How to show File Extensions in Windows 11/10 – Guide
In Windows 11, easily identify the file type by allowing it to show the file extension next to the file name. File extensions allow any operating system to recognize a file and run it with the appropriate program already installed. While most non-technicians aren’t too concerned about the type of file they’re using, Microsoft Windows doesn’t display the extension of any file.
When downloading files from the internet, it is always a good practice to check the extension of the file to make sure it is safe. This can help protect your computer from malware or ransomware attacks. Additionally, if you are switching to Windows from another operating system (like Linux or macOS), viewing file extensions can help you see which file types Windows uses most quickly. ..
Show file extensions in Windows 11/10
- From the main menu, select “Settings.”
- From the Settings menu, select “System.”
- From the System menu, select “User Accounts and Family Sharing.”
- From the User Accounts and Family Sharing menu, select “Accounts.”
- On the Accounts screen, under “Family sharing,” click on the name of the family member you want to share your account with. ..
Open the File Explorer options in the Windows 10 Start screen. This opens a menu that lets you control how files are displayed in the File Explorer.
Windows Explorer provides a variety of tools to help you manage your files and folders. The Ribbon is a row of buttons along the top of the window that lets you quickly access these tools. ..
To access the command prompt, type “cmd” into the Start menu search bar and press Enter. At the command prompt, type “cd” followed by the drive letter of your computer’s C: drive. For example, if your computer is on drive C:, you would type “cd c”. Next, type “cmd” and press Enter. At the command prompt, type “type cmd” and press Enter. This will open a list of commands that you can use to manage your computer. To access a specific command, type its name and press Enter. For example, to open the Windows Command Prompt (cmd), you would type “cmd” and then enter “windows.” ..
The Group Policy Editor is a tool that can be used to manage group policies. It can be used to create, edit, and delete group policies. ..
Via folder options or file explorer
- Open File Explorer and click on the three lines in the top left corner of the window.
- On the left side of the window, you will see a list of folders and files.
- Click on the three lines in the top right corner of the window to see a list of file extensions.
In the Appearance and Personalization section, you can change the appearance of your computer. You can choose to have your computer look like a standard Windows computer or a Mac computer. You can also choose to have your computer look like a different type of device, such as a phone or tablet.
In Folder Options, click on the “View” tab and then click on the “Hidden” button. Now, in File Explorer, click on the “Open” button and then select the “My Documents” folder. Now, in My Documents, open the “Folder Options” file and then click on the “Hidden” button.
In the View tab, select the Grid view.
This tab allows you to hide extensions for known file types, which will make it easier for you to find and open files that you know are not safe to browse.
Apply and OK.
Windows 10 users can also search for File Explorer Options in the Start Search box and open that box. Now, you can see file extensions for all files anywhere on your Windows system. In Windows 10/8.1 Explorer, you can access File Explorer options via the View menu > Options > Change Folder and Search Options. Once here, you can do whatever you need as explained above. ..
In Windows 7, open Explorer, press Alt on your keyboard to make the classic bar appear. Then click Tools > Folder Options. Now follow the steps mentioned above. These are very simple steps to follow and you don’t need any third party software to view file extensions. Windows offers us everything that can be easily achieved, and the goal is to know and implement them. This is the first way to see file extensions in Windows 7.
Through Windows File Explorer
In Windows 11, the filename extension can be seen by looking in the “File” menu and selecting “Open file with extensions.”
To view the current document, click View in the top menu. ..
The file extensions you see in the File Explorer window are the most common file types on your computer. They include .jpg, .doc, and .txt. ..
In Windows 10, you can view file name extensions by opening Explorer and clicking the View tab. You can check the Filename Extensions box to see if there are any added file name extensions.
Using Registry Editor
To open the Windows Registry Editor, press the WINKEY + R button combination, type regedit in the dialog box that appears, and press Enter. ..
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon In the right pane, locate the “Userinit” key. If it is not present, create a new key named “Userinit” and set its value to “C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe”. ..
The DWORD entry is hidden by the system if it exists.
Double-click on the DWORD entry and set its value to 0. This will show hidden file extensions.
A value of 0 will hide file extensions on the system.
Exit Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Use the Windows Command Prompt
This fix can be used in both scenarios mentioned above. Insert a Windows 11/10 installer drive on a computer that is not currently running Windows 10.
To start the Command Prompt with Administrator privileges, press WINKEY + X combinations and select Command Prompt (Admin).
C:\Windows\system32\drivers C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc C:\Windows\system32\drivers C:\Windows\system32\drivers\usbport.sys The following files are found on a Windows 10 device: C:\Windows\system32\drivers C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc C:\Windows\system32.comcast_logitech_usb_1_5e1c.sys C:\Windows.comcast_logitech_usb_1_5e1c.inf C:\windows.comcast_logitech_usb2.sys C:\windows.comcast_logitech_usb2.inf
Hide File Extensions
Using the Group Policy Editor
You can use the Group Policy Editor to change the setting here.
In the Folder Options window, you can control how your computer stores files and folders. You can choose to keep files and folders in the same location, or create new folders and store files in them.
Final note
Windows 10 includes a new feature that allows you to see the file extensions of files. This can be helpful if you want to know what type of file a particular file is. To see the file extensions in Windows 10, open File Explorer and select the folder or files that you want to view. Right-click on one of the files and select “Properties.” In the “General” tab, under “File Type,” you’ll see a list of file extensions. ..
