Plenty of Mac users prefer Google Chrome as their browser of choice. Since Chrome allows you to save log-in credentials for websites, how do you view saved passwords on Google Chrome Mac?
My name is Andreas, I’m a software engineer, and I’ve asked myself this question. If you’re reading this article, I will show you how to view saved passwords on Google Chrome for macOS devices.
Sit tight, and let’s start.
Contents
Step-by-Step Guide on How to View Passwords in Google Chrome
There is an easy way to view saved passwords in Google Chrome on Mac devices. Here are the steps you need to take.
- Open Google Chrome on your Mac and go to settings (three dots on the top-right side).
- Go to “Settings” > “Autofill.”
- Click on the “show” icon next to the password you want to view.
It’s that easy. In the “Saved passwords” section, you can see all the websites you have an account with. It will show you the username and hide the password.
You need to manually click on the show icon to view a specific password. Google Chrome, and many other browsers, have this feature as a security measure. You can even manually search for passwords using the search option.
Google Chrome also checks compromised passwords linked to your Google account. It’s probably the best feature of the browser in this regard. Google performs a quick check and tells you if there are any compromised passwords.
Not only that, it tells you if you have any weak passwords.
Why Does Google Chrome Save Passwords?
Google Chrome will ask you to save your login credentials with every new website log-in or every time you make a new account. But why does the browser do it?
Password managers are handy tools that save passwords. Instead of using a password manager tool, you can save passwords through Google Chrome.
The browser does this out of convenience. Not everyone remembers every password used to log in to websites. While some of you tend to write it down, others save the password in Chrome. But is this the best way to go about it?
No doubt password manager tools are necessary for this day in age. They keep your log-in information safe and secure. Google Chrome, although handy, isn’t the best option to keep passwords safe.
View Saved Passwords Through Keychain Access
There is another way to view saved passwords on your Mac. Apple has an integrated password manager tool that works across the board. The feature is called Keychain Access.
Mac users can see saved passwords for websites using this feature. However, this feature doesn’t work with Google Chrome. Instead, it works for Safari, Wi-Fi networks, and desktop apps.
If you want to see passwords through Keychain Access, here is what you need to do.
- Go to “Applications” > “Utilities.”
- Run “Keychain Access.”
- Using the search feature in the top-right corner, search the website you want to find your log-in information.
- Double click on the website name to view the saved password.
- Apple pays a lot of attention to security and will ask for your Mac password to continue. You can also allow for long-term use or allow for one-time use.
- In the “Password” field, Keychain Access will show you the password for the website, Wi-Fi network, or desktop app.
Keychain Access is Apple’s native password manager tool. However, it isn’t the only tool out there. I recommend using a third-party tool such as LastPass for all of your password management needs.
How to Import Google Chrome Passwords to Safari
Let’s say you don’t want to use Chrome and want to switch to Safari. But you don’t remember any of your passwords, and you can’t go through the hassle of “forgetting” each one.
There is a convenient and fast way to import your Chrome password manager library to Safari. Apple has a built-in feature that makes it easy to manage saved passwords from the Chrome browser to Safari.
Here is what you need to do.
- Launch Safari and click on “File.”
- Navigate to “Import From” > “Google Chrome.”
- A small window will appear, and Safari will ask what to import. You will be shown three options – bookmarks, history, and passwords. Select “passwords” to import Chrome saved passwords to Safari.
- Click on “Import” and “Allow.”
The import feature makes it easy to manage your browsing history and bookmarks. It might take up to a few minutes for the import process to finish. But at the end of it, you’ll have access to all passwords stored on Google Chrome.
How to Export Saved Passwords from Google Chrome on Mac
Let’s say you’re using a different web browser that doesn’t automatically import from Chrome. Fear not, as there is an easy way to export Chrome passwords in .csv format.
Here is what you need to do.
- Launch Google Chrome and go to settings (three dots in the top-right corner).
- Go to “Settings” > “Autofill” > “Passwords.”
- Click on the three dots next to “saved passwords” and select “Export passwords.”
- Confirm the action, select a file name, and export location.
By performing these steps, you will have access to all of your passwords in a readable format. You don’t need any software to view the file. Exporting passwords is a convenient way to have access to website login information.
However, ensure that no one else has access to this file.
Conclusion
That concludes my guide on how to view saved passwords on Google Chrome Mac. As you can see, the process is straightforward. If you’re using Chrome on Mac and want to transfer passwords over to Safari, there is a way to do that.
I hope that you found this guide helpful. If not, let me know at the bottom what you think it’s the best way to view saved passwords on Google Chrome and what password manager tool I should be using.
