How to show file extensions in File Explorer in Windows 11

Have you ever downloaded a file and instead of the familiar “Report.docx” or “Photo.jpg” in Explorer, you just see ‘Report’ or “Photo”? This means that the file extensions are hidden in the system. An extension is the few letters after the dot that tell Windows what kind of file it is and which program to open it with.

By default, Windows 11 hides these labels to avoid cluttering the view. But for many, this creates inconvenience. It is difficult to distinguish a Word document from a simple text file or a PNG image from a JPG without opening them.

Fortunately, enabling the display of extensions is very simple. It only takes a couple of clicks in the Explorer settings. Once you do this, you will always see the full names of all your files, which will make working on your computer more informed and convenient.

Different ways to display file name extensions in File Explorer

There are several ways to show file extensions in Windows 11 File Explorer, and you can choose the one that suits you best from the options listed below.

• Using the File Explorer command bar
• Using the Explorer folder settings
• Using the File Explorer column
• Using the registry editor
• Using Windows Terminal
• Using a .bat file

Enabling file name extensions in the File Explorer command bar

This is one of the most convenient ways to show file extensions in Explorer in Windows 11.

1. Open Windows 11 File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar. Alternatively, you can also press the Windows E key combination on your keyboard to open it.

1. Click the icon “Layout and View Settings” in the Explorer ribbon.

1. Now hover your mouse pointer over the option “Show” and in the new context menu, click on the option “File name extensions”, to see extensions for any file on your computer in the future.

Show file name extensions using “Explorer Folder Options”

Although this method requires a few more clicks than the previous one. However, if you need to change several Explorer settings, this is the way to go.

1. First, launch File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar, or in any other way that is convenient for you.

1. Then click the ellipsis … (three horizontal dots) in the Explorer ribbon and click on the option Settings in the drop-down menu.

1. In the window that opens “Folder Options” go to the tab View.

1. Then find the section Advanced Settings line: “Hide extensions for registered file types”, and check the box to cancel the setting.

1. Click the ‘Apply’, to apply the changes, click “OK”, to close the “Folder Options” window.

File extensions will now be visible on your Windows PC.

Add “File Type” column in Explorer

Add columnFile type works differently than all the previous methods. Adding a column will display the file type in a separate column in Explorer. Many people choose this option purely for aesthetic reasons, as this method does not add the extension to the file name, but provides you with important information right on the screen.

Note: Add a column Type will not be able to display file extensions outside of File Explorer on your Windows 11 PC. Meanwhile, all other methods will be able to display file extensions directly on the desktop.

1. To do this, go to the desired folder using Explorer.

1. Right-click on the header bar in File Explorer, located just below the address bar. Then select the option “Type” in the menu to display the column of the same name.

1. After that, you will be able to see the file extensions for each file in a separate column on the screen.

Note: For some files, the file type is displayed in the column instead of the extension. Use the option .EXE files will be displayed as “Application”.

Since this method does not display the extension of all files. It is best suited for users who are already familiar with Windows and have some knowledge of extensions and their corresponding types.

If for some reason none of the above options work for you and you cannot see file extensions in Windows, the registry editor is your best choice.

Sometimes it is important to see the full names of files with their extensions — for example, to distinguish a real document from a malicious file. In Windows 11, extensions are hidden by default, but it's very easy to enable them: open File Explorer, go to the View menu — Options — Change folder and search options, and then on the View tab, uncheck the box next to Hide extensions for known file types. After that, all extensions — such as .docx, .jpg, or .exe — will be visible next to the file names.

Enable file extensions in Explorer using the Registry Editor

1. Open the Registry Editor

1. The following directory. You can also type or copy and paste the following path into the address bar of the Registry Editor:

1. Then, in the right pane of the Registry Editor window, locate and double-click the option HideFileExt.
2. After that, change the value to «0», to always show file extensions, and click “OK” to confirm. If you ever need to hide the file extension, change the value of the parameter "HideFileExt" go to «1».

Note: After editing the registry, you may need to restart Explorer or restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Enable file extensions in File Explorer from the Windows Terminal

Probably one of the fastest ways to enable file name extension display.

1. Run Windows Terminal as an administrator

1. In the tab with “PowerShell” or Command Prompt, type or copy and paste the following command to enable the display of file extensions:

1. To disable the display of extensions, run the following command:

The changes should take effect immediately.

You can also create a .bat command file and use it when you need to show file extensions on multiple computers, or you can create it for your less tech-savvy friends and family members.

Now you know a few simple ways to always see file extensions in Windows 11. This is not just a useful skill, but a good security habit that helps you immediately understand what is hidden behind a file icon.

Choose the method that is more convenient for you — quick activation via the “View” tab or more detailed settings in the folder parameters. The main thing is that you can easily manage this at any time.

This small adjustment will make your work on the computer a little more conscious and secure. You will no longer confuse an image with a text document and will always know the type of file you are opening.