Vista: Show or Unhide File Extensions

Contributed by Hack_Vista

March 14, 2006

Tagged: Microsoft Vista

Most power users of vista will want to see file extensions for all files. Here is how to see file extensions when browsing in explorer.

What the heck! Doesn’t windows know that seeing file extensions and people learning what file extensions are is a good thing?

Geesh.

Here is how to turn it back on in vista.

Enable the Display of File Extensions in Vista:

Layout

Views

3. Click Folder Options
4. Click the View tab
5. Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types
6. Click OK

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Snarky

my vista was a little different but I figured it out. Thx!

John Wirt

This does NOT work. When I open Explorer there is no Layout button next to the Views button.

VIsta is like this. A pure pile of ..... It changes in unexpected ways everywhere you go.

What was the theory of design in Vista. Decide what to display in the same screen situation but whatever time of day it is?

Junk.

Guyton455

Thanks.

SpaceOdyssey42

thanks. I always have to use special software to open files with vista, vista tends to be a programmers nightmare, although I still prefer it to xp which I felt was too limiting, I'm waiting for a price drop before upgrading to windows 7.

Cunt

thank you.

estuary

I finally found this a year later!! - all of the stupid work-arounds I have wasted time on. This has been driving me crazy. Thank you.

iknowwhatiamtalkingabout

usless article

Ercolone

you are absolutely right, Vista and Windows 7 treat people like idiots and instead on improve skills they like to see them lost when they use a computer

deathtap

I couldn't agree more with the sentiments here.

bergice

I was shocked to find out vista didnt do this automatically and havent changed it until now but i noticed the icon didnt show up for me. Instead i had to press ALT to open advanced options and then press Tools and select Folder Options :)

Rosario267

Thank you!

Toy

When I insert my Flash drive I see files and folder in my flash drive they are hid, and than I properties on those file and folder I see Hidden check box were check, I can not unchecked, I know that this is virus effect, pls tell me how to fix.
Thx!

Toy

Hi,
My computer use Windows Vista, i can see the image file just view medium Icons in View menu, but now can't see, I don't know why? Pls tell me how to fix this problem.
Thank!

Name

Thank you! That would've taken me a while to find. Hopefully I won't have this much trouble getting accustomed to Windows 7 when I upgrade :)

Dan

my files are still showing them, and I HAVE made sure that it doesn't show, pls help, they're a mess,

girlgeek

my version of Vista (SP2) doesn't show a layout button!

mohammedshamshi

Thanxxxss..............

Hephzibah

Thank you. Very much.

And, why is screen Display (wallpaper) under "E" for Ease of Access, in Control Panel?????!!!!?

Never mind Office 2007, where I had to Google too find the Print command for the trial version........

Hephzibah

Thank you. Very much.

And, why is screen Display (wallpaper) under "E" for Ease of Access, in Control Panel?????!!!!?

Never mind Office 2007, where I had to Google too find the Print command for the trial version........

kushagra

thanks nice work dear

fhavas

Vista is like that beautiful new Volvo, if I pop the hood I have no clue what to do. I am used to my Fiat, pop the hood and change the oil, easy peasy

Me

Thanks, It seems that My system decided to change this on instruction from MS, Its a reel pain in the Arse.

Compyouter

This didn't work for me.

Compyouter

This doesn't work.

Steve

Thanks.
Dumb MS for hiding the file extension.

Rafael

Nice and easy. If there any way to show all file extension in all folders instead of just doing the same operation one by one?

Thank you!

Scott Priestley

Thanks!
I recently made the leap to Vista and do a lot of file-level work and a quick search led me to your post!

eljay

Thank you!

who@yahoo.com

if u dont have the layout button just go to tools folder options is there

thesfid

Thank you!

Juni

Thanks...

stupid Vista!!!

Anonymous

Thanks, experienced computer user getting used to Vista. Dammed oddities :P

fedup

This is Rubbish. I dont even have a Layout button. Next to Vies is Organise.

Vista is Rubbish. I hate it with a passion.

shane

My layout buttion doesnt have that option.... and my layout button can only be found under organize

demis

Fortunatelly, all CMD commands remain in VISTA. Thus, you can enter "control folders" in RUN menu (start menu) in order to open the folder options.

Hope that helped :)

Angela

Thank you very much!

Mark

Thank you!

wayneski

yea microcrap, hiding extension to what end exactly??????

geez, like we are going to be a good little servant to your every whim. nice try jack ass.

tinky2jed

I have Vista-64, but there is no layout button to the left of the other buttons. Now what?

trek

There's an organize button that is different than the layout button on mine, but in the same location (perhaps SP1 changed this?) but through liberal application of brain power you should be able to figure it out once you find the right button

STEVEN

There is no layout button to the left of the Views button.

Fish

Thanks so much! You saved me from much heartache and headache. I needed to change a file ext. to be able to play my kids wrestling videos! Thanks again!

wolfwatcher

Thank you so much! I had to change a file extension to run a program for school and could not figure this out (I've had vista for 3 days). You guys rock =)

desparatelyseekingchocolate

THANK YOU!!! This has been driving me nuts!!!!

neha

thankx

dkl

Thank you. It takes forever to find these annoying little details on your own. This one is my particular pet peeve with vista. Actually I have a "cat lady" type collection of peeves with vista, not just a single pet, but this one is first. Thanks for helping me get rid of it.

Regs

this is a little outdated (for me at least): almost the same, but instead of hitting layout, you have to click organise and find layout from there.

thanks for pointing me the right way though

kyle

if like me you dont have that button, click organize then layout and check mark menu bar. go to tool>options, click the view tab and its right there.

Matthew

OMFG! thanks so much man, i so hate that. i never knew how to change that, i usualy had to which computers to change it.. gosh, thanks again. :D

Anthony

MYN IS IN CHINESE CUSE I CAN ONLY GET LEGAL CHINESE VISTA HERE AND I CAN'T READ ANY CRAP ON IT!! i ticked everything and unticked eveyrthing cuse i can't read chinese but there was no difference

freetrial

If you hit Alt key, it will show you all of the other options just like XP. =)

zzapper

Cruel-cruel Mickeysoft, thanks a bunch for hiding this feature so well.

Thanks for the Alt Key Tip

phew
zzapper

mike

YEAH!

THANKS, THE ALT KEY IS THE SH*T

now i see the things that i know how to manipulate!

kyle

easier than my method lol. good job good info. i never knew that!

Hawk

Seems like Mickysoft just keeps finding new ways of making the computer more difficult to operate. I don't understand why. :<

Fraser

Thanks, my version of vista is a bit different so it took my a awhile to find the layout link :P

anon

Just another reason VIsta is terrible

jan frederiksen

well, thank you for that. I'm new to Vista and I find it difficult to adjust & find the things I'm used to from XP.

Utkarsh

Great man..thanks for the support.
Vista is new....so we will take time to know it.

UghMS

Which is exactly the problem with MS. For some reason they think it's ok to force their users to relearn how to do everything each time they release a new OS, all under the misguided notion that they have somehow made it easier to use (especially for new users). My favorite such thing is the dynamic start menu where things move around based on a complex algorithm of how often it's been clicked on and how much MS thinks I should be using a program. That's the only way I can explain why IEXPLORER keeps ending up near the top of the start list.

Steph

Thanks!

Crazy Vista, before I read this I had not even NOTICED that tool bar in the explorer.

M.

Thanks... for some odd reason I had thought it to be under, Customize this folder.

MF

Thanks!
I cannot understand that M$ cannot undserstand that this is a good thing. Stupid f***ing M$...
// MVHMF

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