How to View Your Passwords in Credential Manager on Windows

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: October 14, 2024 Tested

The Windows Credential Manager is a hidden desktop app that stores account information, including the passwords you enter when you're using Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer. The tool also saves credential information you won't be able to view, like authentication tokens created by apps and network services. This wikiHow teaches you how to use the Credential Manager to decrypt and view passwords saved on your Windows PC.

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To do this, type credential into the Windows search bar, and then click Credential Manager in the search results.
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Click Web Credentials or Windows Credentials. Both options are at the top of the window.
- Web Credentials: This section contains passwords you've saved while using Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. If you've saved passwords using a different web browser (e.g., Google Chrome, Firefox), you'll need to use that web browser's password manager to find your passwords.
- Windows Credentials: This section will only be useful if your PC is on a corporate network. The passwords stored here are just those used for network-related Windows services. Most people will not be able to view any passwords in this section.
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Click the arrow next to the account you want to view. This displays more information about the account, including the option to show the password (if applicable).
- If you're in the Windows Credentials section and expanded the "Generic Credentials" arrow, you'll find that none of the passwords can be shown. This is normal, as these are saved authentication tokens rather than plain-text passwords.
A confirmation window will appear.
Once you verify your identity, the saved password will appear in plain text.^{[1]
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Question

My computer does not show the "show password" option in Windows or web credentials. What happened?

Aasim

Top Answerer

In order for you to save your passwords, you must have a Windows password and a PIN set up. They would be used to unlock your Windows credentials.

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In the password line, I do not have the "Show" link. Why is that?

Aasim

Top Answerer

You cannot view the password for Windows credentials. You can edit the credential to have the correct password, though.

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How to find my user password? I didn't set up any passwords on my device but it required password to see.

BurgerBoy1000

Community Answer

Try your Microsoft account password. Make sure to use the main Microsoft account password. If you use an offline account, try asking the Windows community.

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Tips

A password manager, like LastPass or 1Password, can be a helpful way to keep track of your different passwords.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.}

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You can also write passwords down in a notebook and store it somewhere safe to keep track of them.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.}

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To view your saved passwords in Google Chrome, click the menu at the top-right corner of the browser, select Settings, and then click Passwords. Click the eyeball icon next to any password you want to view.

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