How to Show File Extensions in Windows 11 (And Why You Should)

Why Are File Extensions Hidden by Default?

In Windows 11, files are displayed by their name and a corresponding icon. For example, a Word document might be named "Quarterly Report" next to a blue "W" icon. What you don’t see is the actual file extension at the end of the name: .docx.

Microsoft hides file extensions by default to make the operating system look cleaner and to prevent average users from accidentally deleting or changing the extension when renaming a file, which can render the file unopenable. However, for power users and anyone concerned about cybersecurity, hiding file extensions is a significant risk.

The Security Risk of Hidden Extensions

Cybercriminals frequently exploit hidden file extensions to trick users into opening malware. They do this using a technique called "double extension spoofing."

Imagine you receive an email attachment named Invoice.pdf.exe. Because Windows hides the final, true extension (.exe), the file will simply appear on your screen as Invoice.pdf. To make it even more convincing, the hacker will change the file’s icon to look like a standard Adobe PDF document.

Believing it is a harmless document, you double-click it. Instead of opening a PDF reader, you have just executed a malicious program. By enabling visible file extensions, you can immediately spot these deceptive files.

How to Show File Extensions in Windows 11

Revealing file extensions in Windows 11 only takes a few clicks through the File Explorer.

1. Open File Explorer (click the folder icon on your taskbar or press the Windows key + E).
2. Look at the command bar running across the top of the window. Click on the View button.
3. A dropdown menu will appear. Hover your mouse over the Show option at the very bottom of the list.
4. A secondary menu will slide out. Click on File name extensions so that a checkmark appears next to it.

The change is instantaneous. If you look at the files on your desktop or in your documents folder, you will now see .jpg, .docx, .pdf, and other extensions appended to the end of every file name.

Alternative Method: Using Folder Options

If you prefer the classic Windows approach, or if the File Explorer ribbon is acting up, you can also change this setting through the legacy Folder Options menu.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the three-dot menu icon (…) on the top command bar and select Options.
3. The Folder Options window will open. Click on the View tab.
4. In the "Advanced settings" list, scroll down until you find an option labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
5. Uncheck the box next to this option.
6. Click Apply and then OK.

Important Note on Renaming Files

Now that file extensions are visible, you must be slightly more careful when renaming files. When you right-click a file and select Rename (or press F2), Windows will intelligently highlight only the file name, leaving the extension untouched.

However, if you manually delete the extension (e.g., deleting the .jpg from a photo) and press Enter, Windows will warn you: "If you change a file name extension, the file might become unusable." If you do this accidentally, simply rename the file again and manually type the correct extension back onto the end, or press Ctrl + Z to undo the mistake.