Windows 7 - Show - Hide Known File Extensions - Add to Context Menu

   Information

A file name extension is a set of characters added to the end of a file name that identifies the file type or format that determines what default program should open it.

This will show you how to add or remove Show/Hide Known File Extensions to the desktop, library, and folder window's context menu for all users to be able to toggle Hide extensions for known file types on or off in Vista and Windows 7.

   Note

When you right click on the Desktop and click on Show/Hide Known File Extensions, you will need to refresh (F5) the desktop to see the known file extensions show or hide.

When you right click on a blank area in the main window of a library or folder and click on Show/Hide Known File Extensions, the known file extensions will instantly show or hide in that window. You may need to refresh (F5) any other opened inactive window to see the known file extensions show or hide in them.

1. Do either step 2 or 3 below for the context menu item that you would like to add.

2. To Toggle Show or Hide Known File Extensions with Notify Sound Played

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and save it to your desktop.
NOTE: When you click on the Show/Hide Known File Extensions context menu item using this option, you will hear the notify.wav sound file play only if Window Media Player is set as the default program for .wav files. If you do not have Window Media Player turned on in Windows Features, then you will get a error instead of the sound playing.

Add_Show_Hide_Known_File_Extensions_to_Context_Menu_with_SOUND.zip

B) Go to step 4.

3. To Toggle Show or Hide Known File Extensions without Sound

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and save it to your desktop.
NOTE: This option is if you do not want to have the Notify.wav sound play when you use the Show/Hide Known File Extensions context menu item, or if you get an error from using step 1 since you have Windows Media Player turned off in Windows Features.

Add_Show_Hide_Known_File_Extensions_to_Context_Menu.zip

4. Double click on the downloaded ZIP file, and extract (drag and drop) both the .reg and .vbs files below to your desktop.

5. Right click on the extracted .vbs file, click on Properties, click on the General tab, and unblock it.
NOTE: If you do not see a Unblock button, then the file is already unblocked.

6. Right click on the extracted and unblocked vbs, and click on Copy.

7. In Windows Explorer, navigate to and open the C:\Windows folder. Right click on a empty area in the C:\Window folder, click on Paste, then cick on Continue and Yes (UAC) if prompted. Close the Windows Explorer window.

8. Right click on the extracted reg file and click on Merge.

9. Click on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

10. Show/Hide Known File Extensions has now been added to the context menu.

11. You can delete the download files left on your desktop now if you would like to.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and save it to your desktop.

Remove_Show_Hide_Known_File_Extensions_from_Context_Menu.reg

2. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

3. Click on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

4. Show/Hide Known File Extensions has now been removed from the context menu.

5. In Windows Explorer, navigate to and open the C:\Windows folder, right click on the file below, click on Delete, and Yes (if prompted).

Toggle_Show_Hide_Known_Files_Extensions.vbs

OR

Toggle_Show_Hide_Known_Files_Extensions_with_SOUND.vbs

6. You can now delete the download reg file if you would like to.