How to change the file extension to ini. Correctly changing file extensions in Windows. Changing the file extension

When reinstalling Windows, file extensions stopped being displayed, on this basis the idea arose to write an article on the topic of how to change the file extension, as well as how to find out the file extension that is not explicitly listed in the folder.

Let's start small, learn how to recognize the file extension in Windows, and then show and edit it.

What is a file extension

The file extension is a character value that is specified in the file name after the dot. Designed to determine the file type (format) by the user or operating system. This is the most common way to determine both the user and the computer (any other electronic device) with which program to open (read) data.

After the system determines the file extension, it will open it using the program specified in the system settings; this program can be changed using a special function. For different versions and devices, these may have different names, you need to focus on this interpretation - “Open with” / “Select a program from the list” / “Find a program”.

In some cases, two file extensions may be used at once, for example.min.js.

How to find out the file extension

Solving the simplest problems can lead to problems that you never expected. One such problem may be unfamiliarity with the extension. How can you recognize him?

In any version of Windows you need to do the same action:

• Select the required file.
• Right-click on it.
• In the options that open, select the “Properties” option.
• In the “General” tab, find out the file extension.

All actions are shown in the screenshots:

If the file extension is not shown, then go to the next paragraph of the article and display it on the screen.

Why this might be needed

If you were looking for a solution to this problem, then you definitely have reasons for this, I will list a few of them:

1. Unknown file.
2. You don't know which program to open.
3. Your option -)

It doesn’t matter what reason made you find out the file extension, the main thing is that we have learned to determine it.

How to show and change file extensions

You can change the file extension by following the example above, and directly in the properties, in the general tab, change it to the type we need.

Now let's look at how to show a file extension using Windows 7 as an example; in other versions the names of the folders may differ only slightly.

Method No. 1.

Click the “Start” button (it’s in the lower left corner of the screen), go to “Control Panel”.

Click on “Appearance and Personalization”, then “Folder Options”, open the “View” tab, go down and uncheck the box from the item “Hide extensions for registered file types” and click the Apply button. Voila, all system files now clearly show their extension.

The following is all in video format:

And in screenshots:

Method number 2.

Go to “My Computer”, in the upper right corner click “Organize” then click on “Folder and Search Options”. The window that opens is familiar to us from the previous example. Go to the “View” tab and uncheck the “Hide extensions for known file types.” Below are screenshots and video guide:

Guide in screenshots:

Okay, now we know how to show file extensions in Windows, it’s time for a change, or rather a change in extension.

How to change file extension

The extension is in sight, great, now let’s change it to the format we need.

Attention, not all extensions can be changed to another, for example a text document (txt), cannot be changed to a picture (png).

Select the required file, right-click on it and select rename. After this, we will be able to rename both the file name itself and its extension.

In this simple way, we figured out how to change the file extension in Windows.

Windows operating systems are popular because they allow you to configure work computers as the user sees fit. No OS has ever provided as much freedom in changing settings and organizing personal file storage as Windows, and all this without the need for specific knowledge. The user can easily copy, move, edit, duplicate or delete any files that are not system files.

To work effectively with files, you need to know what a “format” or “extension” is. The format refers to the type of data structure and the way it is written in a file. And the “extension” is the part after the dot in the file name, which indicates the document format, and sometimes also the program that can work with this type of content. For example, "file.txt" is a document in text format that can be opened in Notepad. Using some methods, you can change the file format on Windows 7 (as well as in other OSes) to associate a document with another program or change the script for working with the contents of the document. There are several ways to change the format that every user needs to know about.

Quick navigation through the article

Enabling display of extensions

First, before you start working with file formats, you need to enable the function of displaying document extensions in Windows Explorer in order to understand what type of document you are working with. In order for the file name to also show its extension, you will need:

• Open any folder.
• Press the “Alt” button on your keyboard.
• Select "Service".
• Go to the "Folder Options" section.
• Open the "View" tab.
• Scroll down the list.
• Uncheck the box “Hide extensions...”
• Save changes.

