Steps to Display File Extensions on Windows 10

• To enable file extensions visibility on Windows 10, launch File Explorer, then click on “View” and tick the “File name extensions” box. Alternatively, you can access “Folder Options” and uncheck the “Hide extensions for known file types” setting.
• You can also activate this feature through the Settings app or by utilizing Command Prompt or PowerShell.

LAST UPDATED 11/13/24: In Windows 10, a file extension consists of three or four letters that appear after the period in a filename. This extension signifies the file format (examples include .txt, .docx, or .pdf).

While file extensions aren’t crucial for file operation, they can significantly enhance your experience. For instance, they easily illustrate the file format, simplifying the process of choosing the appropriate application to open it. Furthermore, they facilitate the alteration of compatible file types; for instance, one could convert a .txt file into a .bat file for scripting tasks.

It’s important to note that File Explorer conceals extensions by default. This is done to reduce visual clutter, minimize the risk of errors that could cause file inaccessibility, and bolster security. Nevertheless, revealing extensions may simplify your file management tasks.

This guide will walk you through the process of displaying file extensions when using File Explorer on Windows 10.

• Show file extensions via File Explorer in Windows 10
• Show file extensions through Settings in Windows 10
• Show file extensions using Command Prompt in Windows 10

Display file extensions in Windows 10 using File Explorer

Follow these instructions to display file extensions:

1. Launch File Explorer on your Windows 10 device.

2. Select the View tab.

3. Enable the “File name extensions” option.

   

Enable file extensions from Folder Options

You can also make file extensions visible through the “Folder Options” settings by following these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Click on the View tab.

3. Click the Options button.

4. Navigate to the View tab.

5. Uncheck the “Hide extensions for known file types” option.

   

6. Hit the Apply button.

7. Click the OK button.

Once these steps are executed, File Explorer will display extensions for recognized file types.

Enable file extensions visibility in Windows 10 through Settings

To reveal file extensions via the Settings app, follow these instructions:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Update & Security.

3. Select For developers.

4. Locate and click on the File Explorer setting.

5. Check the box labeled “Change settings to show file extensions” .

   

6. Click the Apply button.

After completing these steps, file extensions will become visible in File Explorer.

If the options are unavailable, you may need to adjust them through the “Folder Options” in File Explorer.

This tutorial targets Windows 10, but the functionality to show or hide file extensions has existed for many previous versions, allowing the same processes to be applied to Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and earlier editions.

Display file extensions in Windows 10 using Command Prompt

To reveal file extensions via Command Prompt (or PowerShell), execute these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.

2. Search for Command Prompt or PowerShell, right-click the top entry, and select Run as administrator.

3. Input the following command to enable extensions for files and hit Enter:

   reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

   

After completing the steps, File Explorer on Windows 10 will now display the file extensions.

If you wish to reverse this setting, simply follow the same procedure, but in step 3, execute the following command: reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f.