{"id":29507,"date":"2022-01-24T16:31:36","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T16:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=29507"},"modified":"2025-03-21T04:32:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T04:32:55","slug":"how-to-open-a-file-without-knowing-the-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-file-without-knowing-the-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Open a File Without Knowing the Extension In Windows 11\/10?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every file on your Windows PC, whether it’s a system or application file, has an extension. File extensions are the letters added after the period in a file name.<\/p>\n

For example, a Microsoft Word<\/a> file has the DOCX extension. So, a Word file should look like this:<\/p>\n

New_document.docx<\/em><\/p>\n

\r\n
\r\n \"Here's\r\n <\/div>\r\n
Here's how Word files look<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

The extension tells the operating system the software application required to run the file. When you double-click a Word file, for example, Windows automatically opens it in Word. You’ll also notice that files have different icons depending on their extensions.<\/p>\n

But what if you have a file without an extension? In that case, Windows won’t launch the file since it can’t associate it with any program. Instead, a pop-up will appear showing suggested apps.<\/p>\n

\r\n
\r\n \"The\r\n <\/div>\r\n
The file isn't associated with any app<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

The file will also come with a generic, blank file icon.<\/p>\n

\r\n
\r\n \"An\r\n <\/div>\r\n
An example of a file without any exception<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

Why Do Some Applications Have Files with No Extensions?<\/h2>\n

By default, Windows does not display file extensions. You’ll have to turn the setting on in File Explorer to see them. So, if you’re not seeing extensions, the setting is likely turned off.<\/p>\n

That said, some program files don’t come with file extensions. These are files you’ll find in an application’s installation folder. In most cases, especially if these files are in all caps and are not executable, they’re plaintext.<\/p>\n

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Also Read:<\/strong> How to Change Default Program to Open File in Windows 10<\/a><\/p>\n

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How to Open Files Without Extensions in Windows 11 and Windows 10<\/h2>\n

As we mentioned, file extensions are usually hidden in Windows 10 and 11. That’s because tampering with extensions could damage a file and render it permanently unreadable.<\/p>\n

If you want to see a file’s extension, right-click it and select Properties. Under the General tab of the Properties dialog, you’ll see the file’s extension beside “Type of file.”<\/p>\n

That said, if you downloaded a file and it came with the generic file icon, then it has no extension.<\/p>\n

If you know the type of file you downloaded or copied to your system, you can manually change its extension to allow Windows to associate it with the right program. To do that, you have to make extensions visible.<\/p>\n

Follow these steps if you use a Windows 10 computer:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tap the File Explorer<\/em> icon in the taskbar. If you don’t have the icon, you can tap Win + E<\/code> on your keyboard or right-click the Start<\/em> button and select File Explorer<\/em>.<\/li>\n
  2. Once the window shows up, go to the top and click on the View<\/em> tab.<\/li>\n
  3. Next, tick the checkbox next to File Name Extensions<\/em>. That’s it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Related:<\/strong> How to Use Emoji to Name Files And Folders on Windows 10<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    You can also go through the Folder Options dialog to change the setting. Here’s how:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. After you open File Explorer<\/em>, click on the View<\/em> tab and select Options<\/em>.<\/li>\n
    2. Once the Folder Options<\/em> dialog opens, switch to the View<\/em> tab.<\/li>\n
    3. Next, go to the Advanced Settings<\/em> list and uncheck the box beside Hide extensions for known file types<\/em>.<\/li>\n
    4. Click on the OK<\/em> button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Follow these steps if you use a Windows 11 machine:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Tap the File Explorer<\/em> icon in the taskbar. If you don’t have the icon, you can tap Win + E<\/code> on your keyboard or right-click the Start<\/em> button and select File Explorer<\/em>.<\/li>\n
      2. Once you see the Quick Access<\/em> view of the File Explorer<\/em> window, go to the top of the interface and click on View<\/em>.<\/li>\n
      3. Once the View<\/em> menu appears, select Show > File Name Extensions<\/em>. File extensions will now be visible.
        \n
        \r\n
        \r\n \"How\r\n <\/div>\r\n
        <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Alternatively, you can go through the Folder Options dialog. Follow these steps:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Click on the three dots beside the View<\/em> button and select Options<\/em>.<\/li>\n
        2. Once the Folder Options<\/em> dialog opens, switch to the View<\/em> tab.<\/li>\n
        3. Next, go to the Advanced Settings<\/em> list and uncheck the box beside Hide extensions for known file types<\/em>.<\/li>\n
        4. Click on the OK<\/em> button.
          \n
          \r\n
          \r\n \"unhide-extensions-windows-10\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n
          <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \r\n\t
          <\/p>\n

          Now that extensions are visible, you can change your file extensions as you wish. Remember that using the wrong extension renders the file unreadable. For example, if you change a file\u2019s extension from DOCX (Word file) to AVI (video file), Windows will return an error whenever you try to open it.<\/p>\n

          If the file you’re working with doesn’t have an extension but you know what application should run it, enter a period (.) after its last letter followed by the correct extension.<\/p>\n

          <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

          How to Open a File With No Extension<\/h2>\n

          Now, if you don’t know the type of file you’re dealing with, that’s a different story. That means you don’t know what extension to enter. In this case, you’ll have to use third-party freeware that is designed to identify the extensions of unknown files. Here are some tools that can help you:<\/p>\n