Name correction

You can change the format of some equivalent files simply by simply renaming them. For example, files with the extension *.txt can be used as *.ini files, renaming one to the other. Both of these files store only text without any formatting or other settings, so they can be considered equivalent.

In turn, even file types that are not entirely equivalent can be renamed, which, although it will be fraught with some consequences, will still not affect the performance of the document. A picture in *.jpg format, if renamed to *.bmp, can still be edited in Paint, but special image programs will not be able to read geolocation data and other image parameters.

Objects with completely unequal contents cannot be changed by simply renaming them. You cannot make a *.mp3 version of an audio track from a *.avi file with a recording of a concert without additional programs. Just like not making an animated picture in *.gif format from a text document from Word in *.docx format.

Conversion

For cases when you need to get another from a file of one format, you need to use special software. It is always better to use this method, even if the contents of the objects are similar. This will preserve the data stored in the file and ensure compatibility with other programs, devices and systems.

There are converter programs for each type of document. The image format, for example, can be changed in graphic editors by resaving. Audio formats can also be transcoded, for which a special program like Adobe Audition must be installed on the computer.

Many novice users are wondering how to change the file format if there are no programs to open it.

Data sets can be divided into four main types:

• text;
• Images;
• audio;
• video.

To save traffic, large documents are packaged in special archives such as rar, zip, etc.

Each type of document requires its own methods for changing extensions.

Before performing an operation, you need to carefully evaluate all the consequences so as not to lose part of the information or the entire document.

The operating system does not initially display the extension code. To change settings, open the Folder Options window. The access path has 2 options.

• open explorer;
• Select the “Folder Options” tab at the top right;
• in the next window select “View”;
• in the list, find the item “Hide extensions for registered file types”;
• remove the check mark in front of the inscription (hover the mouse pointer and press the key);
• then click “Ok”.

In the second option, click the “Start” button on the desktop:

• Main menu, select “Control Panel”;
• Select “Folder Options” from the icons.

Further actions are similar to those described above. After changing the settings, the file name in Windows 7 should be displayed with the extension.

The extensions of archives such as zip and rar cannot be changed. Such folders should be unzipped (extracted) first. This operation is performed by special programs. The most popular are WinRAR and 7-zip. If the archiver is installed on your computer, when you try to open the file, a message will appear asking you to determine the location for the document.

Text file extensions can be changed using Explorer. To do this, select the file name and press the left mouse button. In the menu that opens, select “Rename”.

A frame will open on the line, the name is highlighted in blue, the extension is outside the selection area. The cursor should be moved beyond the last letter of the extension, press the Backspace key on the keyboard, delete letters and enter new ones.

You can change the file format in text editors Word, Open Office and similar. To do this, open the file in an editor. Then select “File” in the upper left corner of the window, find the “Save As” item in the menu that opens, click the mouse or use the key combination “Ctrl+Shift+S”.

The window settings contain several items, among which you should select “File type”. If it is difficult to select the desired extension, you can click on the triangle at the end of the line. A list of possible options will open, among which you need to select the one you want with the mouse and click the “Save” button.

Some text formats can only be converted online by going to the editor manufacturer's website. For books in fb2 and djvu formats, it is better to install the appropriate editors than to change the extension.

Graphic, audio, video files

There are several ways to change the image format. One of the simplest: open a folder with documents, select the one you need, and press the right mouse button. Select “Properties” from the menu.

On the “General” tab, in the first line with the name XXXXXXX.xxx, replace the extension code and click the “OK” button. A warning window will appear: “After changing the extension, this file may no longer be accessible. Make the change?" Click "Yes".

If a document contains information that needs to be saved, you should make a copy and experiment with it. If the results are satisfactory, you can perform the conversion with other files.

Another way to change image extensions is to use the Paint graphics editor that was installed initially. The image must be opened in the editor, use the F12 keyboard button or “File”, “Save As”.

When using F12, a window will open, in the bottom line of which you should select the desired extension. When you select Menu on the right, a list of possible saving formats will open. Move the mouse pointer to the desired one and click. Next, a window will open with settings for the location where you save and change the name.

