How to display file extensions and hidden files on your computer

This page details file extensions and how to easily display hidden files.

When you use your computer every day, there are occasions when you need to see extensions and hidden files.

In such a case, this page will show you how to display file extensions and hidden files immediately.

This site is run by Japanese.
All the procedures explained on this site are compatible with Japanese Windows OS.
My translation and operational mistakes may have an unexpected negative effect on your computer.
Please use the site at your own risk.

I try to explain and translate as carefully as possible, but if there are any mistakes in my explanation or translation, please let me know in the comments.

Display file extensions

The extension determines which software created the file and which software can open the file.
Changing this extension may prevent you from opening the file normally, so if you do not need to display it, we recommend that you hide it as much as possible.

Open [Explorer] on the taskbar.

When the explorer opens, click View in the upper right corner.

[View] may not be displayed when the window is reduced. In that case, please maximize the Explorer window once.

Click View to open the menu down and click [View] in it.
When you click View for the second time, the menu expands to the right this time.
Click [File name extension] in it.

When you click Filename Extension, the screen disappears.
You can now view the file extension.

Display hidden files

Hidden files also include files that are very important for using Windows.
If you don't show the hidden files, you don't have the risk of deleting them, but you can delete them if you're showing them.
If you don't need to show those hidden files, I recommend hiding them as much as possible.

Open [Explorer] on the taskbar.

When the explorer opens, click View in the upper right corner.

[View] may not be displayed when the window is reduced. In that case, please maximize the Explorer window once.

Click View to open the menu down and click [View] in it.
When you click View for the second time, the menu expands to the right this time.
Click [Hidden files] in it.

When you click Hidden files, the screen disappears.
You can now view the file extension.

How to check if the extension and hidden files are displayed correctly on the computer screen.

Some people may be worried because displaying extensions and hidden files is a very simple procedure.
From here, I will explain how to check whether the extension and hidden files are displayed correctly on the computer screen.

How to check if the extension is displayed correctly on the computer screen

The extension determines which software created the file and which software can open the file.
Changing this extension may prevent you from opening the file normally, so if you do not need to display it, we recommend that you hide it as much as possible.

If you look at the file saved in the computer with the extension displayed, "." Is entered after the file name, and the alphabet is written after it.
This alphabet is the extension.

How to check if hidden files are displayed correctly

Hidden files also include files that are very important for using Windows.
If you don't show the hidden files, you don't have the risk of deleting them, but you can delete them if you're showing them.
If you don't need to show those hidden files, I recommend hiding them as much as possible.

Hidden files aren't everywhere.
The easiest to find is [desktop.ini] on your desktop.

If [desktop.ini] is displayed on the desktop, you can see the hidden files.