On Windows 10, a file extension are the three (or more) letters that come after the period at the end of the name, which indicates the format type of the file.
Although the operating system doesn’t depend on the extension embedded on the name after the file is saved, it’s a useful visual guide for users to quickly understand the format that a file is using, and it allows users to change the file extension as necessary.
In this guide, you’ll learn the easy steps to show extensions for files while using File Explorer on Windows 10.
How to show file extensions using File Explorer
Show file extensions on Windows 10:
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Open File Explorer.
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Click the View tab.
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Check the File name extensions option.
Show file extensions on File Explorer
Alternatively, you can also use these steps to show file extensions:
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Open File Explorer.
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Click the View tab.
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Click the Options button.
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Click the View tab.
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Clear the Hide extensions for known file types option.
Show extensions for known files on File Explorer -
Click the Apply button.
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Click the OK button.
Once you’ve completed the steps, File Explorer will show extensions (for example, .txt, .exe, and .docx) for known files types.
This guide focuses on Windows 10, but the ability to hide and show file extensions has been around for long time, which means that you can use the same steps to show extensions on Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and older versions.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].