Instead of Paint, you can use any other editor with similar functions.

The audio format can be changed by replacing the code in Explorer, but quality may be lost. Special converter programs have been created to reformat audio and video. Most of these applications are paid; trial versions work for a short period of time or insert additional elements and sounds during conversion.

It is advisable to use converters for large volumes of formatted documents.

In order not to rack your brains about how to change the format, it is advisable to install an additional player with advanced capabilities, such as KMPlayer or GuberLink.

In addition to those described, there are other types of files containing HTML, CSS, PHP, and other types of code. How can I change the extension of these files? In a similar way, but using the appropriate editor.

Simply changing the format in Explorer can render the document unusable. The reverse process is not always possible.

Any file in computer memory has its own format. In some cases, it can be changed without losing the content of the element. But before you change anything, you need to find out why files are assigned an extension.

Why do files need an extension?

Any file on
at the lowest level is a set of bytes arranged in a certain order. By opening it, we tell the system to read,
separate and display them so that it is convenient for us to work with them. For example, convert these bytes to text on
a certain human, not machine language. The same thing happens with more complex elements: video, music,
programs are initially just a sequence of machine codes.

Extension
file tells the operating system which program can correctly decrypt this set of bytes.
Here are some examples of commonly encountered extensions:

• .txt - the file contains only text; notepad is enough to display it;
• .exe is a set of commands that must be executed to run any
  program;
• .xls - spreadsheet in MS Excel format, to run which you need
  corresponding office application.

Windows has an association system: each file is associated with someone who knows it.
format
program.

Having received a command to open a file with the extension .xls, the operating system launches the MS Excel application, because by default it has an association between these objects.

If you open a file with the wrong application, then some result will be obtained, but obviously not
the one that was expected. Let's say you try to use notepad for the .docx format (it belongs to files
released by Word). The text itself will be displayed correctly because Notepad can turn sets of bytes into
letters and numbers, but underlines, links, highlights, inserted pictures and other media elements will turn into
incomprehensible characters or will not be displayed at all, since the notepad does not know how to decrypt bytes of more complex means
text formatting.

If you open, for example, a .txt file with a program for
displaying videos, you will get an error, since this application will not be able to fit the text bytes to the format
video.

Encoding: how the format helps recognize bytes

If you select the wrong program, you may see strange symbols in the open file
(for example, triangles, circles and others) where, logically, there should be regular text. It happens like this:

The process described above is called encoding: a specific byte is assigned
a certain sign. In each format, the same byte can have its own character assigned, so it is necessary
choose the right extensions.

Table: main extensions and their tasks

How to enable file format display

By
By default, in the built-in Windows 10 Explorer you can only see the file name without its extension. This information
is not issued due to the fact that the user can accidentally, while editing the file name, change its format and lose it
the data contained in it.

But more experienced users can afford
add the file format to its name so that you can always see what extension you will have to work with.

Through Explorer settings

The simplest method is
use the built-in Explorer settings: expand it, go to the “View” tab and check the box
opposite the line “File name extensions”. After a couple of seconds, the name of each file will display its format. Extension
always written with a dot: .txt, .exe, .pas, etc.
d.

To enable the mode for displaying file extensions, check the “File name extension” box in Explorer.

By changing system parameters

In the panel
control there is a block that allows you to change the conductor parameters. You can use it to activate the display
extensions:

Changing the file extension

There are situations when
the file format needs to be changed. Not all extensions can be changed without losing content
file. But, for example, pictures saved in .jpg are easily converted to .png or .tif.

Conversion of the simplest formats can be done by renaming the file, for
For more complex transformations, you should use online converters or special programs that produce results without
loss of quality.

By renaming the file

The above instructions allowed us to show the file extension at the end of its name. By clicking on the file to be
change, right-click and select the “Rename” function. You can leave the name the same, but everything that
located after the dot, erase and write a new one
format.

