Microsoft checks new passwords against a list of ones that get guessed a lot, and turns those down even when they have a capital letter and a number in them. If yours is refused, there is nothing wrong with your account and nothing wrong with this app. It just needs to be less ordinary.

The easy way through: use three unrelated words with a number on the end, like river-candle-spoon7. Long beats complicated. It is easier to remember than P@ssw0rd1 and it will not be turned down.

What it has to have:

• at least 8 characters, and longer is better
• a mix: capital letters, small letters, numbers, or symbols. You do not need all four
• something that is not a common password, which is the one that catches most people

You do not have to make a password at all. Continuing with Google or Apple uses the account you already have, and there is nothing new to remember.