How to Show File Extensions in Windows 10 [DETAILED GUIDE]

Windows 10 by default hides the file extension from the user view in the File Explorer to keep the directory clean. However, at times you may need it to show file extensions in Windows 10. It also helps you in finding the right program to open a file in case Windows is unable to recognize the right program to run the file.

In this article, we have put together multiple methods to show file extension in Windows 10.

How can I see file extensions in Windows 10?

1. Use Windows File Explorer

1. Open the File Explorer. Click the Folder icon in the taskbar or search for it using the Search bar.
2. Make sure the Ribbon (top) is maximized, and you can see “File, Home, Share and View” tab.
3. Click on the View tab.
   
4. Check “File name Extensions” box under “Show/Hide” section.
5. Now if you open any folder, you should be able to view the file name followed by the extension for all the files.

2. Show File Extension from Control Panel

1. Press Windows Key + R.
2. Type control and press OK.
3. Click on the Appearance and Personalization tab.
   
4. Click on File Explorer Options.
   
5. In the “File Explorer Options” window, click on the View tab.
6. Under Advanced Settings, scroll down and uncheck the box “Hide extensions for known file types“.
   
7. Click Apply and click OK to save the changes. Windows 10 should show file extensions in File Explorer now.

3. Use the Registry Editor

1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
2. Type regedit and click OK.
   
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:
   Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software.
4. And then navigate to Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
5. In the right pane look for the “HideFileExt” DWORD value.
6. Right-click on “HideFileExt” DWORD and select “Modify”.
7. In the value data, type 0 and click OK.
8. Close the registry editor and check if the Windows 10 shows file extensions.

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Show and hide file extensions in Windows 10

Show and hide file extensions in Windows 10

Learn how to show and hide file extensions in Windows 10

Even in the latest version of Windows operating system — Windows 10, the file extensions of known file types that are associated with some software installed in your computer, are still hidden by default.

This is due to Microsoft’s policy which makes it somewhat easier for common users, but at the same time may also be potentially dangerous due security reasons.

Microsoft prefers simplicity over security, which unfortunately means that dangerous and harmful files can be hidden under wrong file type and users does not have fully under control what they opens.

More advanced users of Windows 10 who want to keep their files and data under control can turn off «Hide extensions for known file types» File Explorer feature.

Show hidden file extensions in Microsoft Windows 10

Open File Explorer (This PC) → Click on View option in upper menu to view Ribbon menu → Check the box next the File name extensions option.

If you also want to view hidden files and folders → Check the box next the Hidden items option.

Hide and show file extensions in Windows 10

Another way how to view file extensions in Microsoft Windows 10, but little more complex is:

Open Desktop Control Panel, for example by click by right mouse button on Start button in the left down corner → Select Control Panel option.

Control Panel option in Windows 10

Click on Appearance and Personalization option.

Control Panel in Microsoft Windows 10

Click on Show hidden files and folders option in File Explorer Options group.

Show Hidden files and folders option in Windows 10 Control Panel

Select Show hidden files, folders and drives options and uncheck Hide extensions for known file types box → Apply and OK

File Explorer Options in Windows 10

After the changes are saved, you will be able to see the all file extensions in your Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.

Related software and links:

Microsoft Windows 10
Operating system for deskop, laptop and tablet computers

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Configure Windows 7 to Display File Extensions [How-To]

In all versions of Windows including the latest Windows 7, the file extensions are hidden by default. Perhaps it’s because Microsoft did some case study in the past and found that people don’t like being able to see file extensions. Who knows. All I know is, with hidden file extensions, it’s not easy to (A – Find a file at times and (B – Rename files (specifically their extension.) This is why the below Step-by-Step to configure Windows to display file extensions is one of the first things I do on new systems.

How To Display File Extensions In Windows 7

1. Right-Click the Start Orb, and then Click Open Windows Explorer.

2. In Explorer, Click Organize. Then Click Folder and search options.

3. In the Folder Options window, Click the View tab. Next Click and Uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types check box. Click OK to finish.

All done!

Instantly your files will show their extensions at the end of their file name. Now you can even use the Right-Click > Rename feature to change file extensions manually as well (just make sure you know what you’re doing first.)

How to Show File Extensions in Windows

When dealing with documents, pictures, music or even software install files, it’s very helpful to know your file extension. For example, if the boss emails you a report named «quarterlyreport.xlsx,» you can tell just from the four letters after the period that it’s an Excel spreadsheet, which is compatible only with Office 2007 or later (earlier versions used the .xls extension).

However, Microsoft doesn’t think you need to know about file extensions so it sets Windows to hide them by default, hoping that the file icon and description (ex: «Microsoft Word Document») will give you enough information. Here’s how you can unhide them.

