pwinput
A cross-platform Python module that displays **** for password input. Works on Windows, unlike getpass. Formerly called stdiomask.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need masked password input in a terminal application and can tolerate dormant maintenance. The package is simple, dependency-free, and solves a real getpass limitation. However, the high install friction (source distribution only) and lack of updates since early 2023 mean you should verify it works on your target Python version before relying on it in production.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- High install friction due to source distribution only.
- Maintenance is dormant—last release was over a year ago and no commits since March 2024—though the repository remains active and unarchived.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive and places no restrictions on use, modification, or redistribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
last release 2023-02-16 (1275 days) · last repo commit 2024-03-17 · 47 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 88,242 downloads/mo, #13,739 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pwinput
import pwinput
password = pwinput.pwinput() # Shows * for each typed character
password = pwinput.pwinput(prompt='PW: ', mask='X') # Custom prompt and mask- Whether the package works reliably on all modern Python versions despite classifiers listing only up to 3.9
- Current status of Windows-specific password input behavior compared to standard getpass
- Whether high install friction (source-only distribution) impacts usability in automated deployments
What it is and what it does
pwinput is a lightweight cross-platform module that improves password input by displaying mask characters (typically asterisks) as the user types, addressing a limitation of Python's standard library getpass module. The standard getpass shows nothing as you type; pwinput lets you see visual feedback with a configurable mask character, making it clearer that input is being received.
The module has no runtime dependencies and offers a simple API: call pwinput.pwinput() to prompt for a password with asterisk masking, or customize the prompt text and mask character as needed. It is intended as a drop-in replacement for getpass in scenarios where visual feedback during password entry is desired, particularly on Windows where getpass behavior differs from Unix-like systems.
Use it for
- Interactive CLI tools that need to collect passwords with visual confirmation that input is being registered
- Cross-platform applications requiring consistent password prompting behavior across Windows and Unix-like systems
- Custom authentication dialogs where standard getpass feedback is insufficient for user experience
- Testing or debugging scenarios where seeing mask characters helps verify input capture
- Accessibility improvements in terminal applications where visual feedback aids users with certain input preferences
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need masked password input in a terminal application and can tolerate dormant maintenance.
The package is simple, dependency-free, and solves a real getpass limitation. However, the high install friction (source distribution only) and lack of updates since early 2023 mean you should verify it works on your target Python version before relying on it in production.
Install
pwinput on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to source distribution only. Maintenance is dormant—last release was over a year ago and no commits since March 2024—though the repository remains active and unarchived.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive and places no restrictions on use, modification, or redistribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
Quickstart
pip install pwinput
import pwinput
password = pwinput.pwinput() # Shows * for each typed character
password = pwinput.pwinput(prompt='PW: ', mask='X') # Custom prompt and maskVerify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably on all modern Python versions despite classifiers listing only up to 3.9
- Current status of Windows-specific password input behavior compared to standard getpass
- Whether high install friction (source-only distribution) impacts usability in automated deployments
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 1,275 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 88,242 / month, #13,739 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | License :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9 |
Evidence: pwinput-1.0.3.tar.gz
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