Vista: Show or Unhide File Extensions

Contributor Icon Contributed by Hack_Vista Date Icon March 14, 2006  
Tag Icon 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:

    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

 
  • 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.
  • 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!
  • 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. =)
  • 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
blog comments powered by Disqus