How to Change Windows File Extensions

How to change Windows file extensions is simply a matter of manually adding the extension to the icon text label.

Sometimes you will need to change file extensions in order for your file to work properly. Whether you're a web developer changing a Windows text file .txt to a Style Sheet file .css for a project, or just wanting to add an extension to a file like a MS Word document .doc , you will need to know these simple steps in order to make it happen.

Check to be sure that you have your system is set to show hidden file extensions. If you don't currentlty see file extensions then follow the Steps to show Windows hidden file extensions. Your next step is to simply locate the icon of the document you want to change. You can use the instructions below if needed.

1. Locate the document you want to change the file extension for.

2. Click on the icon label text so that you can edit the text.

3. At the end of the file name add a period . and then write-out the extension in lower case, e.g. doc for a Word document.

4. Then once you're done, click an empty area outside of your document icon (like your desktop) and it should automatically change to the specified file type.

You may also be interested in the tips to Show Hidden Files or Folders >>