How to Show File Extensions in Windows 10

To show file extensions in Windows 10, open File Explorer, select View, then check File name extensions in the Show/hide group. File Explorer will add endings such as .docx, .jpg, and .exe to the names it displays. The change is a viewing preference; it does not rename or convert your files.

You can also turn on extensions from Folder Options if you prefer the older settings dialog. Both methods affect how names appear in File Explorer.

What a file extension tells you

A filename usually has a name, a period, and an extension: in budget.xlsx, “budget” is the name and .xlsx is the extension. Extensions help Windows associate a file with apps that can open it and choose an icon. They are useful for distinguishing, for example, a Word document (.docx), a spreadsheet (.xlsx), an image (.jpg), and a PDF (.pdf). Windows can have more than one app associated with an extension, so the ending does not identify one exclusive program. Microsoft’s guide to common file name extensions explains common formats and notes that changing an extension alone does not convert a file.

Show extensions from File Explorer

This is the quickest option on a Windows 10 PC with the classic File Explorer ribbon. You do not need administrator access.

1. Open File Explorer. Press Windows + E, or select the folder icon on the taskbar. Open a folder such as Documents or Downloads so you can check the result.

2. Select the View tab. The Windows 10 ribbon appears across the top of the File Explorer window. Look for the Show/hide group.

3. Check File name extensions. Select the checkbox. A check mark means the setting is on. If it is already checked, extensions are enabled; select it once to turn them off, or leave it checked to keep showing them.

4. Confirm the filenames changed. Look in the folder you opened. Names may now end in .pdf, .png, .txt, or another suffix. The file ending appears after the last period, even when the rest of the name contains periods.

Use Folder Options instead

If the checkbox is unavailable or you prefer the dialog, Windows 10 also has the same preference in File Explorer’s folder settings. Microsoft documents this route in its File Explorer instructions.

1. Open File Explorer and select View on the ribbon.

2. Select Options, then Change folder and search options. In the Folder Options dialog, open the View tab.

3. Under Advanced settings, find Hide extensions for known file types. Clear its checkbox to display extensions.

4. Select Apply if it is available, then select OK. Return to a folder and check the filenames.

Use extensions carefully

Showing endings can help you notice a mismatch. For example, a download named invoice.pdf.exe is an executable program, not a PDF, because .exe is the final extension. Do not open an unexpected executable just because its earlier text or icon looks familiar. File names and icons can be misleading, and seeing an extension does not prove a file is safe.

Also, do not rename a file’s suffix to change its format. Renaming photo.jpg to photo.pdf changes its displayed name, not the image data, and may make the file harder to open. Use an app’s Export or Save As command when you need a different format.

If extensions still are not visible

• Return to the View ribbon and make sure File name extensions is checked, or confirm that Hide extensions for known file types is cleared in Folder Options.
• Press F5 to refresh the folder, or close and reopen File Explorer. A computer restart is usually unnecessary.
• To inspect one file, right-click it, choose Properties, and check Type of file on the General tab. This reports Windows’ recognized type; it does not verify that a download is trustworthy.

Frequently asked questions

Does showing file extensions change the files?

No. It changes what File Explorer displays. The file’s contents and name remain the same until you rename or edit it.

Does a visible extension make a file safe?

No. It helps you see the file’s ending, which can reveal some misleading names, but it is not a security scan. Only open files from sources you trust and use your security software to check unexpected downloads.