4 Ways to Change the Extension of a File

4 Ways to Change the Extension of a File
4 Ways to Change the Extension of a File

Table of contents:

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File extensions describe to the operating system the type of file in question and indicate which program is needed to access its contents. The simplest way to change the extension of a file is to save it using a different format. Just changing the file extension in the item name does not change its nature and causes problems to arise when the operating system attempts to access the file. On Windows and Mac OS X systems, file extensions are often hidden. This article describes the steps required to change the format of a file using virtually any software program, and also shows you how to make file extensions visible on both Windows and Mac OS X systems.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Change the Extension of a File Using Any Software

Change a File Extension Step 1
Change a File Extension Step 1

Step 1. Open the file using the default program

Change a File Extension Step 2
Change a File Extension Step 2

Step 2. Access the "File" menu and choose the "Save As" option

Change a File Extension Step 3
Change a File Extension Step 3

Step 3. Select the folder where to save the new file

Change a File Extension Step 4
Change a File Extension Step 4

Step 4. Name the file

Change a File Extension Step 5
Change a File Extension Step 5

Step 5. From the "Save As" dialog, locate the drop-down menu for the file type

Normally the following menu is called "Save as type:" or "Format".

Change a File Extension Step 6
Change a File Extension Step 6

Step 6. From the drop-down menu in question, choose the format of the new file

Change a File Extension Step 7
Change a File Extension Step 7

Step 7. Press the "Save" button when finished

The original file will not be modified and will remain open within the program window.

Change a File Extension Step 8
Change a File Extension Step 8

Step 8. Locate the new file in the folder you chose for saving

Method 2 of 4: Make File Extensions Visible in Windows

Change a File Extension Step 9
Change a File Extension Step 9

Step 1. Log in to the "Control Panel"

To do this, open the "Start" menu and choose the "Control Panel" option. If you are using a Windows 8 system, select this link.

Change a File Extension Step 10
Change a File Extension Step 10

Step 2. From the "Control Panel" window, choose the "Appearance and Personalization" category

In Windows 8, select the "Options" icon present in the "View" menu tab

Change a File Extension Step 11
Change a File Extension Step 11

Step 3. Click the "Folder Options" icon

Change a File Extension Step 12
Change a File Extension Step 12

Step 4. From the "Folder Options" dialog that appeared, choose the "View" tab

Change a File Extension Step 13
Change a File Extension Step 13

Step 5. Make file extensions visible

Scroll through the list in the "Advanced Settings:" box for "Hide extensions for known file types". Uncheck the relevant check button.

Change a File Extension Step 14
Change a File Extension Step 14

Step 6. When finished, press the Apply and OK buttons in succession

Change a File Extension Step 15
Change a File Extension Step 15

Step 7. Open an "Explorer" window to be able to view the file extensions

Method 3 of 4: Make File Extensions Visible in Windows 8

Change a File Extension Step 16
Change a File Extension Step 16

Step 1. Open a "File Explorer" window

Change a File Extension Step 17
Change a File Extension Step 17

Step 2. Go to the "View" menu tab

Change a File Extension Step 18
Change a File Extension Step 18

Step 3. Select the "File Name Extensions" checkbox located in the "Show / Hide" section

Change a File Extension Step 19
Change a File Extension Step 19

Step 4. The file extensions will be visible by opening a new "File Explorer" window

Method 4 of 4: Make File Extensions Visible on Mac OS X

Change a File Extension Step 20
Change a File Extension Step 20

Step 1. Select an existing "Finder" window or open a new one

To switch to the "Finder" window, you can also select the desktop.

Change a File Extension Step 21
Change a File Extension Step 21

Step 2. Access the "Finder" menu and select the "Preferences" item

Change a File Extension Step 22
Change a File Extension Step 22

Step 3. From the "Finder Preferences" window that appeared, click on the "Advanced" item

Change a File Extension Step 23
Change a File Extension Step 23

Step 4. Select the "Show all document name extensions" checkbox

Change a File Extension Step 24
Change a File Extension Step 24

Step 5. Close the "Finder Preferences" window

Change a File Extension Step 25
Change a File Extension Step 25

Step 6. Open a new "Finder" window

All file extensions will now be visible.

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