You might have a file called “Presentation” that shows a PDF icon. How displaying file extensions can benefit you?

When you can’t see the extension, you can’t tell whether it is a safe document or a harmful program. exe is one of the extensions that Windows runs as a program when you double-click on it. Setting Windows to display extensions is useful for security. Why should you show file extensions in Windows? The problem is not bad because the file type is inferred from the extensions.Īn extension is usually three or four digits long, but it may be longer. We often talk about file types when we mean extensions. If you have a document named Presentation.pptx, Windows knows it’s a Powerpoint document and will open it in Microsoft Powerpoint. The main reason for using file types is that the operating system (Windows) and the programs can tell what types of documents they can handle you cannot edit the audio file with a word processor. On the File menu, choose “Change folder and search options”.Under the View tab, uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types” and click OK.įile Explorer Options can also be accessed directly from the Explorer.Select the File Explorer Options in the search result list.In the search bar (located on the left-hand side of your taskbar), type File Explorer Options.Now you can see extensions in the name list.Īn alternative solution to show file extensions in Windows: There is a setting called “Hide extensions on known file types” in File Explorer Options. Select the “File name extensions” tick box.In Windows 10, how do I show the file extension? Activate the “File name extensions tick” box. Launch Windows File Explorer using the taskbar icon or Win key + E. Show file extensions in Windows 10 in three stepsġ.

How to view file types in windows 10