4 Ways to Change a File Extension in Windows 11

This text explains methods to change the file extension of a file in Home windows 11. It additionally discusses the distinction between file extension and file kind.

Change a File Extension the Simple Means

For most individuals, the best solution to change a file extension in Home windows 11 is to take action from the identical place you modify the file identify. Nevertheless, Home windows would not present file extensions by default, so we should first make a small change to that earlier than we’re given the choice to edit the file extension.

1. Open File Explorer. A fast methodology is to make use of the WIN+E keyboard shortcut.

   
   

2. Choose View on the high of the window, adopted by Present > File identify extensions.

   
   

3. Now that Home windows 11 shows file extensions, right-click the file you need to edit the extension for and select Properties.

   In case you’re in a rush, left-click the file as soon as (do not open it), press F2edit the file extension, press Enterafter which choose Save.

4. Within the Basic tab, rename the characters after the interval to vary the file extension.

   
   

5. Press OKafter which Sureto avoid wasting.

   
   

Change a File Extension From Command Immediate

In case you’re conversant in Command Immediate, you would possibly want to make use of the rename/ren command to vary a file extension. This methodology helps you to skip having to edit the File Explorer choices (i.e., you may hold file extensions hidden, and this can nonetheless work).

1. Open Command Immediate.

   
   

2. Change to the listing the place your file is positioned.

   For instance, if Command Immediate opens to C:Usersjonfihowever the file is in your desktop, kind this into Command Immediate:

   cd C:UsersjonfiDesktop
   

   
   

3. Sort ren adopted by the unique file after which the brand new identify for the file.

   Here is an instance the place I am altering the file extension from DOCX to TXT:

   ren file.docx file.txt
   

   
   

4. Press Enter to instantly change the file extension.

   
   

Learn how to Change File Extensions in Bulk

Command Immediate additionally makes it tremendous straightforward to edit the file extension for a number of recordsdata concurrently, assuming they’re in the identical folder. The trick is utilizing asterisks so you do not have to name out any particular file by identify.

1. Put all of the recordsdata you need to edit into their very own folder.

   
   

2. Proper-click an empty space subsequent to the recordsdata, and choose Open in Terminal.

   
   

3. Verify that Command Immediate reveals the right folder. In my instance, it says C:recordsdata>.

   If PowerShell opens as a substitute, press Ctrl+Shift+2 to get to Command Immediate. Study extra about Terminal in case you need assistance.

   Do not breeze by way of this step. In case you’re within the improper folder, there is no straightforward solution to undo the command you are about to carry out.

4. Sort the next, however change *.jpg to be no matter it’s you need your recordsdata to have:

   ren *.* *.jpg
   

   This command will rename all the pieces on this folder. Ensure you’re within the appropriate folder, and need to change the file extension for each file in there.

   In case you solely have to rename a bunch of comparable file extensions, you may modify the command barely. Here is what to kind if you wish to make all of the GIF recordsdata have the JPG file extension (all the pieces else shall be left untouched):

   ren *.gif *.jpg
   

   
   

5. Press Enter. The entire file extensions will change robotically.

   
   

Convert the File to Change the File Sort

A file conversion software can change the file extension, too. The first cause you’d do that is if you wish to change the precise file format (i.e., file kind), like in case you want the file to be appropriate with a particular system or software program program.

Here is an instance the place we’re utilizing the Zamzar file converter to vary the file extension of an audio file from MP3 to WAV.

1. Go to Zamzar, and choose Select Recordsdata.

   
   

2. Choose the MP3 file you need to change to WAV, after which press Open.

   
   

3. Choose Convert Toafter which decide WAV from the checklist.

   
   

4. Choose Convert Now to begin the file conversion.

   
   

5. Select Obtain to avoid wasting the file to your system.

   
   

Some software program applications have built-in file conversion instruments. That is usually the case for applications that may open a number of file varieties. Adobe Photoshop, for instance, can open a PNG file and convert it to over a dozen different picture codecs, which then adjustments the file extension (to JPG, GIF, TIFF, and so on.).

What Does Altering the File Extension Do?

The Home windows working system makes use of the file extension to know methods to open a file. For instance, if you double-click to open a TXT file, Notepad in all probability opens it. This occurs as a result of Notepad is configured to open TXT recordsdata.

If I modified the TXT file to the DOCX file extension, Microsoft Phrase would open it as a substitute as a result of my PC is configured to make use of Phrase for that file kind.

Causes to Change the File Extension

One cause to vary a file extension is that if the unique one was appended to the file by mistake. This typically occurs when a file is downloaded from an internet site. In case you had been imagined to get a PDF file, for instance, however the internet service exported your file to one thing else, you may change the file extension to PDF to make it work appropriately along with your PDF reader.

One other instance is in case you’re working with a BAT file. Constructing it as a TXT doc makes extra sense, so you may rapidly double-click to open it in a textual content editor when you should make adjustments. However if you’re accomplished, you need to change the file extension to BAT to work as meant.

You would possibly take into consideration altering the file extension to make the file work with a unique program or system. For instance, altering the file extension sounds useful in case your eReader helps PDF recordsdata, however your e-book is an FB2 file. In actuality, you’d want to vary the file kind.

The File ‘Sort’ Is Totally different

If you change a file extension, it would not have an effect on the file kind. It’d appear like it does if the icon adjustments and a unique program opens if you double-click it. However actually, the file extension solely serves as a solution to inform Home windows which program to set off if you open the file.

The file kind is the format that the file exists in. As an illustration, an SVG file is a picture format, but it surely’s very completely different from the JPG picture format, and each are even much less like an ISO file. These are three completely different file varieties.

The DAT file extension is one other nice instance. In case you comply with that hyperlink, you may see that one sort of DAT file is a video, one other is a textual content file, and yet one more is used to retailer backed-up information. That is three completely different file varieties which are utilizing the identical file extension.

One solution to perceive why the variations matter is to consider what would occur in case you modified the MP3 file extension to DOCX. MP3 is an audio file format, and DOCX is a doc format. Altering the file extension wouldn’t magically show all of the MP3’s lyrics in a doc format you may look by way of in Microsoft Phrase.

As an alternative, use a file converter to vary the file kind. In case you want your MKV video to be an MP4 file, perhaps so it opens in your favourite video participant that solely accepts MP4s, then a file conversion software is one of the simplest ways to do it. The identical is true for different file varieties.