Using long, complex passwords is one of the best ways to protect your WordPress website. But here’s the thing – those secure passwords with random characters and symbols are also really easy to mistype, especially when you can’t see what you’re entering.
The good news is that most modern login forms include a little eye icon that lets you toggle password visibility. This simple feature makes password entry much more reliable without compromising security.
Let’s look at how password visibility works across different WordPress login screens and how you can add this functionality where it might be missing.
WordPress admin login screen password visibility
WordPress has included password visibility toggle by default in the admin login screen for a while now. When you’re typing your password, you’ll see those familiar dots hiding your characters. But click the eye icon next to the password field, and you can see exactly what you’ve typed.
This is particularly helpful when you’re using a password manager or typing a complex password manually. You can quickly spot typos before hitting the login button, which saves you from getting locked out due to multiple failed attempts.
WooCommerce login forms
WooCommerce automatically includes password visibility toggles in its default login and registration forms. You’ll find the eye icon in the password field on both the login screen and when customers are creating new accounts.
This happens without any additional setup – WooCommerce includes this functionality out of the box. If you’re using the standard WooCommerce “My Account” page, your customers already have access to password visibility controls.
But what if you’ve customized your login forms or need to add them to different areas of your site? That’s where plugins come in handy.
Adding password visibility to custom WooCommerce forms
If you’re building custom login forms or need more control over the registration process, the User Registration plugin can help. It’s a solid choice for creating custom forms that work well with WooCommerce.
Here’s how to set it up.
Install the User Registration plugin
- Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard
- Search for “User Registration – Custom Registration Form, Login Form And User Profile For WordPress”
- Click Install Now, then Activate
Turn on password visibility
Once the plugin is active, go to WooCommerce > Settings > User Registration in your WordPress admin. Look for the General tab and make sure the “Show password” option is turned on.
Now any forms you create with the User Registration plugin will include the password visibility toggle. This works for both login and registration forms, and they’ll sync properly with WooCommerce.
Membership site login forms
If you’re running a membership site, you might be using password protection for certain content areas. The PPWP (Password Protect WordPress) plugin lets you protect content and also includes password visibility options for its forms.
To add password visibility to PPWP forms, go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress admin.
Look for “PPWP Single Password Form” in the left sidebar, then click on “Password Form.”
Scroll down to find the “Show Password” section and turn on the show password button.
PPWP customization options
Beyond just showing and hiding passwords, PPWP gives you quite a bit of control over how your password forms look and behave.
- Password form styling – You can change the background, edit the heading text, and customize the description that appears above or below the form. The password field itself can be customized too, including the placeholder text and field labels.
- Error messages – When someone enters the wrong password, PPWP shows an error message. You can customize both the text and the styling of these messages, including font size, colors, and background styling.
- Submit button – The submit button can be styled to match your site’s design. You can change the button text, colors, and overall appearance.
Conclusion – Why password visibility matters
Most people don’t realize how much easier password entry becomes when you can actually see what you’re typing. This is especially true on mobile devices where the smaller keyboards make typos more common.
For your website visitors, being able to toggle password visibility means fewer failed login attempts and less frustration. They can double-check their password before submitting the form, which leads to a smoother user experience overall.
The truth is that password visibility toggles have become standard practice across the web. Users expect to find that little eye icon, and when it’s missing, the login process feels outdated and cumbersome.
Whether you’re using WordPress’s default login forms, WooCommerce, or custom membership forms, adding password visibility is a small change that makes a real difference in usability. Your users will appreciate being able to verify their password entry, especially when they’re using the complex, secure passwords that keep their accounts safe.
