Show file extensions and hidden files in Windows 10 / Windows 10

Microsoft has learned a few things over the past few years, and one of them is that it was always a pain to see file extensions and hidden files in previous versions of Windows.

You must go to Folder and search options and check a few boxes there. Then when you’re done, you have to go back and do it again.

Fortunately, in Windows 10, Microsoft has made it really easy to show file extensions and show hidden files. This is the way.

Show file extensions in Windows 10 Explorer

Open Explorer in Windows 10 and navigate to the folder where you want to see file extensions or hidden files.

By default, you will see Home tab where you can perform common tasks on files and folders like copy, paste, move, delete, rename, new folder etc. Go ahead and click View navigation.

On the right side of the View ribbon you will see Show hide dashboard. Here you just need to check File name extension box to show the file extension.

You can also just select one file or multiple files and click Hide selected items button to hide files and folders in Windows 10. To see hidden items just check Hidden items box and you will see hidden items.

Note that showing hidden items via Explorer will not show hidden operating system files. If you want to see all hidden files including protected system files, you must click Option button and click Change directory and search options.

Then click View tab and scroll down Hide protected operating system files and uncheck the box. You will get a pop-up warning saying it may not be safe to unhide protected system files.

It’s about it! Windows 10 makes it a little easier to access these features that many people use quite often. Enjoy!