Password & Login Fatigue Explained

Tired of constantly having to remember credentials to your online accounts? You’re not alone.

This shows how widespread password fatigue can be.

Password fatigue is the frustration and exhaustion caused by juggling too many passwords each day. But login fatigue may be more widespread.

Research shows nearly half of internet users struggle with multiple logins.

At least four in ten people feel overwhelmed by password demands.

What’s driving this trend?

Causes of Password Fatigue

We need passwords for a lot of websites, apps, and systems, ranging from email to work portals.

But a couple of key issues lead to fatigue.

• Multiple accounts: Many of us have hundreds of logins for email, social media, banking, and online shopping.
• Growing security measures: Passwords must often be more complex, and changed more often, which causes mental overload.

"One of the biggest challenges with password fatigue is that it can drive individuals to reuse credentials, putting both their personal data and wider business systems at risk."

– Paul Holland, Founder, Beyond Encryption

Impact of Password Fatigue

How does password fatigue affect people and organisations?

Reduced Security

Many users reuse passwords, even though 91% know it’s risky.

Stolen logins are a leading cause of data breaches.

Decreased Productivity

Frequent password resets eat up time.

Some employees spend over half an hour each month resetting or typing passwords.

About 38% of employees avoid using key security tools because logins feel too difficult.

Increased Stress

Many worry about losing access to vital accounts.

Repeated resets add even more stress.

Avoidance of Services

Some people abandon purchases or skip services if they forget a password, which means lost revenue and lower engagement.

Only Part of the Problem…

Password fatigue often pairs with account fatigue.

This is burnout from having too many separate online profiles.

Users want a simpler experience, not another login to remember.

Centralising accounts might help, but it raises security and data privacy concerns.

Each new login still scatters more of a user’s identity across the web.

It’s estimated that the average internet user has 240 online accounts that require a password.

Listen to Paul Holland, Founder of Beyond Encryption, discuss account fatigue and what it means for organisations.

How To Tackle Password & Account Fatigue

Organisations face pressure to make services more convenient.

Here are some ways to reduce password and account fatigue.

Password Managers

These tools store logins securely and help you avoid reusing passwords. People who skip password managers face a higher risk of identity theft.

Biometric and Single Sign-On (SSO)

Fingerprint or facial recognition offer simpler logins than traditional passwords.

SSO lets you log in once for multiple services.

Auth0 research shows 42% of consumers are more likely to sign up if biometrics are an option.

Despite that, fewer than half of organisations offer SSO, and only a fifth use biometrics.

Using Existing Channels

Secure email spares users from creating yet another account.

People often list email as their top way to hear from businesses.

"Implementing a secure email solution can drastically simplify the user’s experience while making sure communications remain fully protected."

– Carole Howard, Head of Networks, Beyond Encryption

Password managers are a short-term fix.

Truly streamlined digital experiences need centralised identity systems and shared services that cut down on repeated logins.

FAQs

What Is Password Fatigue?

It’s the feeling of stress from constantly creating, remembering, and resetting multiple passwords.

Why Is It Risky?

Fatigued users often reuse simple passwords, which makes it easier for attackers to break into multiple accounts.

Are Biometrics Safe?

Biometric tools like fingerprint or facial recognition are usually secure, but they should be backed by strong system safeguards.

How Does Secure Email Help?

It lowers the need for new logins, which reduces the chance of password fatigue and still protects confidential messages.

Do We Need Password Managers?

They’re not required, but they store credentials in one safe place and help cut mistakes like reusing passwords.

References

Password Statistics, Norton, 2023

Report: Login Fatigue, 1Password, 2023

Businesses Fall Short of Consumer Expectations, Auth0, 2023

Is Password Loss as Stressful as a Personal Illness?, London Daily News, 2023

Measuring Password Fatigue: Usability and Cybersecurity Impacts [Study], Beyond Identity, 2022

A Look at Password Health Scores Around the World in 2022, Dashlane, 2022

Passwords Usage and Human Memory Limitations: A Survey Across Age and Educational Background, NCBI, 2021

Psychology of Passwords, LastPass, 2022

How Compromised Passwords Lead to Data Breaches, IDX, 2023

A Password Manager for Everyone, Everywhere, LastPass, 2022

51% of Users Admit to Resetting Forgotten Passwords Once a Month, Security Magazine, 2022

Sharing Global Password Management Survey Results in Advance of World Password Day, Bitwarden, 2021

Survey: How Much Time Do You Waste Resetting Your Passwords?, ExpressVPN, 2022

The Password Plague: Consumers Are Abandoning Purchases Out of Frustration, MediaPost, 2023

72% Believe There Are ‘Too Many’ Subscription Services, Mobile Magazine, 2022

Twilio Study Shows Consumers Aren’t Paying Attention to Brands’ Social Media or Mobile Apps — They Prefer Email or Text Instead, Twilio, 2019

Reviewed by

Sam Kendall, 25.03.2025

Sabrina McClune, 27.02.2025