Browsers always hide passwords behind asterisks (***) or dots to ensure no passerby steals your password. However, on some occasions, you may want the password to be visible. Maybe you have made a mistake while writing the password and now you want to see the mistake to correct it instead of entering the whole password. You may also depend a lot on a browser’s built-in password manager to autofill password fields, so there is a good chance you might have forgotten your password.
In this post we will show you three ways to reveal passwords easily in your browser and even copy it.
Warning: passwords are hidden to ensure it doesn’t get stolen by someone standing behind you. So before you reveal your password using one of the methods below, make sure no one is standing near you who could take a peek (this also includes the person peeking from the window behind you).
1. Reveal a Password from the Developer Options
If you want to reveal a password without any need of third-party utilities, then you will have to make a tiny edit in the script of the page. When you find a password field, right-click on it and select “Inspect element.”
The “Inspect element” developer tool will open, and you will see some complex text strings. Here you need to look for a line starting with <input type="password." Once found, double-click on type="password" to edit it and replace “password” with “text.” It should look like this now: <input type="text."
Now close the Inspect element window, and the password will be revealed. You can easily edit or copy the password until the page is reloaded again.
2. Reveal Saved Passwords
The above method was great for revealing any password field, but if you just want to view your saved passwords to memorize them, then you don’t need to go through this complex process. You can go to your browser’s password manager options to reveal all the saved passwords.
In this example we will be using Chrome as our browser of choice, but the instructions should be similar for other major browsers. You just need to go to Security or Privacy Settings and then look for an option similar to “Manage passwords.”
In Chrome click on the main menu and select “Settings.” Now click on “Show advanced settings,” and then click on “Manage passwords” under the “Passwords and forms” heading.
You will see all your saved login credentials along with domain name, user name and hidden password. Double-click on the password, and then click on “Show.”
You will be asked to give your PC login password. The password will be revealed when you give the right login password. If your PC is not protected by a password, then all your passwords will be revealed without asking for a password. That is another reason why you should password protect your PC.
3. Use a Third-Party Extension
There are many third-party extensions available that will let you reveal passwords automatically or with just the click of a button. If you need to reveal passwords often, then an extension will be a better solution with faster results. Below are some extensions to try:
ShowPassword for Chrome: Show password by hovering your mouse cursor over the password field.
Show Password for Firefox: Click on the extension button to show or hide password fields.
Show Password for Opera: Automatically reveals all password fields.
Conclusion
Revealing your hidden password might be a bit risky, but it can also be very handy. The first two methods are perfect if you just want to check out your password for reference. However, a third-party extension is highly recommended if you need to reveal passwords often or just want to remove this protection from the browser to make it easier. If you know of any other convenient ways to reveal a password, share with us in the comments.
I can understand why they do it but I don’t understand why they all don’t offer a button or something to automatically see your password instead of just stars.
In IE [11] and Microsoft Edge you can
See what you typed in only in Edge and IE 11 [http://imgur.com/WNi7wQe]
Picture ^
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Spying software or monitoring software are also an issue in such a scenerio.
It is for the privacy reasons as well Terry. If they do offer such button to everyone, then someone might force a user to press the button and see their password. For example, your big brother (or someone with more power than you) can easily access all your passwords just by clicking on the provided button.
When you use the third-party extension to get such button, you are also acknowledging that there will be no one who can force you to give up the password. Simply put, this button is not given to users by default to make it hard for people around them to snatch your password. And if someone think they can handle it, they can just download an extension to get this ease.
This is great. I am on a Desktop computer that is permanently in my home. I don’t have to worry about anyone “spying” on my passwords. I see the need for stars or dots when you are in a public place, make total sense. However, when you are at home in your own safe place, you can see what your password is. Now, I do want the stars or dots when I am on my Smartphone, away from home. I am using an open Wi-Fi or my 4G bars to access the Internet.
In firefox not sure about Chrome you can Bookmark the Stored Password Settings. Just open up the stored password settings in firefox and click the Star. It will bookmark it. You can then place it or move it into your Bookmarks Toolbar for instant access. Handy to give someone their password in a private message for people that used it on your computer.
Of course if they change it then the stored one is junk.
My wife has saved all her friends that seem to lose theirs. I reccomend all do this.
You might want to check out if this can be done from Chrome, or any other popular browsers.
I do like your Inspect Element way however. It would be nice if major browsers added that as a right click option to show password when your entering it.