Browsers always hide the passwords behind asterisks to ensure others can’t snoop on them. That may be cumbersome when there are too many passwords to remember. Often you need the convenience to view them in plain text, especially difficult passwords.
The following methods will allow you to see your typed password in your browser instead of asterisks.
Warning: while the methods to reveal passwords are safe to use, it’s important to keep your passwords hidden as much as possible.
1. Reveal Saved Passwords in the Browser
All major browsers offer the convenience to save passwords while you’re logging in to any website, which can be recovered from “Settings.” Is that a privacy concern? Yes, because the passwords are retained in plain text and can be exposed by simply clicking the “show password” option.
Whether you want to save the password or not, you always get a one-time reminder. This gives you the flexibility to not save the super-sensitive passwords. Also, you can review periodically and delete one or more of the saved passwords.
Check the methods to reveal saved passwords behind the asterisks in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox as shown below.
Microsoft Edge (Chrome Version)
The Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge is a big improvement on what came before, and a big part of that is the fact that it’s based on Chrome and functions in a similar (if even slightly faster) way.
To see your saved passwords in Microsoft Edge, click the three-dot menu icon at the top-right corner, then go to “Settings –> Profiles –> Passwords.”
In the passwords list, click the eye icon next to the password you want revealed. Then enter your Windows PIN or Microsoft account password.
Once you’ve entered your PIN or password, you’ll be able to view all your passwords until you restart Microsoft Edge.
Google Chrome
In the Chrome browser, go to “Settings –> Auto-fill –> Passwords.”
Enable the option “Offer to save passwords” to get the reminders when you’re logging in.
If you enter a new password on a site, Chrome will ask to save it. To accept, click “Save.”
Go back to “Settings –> Auto-fill –> Passwords,” and you should see a list of saved passwords. Click “Show password” to view it right here.
Chrome also lets you copy or delete the password from a three-dot menu.
A welcome feature recently added to Chrome’s password manager is a list telling you whether any of your passwords have been compromised in a recent security breach on one website or another. You can then view the passwords in question and go to their sites to change them into something more secure.
Mozilla Firefox
In Firefox, go to “Options –> Privacy & Security –> Logins and Passwords.” Check all the boxes beneath “Ask to save logins and passwords for websites.” Unlike Google Chrome, Firefox lets you use a primary or “master” password as a top layer over all the saved passwords. This is quite a useful security feature.
From now on, Firefox will offer to save all the passwords you enter. Click “Save” to proceed.
All the saved passwords are recoverable from “Options –> Privacy & Security –> Logins and Passwords.” You can click the “show password” icon to view the password. You can also copy the username and password from prominent icons to easily delete the passwords.
2. Use Show Password Option
During login, several websites allow you to remove asterisks using a “show/hide” checkbox in the password field. This option is best if you don’t want your sensitive passwords to be remembered. It’s also the easiest method that works seamlessly across all browsers.
Once you’ve had a sneak peek, it’s easy to hide the password.
The show/hide option for passwords is available for all mainstream websites such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Netflix, Yahoo, Dropbox, Instagram, Reddit, Quora, and many more. Many banking and credit card sites also carry this feature to prevent invalid password attempts.
3. View the Password from Developer Options
A browser’s developer option is a good way to view proper password names instead of asterisks. In any of the browsers above, right-click and enter “Inspect element.”
The password is automatically viewed as soon as you hover near the “Value” field.
The same hovering technique is applicable for Chrome.
4. Use a Third-Party Extension
You can also use a third-party extension to show the passwords while entering your data in the field. For Chrome, Edge, and any browser supporting Chrome extensions, ShowPassword is a good option.
It is easy to control the timing and effect in showing passwords, which can be done with mouse over, double-click, on focus, or pressing the control key.
Once ShowPassword has access to the site, you can use the saved effect, such as mouse-over, to reveal your password.
As soon as you hover your mouse near the password field, the password will be displayed.
Unlike Chrome, there are many more extensions in Firefox that show passwords, such as Show/hide passwords. For Opera, there is a similar extension which reveals all password fields.
Out of all the methods discussed above to see your passwords in the browser, the first and third options are recommended due to greater ease and privacy. Another option is to use a third-party password manager so you don’t ever have to see any password in your browser.
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Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over ten years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.