What is htpasswd?

htpasswd is a file format used by Apache and Nginx to store username-password pairs for HTTP Basic Authentication. Each line contains a username and a hashed password separated by a colon, e.g., user:$2y$05$....

Supported algorithms

• bcrypt - the recommended algorithm, uses adaptive cost factor for brute-force resistance
• SHA-256 / SHA-512 - Linux crypt-style hashes with random salts
• MD5 (apr1) - Apache-specific MD5 variant, widely compatible but less secure
• SSHA - salted SHA-1, used in LDAP-style configurations

How to use this tool

• Enter a username and password (or generate a random one)
• Select a hashing algorithm - bcrypt is recommended for new setups
• Copy the generated .htpasswd line or download the file

Common use cases

• Protecting staging environments or admin panels with Basic Auth on Apache or Nginx
• Generating password entries for .htpasswd files without CLI access
• Creating credentials for Docker registry authentication
• Setting up Basic Auth on reverse proxies like Traefik or Caddy