File Name Extensions Showcase Skills on Windows 11/10/8/7

Have you ever wondered how to view file extensions like .txt, .jpg, or .exe on your Windows computer? By default, Windows hides these extensions, which can sometimes lead to confusion when you're managing files. 

In this post, we'll walk you through how to display file name extensions on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. By taking follow-up steps, you can easily view and manage your files based on their full names, including extensions.

What are file extensions? 

File extensions are the suffixes at the end of a file name, typically consisting of 3-4 characters, that indicate the type of data the file contains. The extension helps the operating system and software programs recognize how to open and handle the file. For example:

The extension is separated from the file name by a dot (.). For instance, in the file name document.txt, txt is the extension that tells the system the file is a plain text file.

How to display file name extensions on Windows 11/10/8/7

By default, Windows hides file extensions for known file types, such as .txt, .jpg, .exe, etc. This can sometimes cause confusion if you're unsure what type of file you're dealing with. To show file name extensions, you can easily change a setting in Windows. Here's how:

For Windows 11 and Windows 10:

For Windows 8 and 7: 

This will make all file extensions visible so you can identify file types at a glance. If you accidentally delete or lose the files you are dealing with, use iBoysoft Data Recovery for Windows to retrieve them with ease. Click the green button to try.

Bonus tip on showing full file names 

Sometimes, file names might get truncated (cut off) in File Explorer if the window or column isn't wide enough. To ensure full file names are displayed:

You can resize the column in Windows 10/11 by dragging the column header to the right to make space. You also can change the View by switching to List or Details view in File Explorer to give more space for displaying file names. Additionally, you can make the File Explorer window itself wider, which will also help prevent file names from being cut off.

Bonus tip on handling long file paths or names 

If you're encountering errors or difficulties when trying to move or copy files, it might be because the file path or name is too long. Windows has a default 260-character limit for file paths (which includes the file name and folder names). Here are several ways to handle long file names or paths:

Solution 1. Move the file to a shorter path: 

Moving the file to a folder with a shorter path (e.g., C:\Temp) can also help avoid path length issues.

Solution 2. Use Command Prompt:

For files with long paths, you can move or rename them using Command Prompt or tools like Robocopy.

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Solution 3. Use a third-party tool 

There are specialized third-party tools designed to handle long file paths. These tools may allow you to copy, move, or rename files with long names or paths without encountering errors.

Final thought

Whether you're working on file identification, renaming files, or ensuring proper file handling, seeing the full file name—including its extension—is essential. By making sure that file extensions are visible, file names are fully displayed, and long paths are handled correctly, you'll have better control over your files and avoid common issues related to file management. When you rename a file in Windows, you can see the file name extension as long as you have configured Windows to display file extensions. 

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