Windows - Show hidden files and extensions
April 2018
Why display the extensions?
When extensions are hidden, an infected file may seem harmless.
Example: a simple image file (.jpg) may be actually an executable file (.exe).
For the same reason it may be useful to display hidden files but beware: among these hidden files, there are the system files. Never delete them without inquiring about their usefulness.
To view extensions
Windows XP
- Open Windows Explorer.
- Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Folder Options"
- Select the "View" tab.
- Uncheck "Hide extensions for file types is known" and click "Apply:
Windows Vista/7
- Open Explorer
- Go to the "Organize" menu > Folder and Search Options:
- Select the "View" tab.
- Uncheck "Hide extensions for file types is known" and click "Apply"
Windows 8
- Open Explorer and select the "View" tab:
- In the "Show/Hide" section, check "File name extensions
Solution via the registry
- Open the Registry Editor
- Go to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced".
- Create (or modify) a new string value and name it "HideFileExt".
- Set it's value to "0".
To display hidden files and folders
- Use the same methods as above, but this time, select "Show hidden files and folders".
- For Windows 8, you must check "Hidden Items"
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