How to Show File Extensions in Windows 10 and Windows 11

If you're wondering how to display file extensions in Windows 10 and Windows 11, the process is simple and won't take much time. Hiding or disabling file extensions can be inconvenient, especially when you need to distinguish between files with similar names but different extensions. Here's how to fix this.

Windows 10: How to Enable File Extensions

1. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar or using the hotkey Win + E.

2. In the top menu, click on the View tab.

3. In the Show/Hide group, find the File name extensions option and check the box next to it.

Now, you'll see file extensions in the Explorer window. For example, instead of just seeing document, you'll see document.txt or document.docx.

Windows 11: How to Enable File Extensions

The process in Windows 11 is very similar to Windows 10. Follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer using the hotkey Win + E or by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar.

2. Click the three dots button in the upper-right corner to open the menu, and select Options.

3. In the new window, go to the View tab.

4. Under Advanced settings, find the option Hide extensions for known file types and uncheck the box.

5. Click OK, and now file extensions will be visible in Explorer.

Why Show File Extensions?

Displaying file extensions can be useful for preventing accidental mistakes when working with files. For example, if you want to change the file format, it’s important to know what type of data it contains. It also helps avoid phishing attacks, where a file might appear to be a regular document, but in reality, it could be an executable program with a .exe extension.

By enabling file extensions, you gain more control over your files and can work with them more safely and conveniently.