1. Launch Control Panel. In Windows 8 / 8.1, you can get by hitting Windows + X and selecting from the menu that appears.

2. Open Folder Options. If you don’t see the Folder Options icon right away, you can find it by typing Folder Options into the search box at the upper right corner of the control panel window.

3. Select the View tab.

4. Toggle «Hide extensions for known file types» to off. We also recommend changing Hiden files and folders to «Show hidden files, folders and drives» so you can access all of Windows’ system folders.

5. Click Ok. Now, any time you browse your file system, you will see all file extensions.

See windows file extensions

The default setting for Windows is to not display a file’s extension, which is the last period in a file name followed by 2 or 3 letters. Therefore, when viewing files in Windows you would only see the portion of the file name that precedes the last period in it. To show what this means, if you have a file called test.doc.txt, Windows will only display test.doc. From this file name, you would then assume this is a Word document because it looks like it has a .doc extension. In reality, though, when you double-click on it, it would instead open in Notepad because its true, but not visible, extension is actually .txt, which corresponds to a text file. Even more serious is the fact that many malware creators create their infection files so that they exploit this default setting. They do this by distributing files that appear to be harmless, but are in fact an executable file that will execute when you attempt to open it.

For example, let’s say you are sent an email with the zip file attachment and when you unzip it, you see that there is a file called presentation.ppt. From all appearances, this file appears to be a PowerPoint presentation, which are typically innocuous, and therefore you open it. On the other hand, if the viewing of file extensions was enabled, you would instead see that this file is called presentation.ppt.exe, which is strangely named executable and thus far more dangerous.

Not being able to see file name extensions only causes unnecessary confusion and security risks. With this in mind, this tutorial will explain how to display file extension in Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

How to view file name extensions in Windows XP

1. Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2. Click on the Start button. This is the small round button ( ) in the lower left corner of your screen that has a Windows flag on it.
3. When the start menu appears, click on the My Computer menu option.
4. Your My Computer screen should open as shown below.

Now click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options. .

You will now be at your desktop and Windows XP will be configured to show all hidden files.

If you have any questions about this process please feel free to post them in our Windows XP forum.

How to view file name extensions in Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. Close all programs so that you are at your desktop.
2. Click on the Start button. This is the small round button ( ) in the lower left corner of your screen that has a Windows flag on it.
3. In the search field type Show hidden as shown in the image below.

When you see the Show hidden files and folders listing appear, as shown by the black arrow above, click on it to open the Folder Options Control Panel.

When the control panel opens you will see a screen similar to the one below.

Remove the check mark from the checkbox labeled Hide extensions for known file types. Once this is done, your Folder Options screen should look similar to the image above.

You will now be at your desktop and Windows Vista or Windows 7 will be configured to show all hidden files.

If you have any questions about this process please feel free to post them in our Windows Vista forum or Windows 7 forum.

How to view file name extensions in Windows 8 and Windows 10

1. When in Windows 8 or Windows, open any folder that you wish.
   1. When the folder is opened, please single-click on the View tab. Once you click on this tab, you will be shown a screen similar to the one below.

   

You will now be able to see file name extensions in Windows 8.

If you have any questions about this process please feel free to post them in our Windows 8 forum.

Users who read this also read:

What is a File Extension?

A file extension, or file name extension, is the letters immediately shown after the last period in a file name. For example, the file extension.txt has an extension of .txt. This extension allows the operating system to know what type of file it is and what program to run when you double-click on it. There are no particular rules regarding how an extension should be formatted other than it must .

Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet

Let’s face it, the Internet is not a very safe place. There are hackers trying to access your computer, worms trying to infect you, malicious Trojans disguised as helpful programs, and spyware that reports your activities back to their makers. In many cases those who become infected unknowingly become a breeding ground for unwanted programs and criminal activity. It does not have to be this .

How to show filename extensions on a Mac

The default setting for Mac OS is to not display a file’s extension. For those who want to view the full filename, rather than having the extension removed automatically , this tutorial will provide information on how to make it so you view the extensions for all files on your computer or for just an individual one.

How to change the default program a file opens with in Windows 7

When you open files that have a particular file extension, Windows will look at its configuration to determine what the default program should be in order to work with these files. The default program that is assigned to a particular extension, though, may not be what you want to use. Therefore, it is possible to change the default program that is launched when you double-click on a particular .

How to see hidden files in Windows

By default Windows hides certain files from being seen with Windows Explorer or My Computer. This is done to protect these files, which are usually system files, from accidentally being modified or deleted by the user. Unfortunately viruses, spyware, and hijackers often hide there files in this way making it hard to find them and then delete them.

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