Yes... there is... you need to disable "full file encryption".
Goto "Wallet -> Password"... enter your password and make sure that the "Encrypt Wallet File" option is NOT checked:
Electrum has
three levels of "encryption":
1. NO encryption... if you have NO password, then the whole wallet file, including "secrets" like private keys and seeds are stored in plaintext and readable in a text editor.
2. Password ONLY... if you have a password, but disable wallet file encryption, then the wallet is still "plaintext", but secrets like private keys and seeds are stored encrypted. Password is NOT required to just open the wallet file.
3. Full wallet file encryption... If you have a password and select "encrypt wallet file", then then entire wallet file is stored encrypted on disk and the password
is required to open the wallet.
By selecting Option #2, you will be able to open your wallet in Electrum and see transactions/balances etc... but will NOT be able to send transactions or sign messages (ie. anything that requires access to a private key)
without the password... just like Bitcoin Core
