File Extensions - Hide or Show

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    File Extensions - Hide or Show

    File Extensions - Hide or Show

    How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7


       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 have Windows 7 hide or show known file type extensions. By default in Windows 7, known file types are set to hide.

    EXAMPLE: Files Type Extensions Set to Show and Hide
    File Extensions - Hide or Show-show.jpg

    File Extensions - Hide or Show-hide.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    Hide or Show Known File Extensions in Folder Options


    1. Open Folder Options, and click on the View tab. (See screenshot below)
    File Extensions - Hide or Show-folder_options.jpg
    2. To Hide Known File Type Extensions
    A) Check the Hide extensions for known file types box, then click on OK. (see screenshot above)
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    3. To Show Known File Type Extensions
    A) Uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types box, then click on OK. (see screenshot above)



    OPTION TWO

    Hide or Show Known File Extensions using a REG file


    1. To Show Known File Type Extensions
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Show_Known_File_Extensions.reg
    B) Go to step 3.
    2. To Hide Known File Type Extensions
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    Hide_Known_File_Extensions.reg
    3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

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

    5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

    6. Refresh (F5) Window Explorer or Desktop to see the changes.

    7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.



    OPTION THREE

    Hide or Show Known File Extensions in Registry Editor


    1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

    2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

    3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    File Extensions - Hide or Show-reg-1.jpg
    4. In the right pane of Advanced, right click on HideFileExt and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

    5. To Hide Known File Type Extensions
    A) Type 1 (number zero), and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: This is the default setting.
    File Extensions - Hide or Show-reg-2.jpg
    B) Go to step 7.
    6. To Show Known File Type Extensions
    A) Type 0, and click on OK. (see screenshot above)
    7. Close regedit.

    8. Refresh (F5) Window Explorer or Desktop to see the changes.
    That's it,
    Shawn









  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bits, SP1
       #1

    Unable to hide file extension.


    Hello, the HideFileExt variable of my system is set to 0 (zero) but the file extension is still shown.

    If I change it through Folder Options it's only temporarily hidden. After reboot file extensions are shown again.

    What now, anyone?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello nlijkje, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    You might also check the same registry location as above in Option Three, but start at the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE locationinstead to see if you may have an entry there as well.

    If not, then use the Find and Find Next feature in regedit to search for the HideFileExt DWORD to see if there may a stray entry in the registry set to 1.

    Hope this helps, :)
    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bits, SP1
       #3

    Hi Shawn, thanx for your speedy reply.
    I already searched for another HideFileExt entry in the register and found non as a DWORD value (only as folder or data entry).
    It's my work PC so it might have to do with policies?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ah, yep most likely a policy set up on a domain. Only the domain administrator could change that policy.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Professional 32bit
       #5

    the first option is the easiest to follow for a novice like me
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1
    7
       #6

    Brink... lol

    hello again :)

    The reg entries are only for local user. is there anyway to add this to all users?
    i tried going to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced and add the HideFileExt and set it to 0, but nothing happened.

    do u know if it is possible?
    I'm making an MDT image and i would like to all computers ill make to have this settings to all users.

    thanks again
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #7

    I personally feel one should have file extensions showing so malware with a file name like cutephoto.jpg.exe is harder to sneak past someone. On a computer with the file extensions hidden, the sample filename I showed would appear as a harmless .jpg file. A savvy user should still pick up on it (the .jpg showing on a computer with file extensions showing should be the giveaway) but the chances of it slipping past are still increased, especially if the file is an email attachment or link, depending on what email program is being used.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    tasuooooo said:
    Brink... lol

    hello again :)

    The reg entries are only for local user. is there anyway to add this to all users?
    i tried going to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced and add the HideFileExt and set it to 0, but nothing happened.

    do u know if it is possible?
    I'm making an MDT image and i would like to all computers ill make to have this settings to all users.

    thanks again
    Hello Tasuooooo, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    You got the right idea, but it should have been under HKEY_CURRENT_USER instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 27
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #9

    Hi,
    just a little add-on with a strange problem:

    I used "Folder Options > View" to show the known file extensions.
    That worked fine, except for ".url" ...

    I checked the well-known registry entries, all ok. I checked with NirSoft's wonderful
    "FileTypesMan","Always show this file extension" was selected.

    I did a little Inet research and stumbled across that post :
    Favorites Bar shows .url extension after name. - Microsoft Community

    This user had the opposite problem, ".url" was always displayed. The answer from
    Robert Aldwinckle, MVP, was a little cryptic (compared to the Tutorials in this forum),
    but it led my attention to another Registry entry:

    [ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ IE.AssocFile.URL ]

    ( In an abbreviated tutorial style:
    ( Start RegEdit, navigate to "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IE.AssocFile.URL"
    ( In the left pane click on "IE.AssocFile.URL"
    ( Check now in the right pane the entries

    To my surprise in "IE.AssocFile.URL" I found two related entries,
    both "AlwaysShowExt" and "NeverShowExt" were present ...
    And, ofc, if Windows has the choice, it selects at 100% the one
    the user didn't want (Murphy's Law).

    I deleted "NeverShowExt" and finally my ".url" is visible.
    Wondering who made this stupid entry, maybe my Avant Browser (set as default).

    Sorry for the long post ...

    Regards,
    Tom

    Btw, NirSoft's "FileTypesMan" is my number one choice to change the icons associated
    with file extensions. It's lean, it's portable and I don't have to install whatsoever
    additional stuff like especially versions of MS dotNET, which other tools desperately need.
      My Computer


 
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