Vista and Windows 7: Show or Unhide File Extensions

Contributor Icon Contributed by Jimmy Selix  
Tag Icon Tagged: Microsoft Vista  

Most power users of Windows will want to see file extensions for all files. Here is how to see file extensions when browsing in explorer. This technique works for Vista and Windows 7.

File name extensions are the characters at the end of a file name that tells Windows what application should run and open the file. The file extensions are preceeded by a period. For example, in config.sys the .sys is the file extension.

As changing file extensions can confuse Windows when trying to open the file, by default Windows hides these file extensions by default. This is an attempt to protect users from accidentally changing the file extension when renaming the file.

However, power users will always need the ability to see file extensions in order to debug or to do advanced functions. Many tutorials here on tech-recipes, for example, require the visibility of file extensions to be enabled through this technique.

Enable the Display of File Extensions in Vista or Windows 7:

1. Open a folder or open explorer
2. Click the Layout button (to the left of the Views button) as shown in the picture below.

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

After this, the file extensions should be visible and no longer hidden.

 

68 Comments -


  1. MF said on October 4, 2008

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

  2. M. said on November 4, 2008

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

  3. Steph said on November 14, 2008

    Thanks!

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

  4. Utkarsh said on December 16, 2008

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

  5. jan frederiksen said on December 18, 2008

    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.

  6. anon said on December 19, 2008

    Just another reason VIsta is terrible

  7. Fraser said on December 19, 2008

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

  8. Hawk said on December 24, 2008

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

  9. UghMS said on December 27, 2008

    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.

  10. freetrial said on January 16, 2009

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

  11. Anthony said on January 17, 2009

    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

  12. Matthew said on January 26, 2009

    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

  13. kyle said on January 29, 2009

    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.

  14. kyle said on January 29, 2009

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

  15. Regs said on February 10, 2009

    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

  16. dkl said on February 20, 2009

    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.

  17. neha said on February 25, 2009

    thankx

  18. desparatelyseekingchocolate said on March 4, 2009

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

  19. wolfwatcher said on March 4, 2009

    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 =)

  20. mike said on March 7, 2009

    YEAH!

    THANKS, THE ALT KEY IS THE SH*T

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

  21. Fish said on March 23, 2009

    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!

  22. STEVEN said on March 26, 2009

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

  23. tinky2jed said on March 30, 2009

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

  24. wayneski said on April 6, 2009

    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.

  25. Mark said on April 25, 2009

    Thank you!

  26. trek said on April 26, 2009

    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

  27. Angela said on April 28, 2009

    Thank you very much!

  28. shane said on May 8, 2009

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

  29. demis said on May 11, 2009

    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 :)

  30. zzapper said on May 18, 2009

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

    Thanks for the Alt Key Tip

    phew
    zzapper

  31. fedup said on May 24, 2009

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

    Vista is Rubbish. I hate it with a passion.

  32. Anonymous said on May 28, 2009

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

  33. Juni said on June 1, 2009

    Thanks…

    stupid Vista!!!

  34. thesfid said on June 3, 2009

    Thank you!

  35. who@yahoo.com said on June 6, 2009

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

  36. eljay said on June 16, 2009

    Thank you!

  37. Scott Priestley said on June 19, 2009

    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!

  38. Rafael said on June 30, 2009

    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!

  39. Steve said on July 10, 2009

    Thanks.
    Dumb MS for hiding the file extension.

  40. Anonymous said on July 30, 2009

    This doesn’t work.

  41. Anonymous said on July 30, 2009

    This didn’t work for me.

  42. Me said on September 30, 2009

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

  43. Anonymous said on October 1, 2009

    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

  44. Anonymous said on October 7, 2009

    thanks nice work dear

  45. Hephzibah said on November 6, 2009

    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……..

  46. Hephzibah said on November 6, 2009

    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……..

  47. Anonymous said on November 12, 2009

    Thanxxxss…………..

  48. girlgeek said on November 15, 2009

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

  49. Dan said on November 21, 2009

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

  50. Name said on January 25, 2010

    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 :)

  51. Toy said on February 4, 2010

    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!

  52. Toy said on February 4, 2010

    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!

  53. Anonymous said on February 19, 2010

    Thank you!

  54. Anonymous said on February 23, 2010

    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 :)

  55. Anonymous said on March 10, 2010

    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

  56. Anonymous said on March 12, 2010

    I couldn’t agree more with the sentiments here.

  57. Anonymous said on May 7, 2010

    usless article

  58. estuary said on June 20, 2010

    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.

  59. Anonymous said on July 17, 2010

    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.

  60. Guyton455 said on July 18, 2010

    Thanks.

  61. John Wirt said on July 20, 2010

    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.

  62. Snarky said on August 20, 2010

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

  63. Jaydenismyworld said on September 16, 2010

    Thank you!! I was wondering if I was going crazy!!

  64. Emusker said on October 11, 2010

    thanks so much!
    looked for like 10 min to try and find the option, never figured the default would be to ‘hide’ file extensions…
    honestly the more people know about extensions, the less they’ll break their computer M$.

  65. Newearth said on October 25, 2010

    thank you bosss

  66. Mlwiltse said on October 25, 2010

    I was just trying to set a file association (Vista 32bit) to a new embroidery program. At somepoint I typed in the name of the program (embird) and all of the file types in 2000 files changed from .jef (the extension my machine looks for) to embird. I can’t figure out how to fix it or even how to get back to the window. Help!

  67. Namme said on January 13, 2011

    I like how people keep saying windows sucks, but at the same time they keep searching for help on the internet ;)

  68. SayNOTOPC said on January 16, 2011

    (Hide file extensions?) Really, M$ makes popups for everything attempting to make things easier (which doesn’t) then they name “Hide File extensions” which “show files extensions”….jesus christ – adios Billie gates…Screw windows dude, MAC here I come…I just can’t take it anymore..I don’t even want to TRY W7…forget it.

 

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