How to Make File Types Visible in Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer allows you to easily browse, organize and search folders and files on your hard drive. The default viewing setting hides the file type of common files, removing the letters following the "." at the end of a file name. If you are searching for a file or browsing a folder for specific file types, there are steps you can take to make file types visible in Windows Explorer.
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Instructions
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1
Open Windows Explorer, click Tools on the menu bar and then click Folder Options. If you are using Windows Vista, you first must press the Alt button on your keyboard to temporarily reveal the menu bar. A dialog box containing tabs will load.
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Click the View tab to change your file-viewing settings. The View tab allows you to change the settings related to the way you view files and folders in Windows Explorer. It also allows you to apply these changes solely to Windows Explorer or to all of your folders.
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3
Deselect Hide Extensions for Known File Types in the Advanced Settings section of the View tab. This makes file types visible by revealing the file extension of all files currently registered on your computer. To see which file types are currently registered, click the File Types tab in the Folder Options dialog box. From this tab, you can also register new file types or delete currently registered ones.
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Click Apply or Apply to All Folders to finish. If you want to make file types visible when using Windows Explorer only, click Apply. If you want all of your folders to display file types, click Apply to All Folders.
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Tips & Warnings
To restore the way you view folders in Windows and Windows Explorer to their default setting, click the Reset All Folders button. If you are using Windows Vista and want Windows Explorer to have the same appearance as XP, follow Steps 1 and 2, and then select the Use Windows Classic Folders radio button in the General tab.
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