will take proportionally longer
• Nginx reads .htpasswd files in the same format as Apache, but only supports bcrypt and SSHA — if you use Apache APR1 MD5 hashes and switch to Nginx, authentication will silently fail

Why Use This Tool?

• Privacy-first: All processing happens locally in your browser. No data is transmitted to any server.
• No installation required: Works in any modern browser on desktop or mobile.
• Completely free: No account, no credit card, no usage caps.
• Fast and reliable: Powered by modern Web APIs for near-instant results.

Related Concepts

Learn more about related topics: Apache authentication, bcrypt, HTTP Basic Auth, .htaccess.

Frequently Asked Questions