The new extension must be entered after the period that separates it from the file name

For example, if the file was called “Crocodile.jpg”, then the result should be
"Crocodile.png".

Via command line (several files at once)

If you need to change the extension of a large number of files, you can run
the steps below to avoid working with each element in turn:

1. Place all files to be changed in one folder. While in it, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard,
   Right-click on an empty space and select the “Open PowerShell window here” function.
   Large online converters work with almost any format and allow you to perform quite complex conversions

   The approximate algorithm for working with such sites is always simple: download the source file,
   select the extension to which you need to convert it, and wait a bit, since the conversion process sometimes
   takes several minutes (depending on the speed of the Internet connection, the power of the servers and the file size).

   Video: best online converter

   When saving a file

   Every modern program
   allows you to save the project you are working on as a file. Typically two options are provided: "Save"
   and “Save as...”. The first one is offered for quick saving in a standard extension (each program itself
   selects the standard format) and saves again after making changes.

   The second method will allow you to choose in which format you want to receive the created file. Change the value in the "Type" line
   file" to set the desired extension. In most cases, the application will provide a large selection of formats, but
   sometimes it is limited to two or three or even one
   option.

   When executing the “Save As...” command, you can select the required file type

   Video: How to change file format in Windows 10

   Third party conversion programs

   Exists
   a huge number of programs designed to change file formats. There are both paid versions and their
   free analogues. Most of them specialize in a certain type of element. For example, they only work with
   video or only with pictures.

   To find the program that is most suitable for you,
   use the query "Program to convert X to Y", where X and Y are the starting and ending format respectively.
   Below are just some of the most famous and convenient programs in this area.

   Free FLV Converter

   Free FLV Converter - partially
   A free program that allows you to convert videos to a variety of formats. It can create a file with the extension
   not only for Windows, but also for other operating systems: IOS, MacOS, Android. Download free or buy
   A full-fledged paid version is available on the developer’s official website - http://www.flv.com/flvconverter.html.

   
   Free FLV Converter converts flv video files to all popular media formats and back

   First PDF

   First PDF program works with files
   .pdf, .docx, .html and other text formats, as well as MS Excel tables. With its help you can perform
   conversion from one extension to another. There is support for changing the file extension to .jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif,
   .tiff. You can download the free version or buy a full-fledged paid version on the official website of the developer - http://www.pdftoword.ru/free-converter.html.

   
   Despite its name, First PDF converts text files, images and even MS Excel spreadsheets

   Video: convert PDF to Word online

   The file extension tells the operating system which program can read and display it correctly. In Windows 10, you can enable the file format to be displayed next to its name in Explorer. You can convert the extension using built-in Windows tools, third-party online resources and special programs.

Each file that is used in Windows 10 and other versions of the OS has an extension: .txt, .doc., .exe, .jpg and others. Often, users need to know how to change the file extension in Windows 10 to continue working.

Making visible

By default, extensions are not visible in Windows 10. Therefore, to change them, first turn on the display. There are two ways to do this.

In the View tab

In Folder Options

How to change

You can change the extension after it has been opened.

Using the context menu

The easiest way is to use the Context Menu.

Important! Use this method only when you know for sure what you are doing. If after this the file no longer opens, rename it back.

File groups

Important! The change will occur only for those files whose original extension matches the one specified in the command.

Conversion

Often the file is not launched by the program even after changing the extension. But this is not surprising since it is intended solely to associate an executable file with a program. The file itself is determined by its content.

If the file format is not supported by programs installed on your computer, convert it. Special programs are designed for this. You can find them on the Internet. They differ in functionality depending on the tasks you solve.

Video

The video clearly shows the process of opening visibility and changing the extension.

Saving with a specific extension

To make changes to the system, you may need a file with the extension .bat or hosts without .txt extension. To create them, launch Notepad and, when saving, select “All files” in the “File type” field. If necessary, specify the required extension.

Conclusion

Changing the extension is done using the Context Menu or Command Line when working with a group of files. If the device does not have programs compatible with a particular file, it can be converted to a suitable format using special programs.