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Enhancing File Explorer Functionality- A Guide to Displaying and Managing Extensions

by liuqiyue

How to Show Extensions in File Explorer

In today’s digital age, file extensions play a crucial role in identifying the type of files stored on our computers. These extensions, which are typically three or four letters that follow the dot in a file name, help the operating system determine which program should be used to open a particular file. However, by default, Windows may hide these extensions for aesthetic reasons. If you’re looking to enable the display of file extensions in File Explorer, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out.

Step 1: Open File Explorer

To begin, open File Explorer on your Windows computer. You can do this by clicking on the File Explorer icon on your taskbar, or by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.

Step 2: Access Folder Options

Once File Explorer is open, click on the “View” tab at the top of the window. In the “Show/Hide” group, click on “Options.”

Step 3: Open the View Tab

In the Folder Options window that appears, click on the “View” tab. This tab contains various settings related to how files and folders are displayed in File Explorer.

Step 4: Enable “Hide Extensions for Known File Types”

In the “View” tab, you’ll see a checkbox labeled “Hide extensions for known file types.” By default, this checkbox is selected, which means file extensions are hidden. To display them, clear the checkbox by clicking on it once.

Step 5: Apply and Close

After clearing the checkbox, click on “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes. File Explorer will now display the file extensions for all files on your computer.

Additional Tips

If you want to further customize the appearance of your File Explorer, you can explore other options in the Folder Options window. For instance, you can choose to display the full path in the title bar, show hidden files, folders, and drives, or even change the way icons are displayed.

By following these simple steps, you can easily show extensions in File Explorer and gain a better understanding of the files stored on your computer. This can be particularly helpful when dealing with multiple files of the same type or when troubleshooting file association issues.

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