EM_SETPASSWORDCHAR message

Sets or removes the password character for an edit control. When a password character is set, that character is displayed in place of the characters typed by the user. You can send this message to either an edit control or a rich edit control.

Parameters

wParam

The character to be displayed in place of the characters typed by the user. If this parameter is zero, the control removes the current password character and displays the characters typed by the user.

lParam

This parameter is not used.

Return value

This message does not return a value.

Remarks

When an edit control receives the EM_SETPASSWORDCHAR message, the control redraws all visible characters using the character specified by the wParam parameter. If wParam is zero, the control redraws all visible characters using the characters typed by the user.

If an edit control is created with the ES_PASSWORD style, the default password character is set to an asterisk (*). If an edit control is created without the ES_PASSWORD style, there is no password character. The ES_PASSWORD style is removed if an EM_SETPASSWORDCHAR message is sent with the wParam parameter set to zero.

Edit controls: Multiline edit controls do not support the password style or messages.

Rich Edit: Supported in Microsoft Rich Edit 2.0 and later. Both single-line and multiline edit controls support the password style and messages. For information about the compatibility of rich edit versions with the various system versions, see About Rich Edit Controls.

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client
Windows Vista [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server
Windows Server 2003 [desktop apps only]
Header
Winuser.h (include Windows.h)

See also

EM_GETPASSWORDCHAR