On computers and mobile devices, file extensions are the suffixes that apps append to filenames. When you see an item like "document.docx" for example, the .docx extension tells the computer and the user what the file is and what to open it with.

finder
Some users don't feel the need to see the extensions of files when viewing them in a file manager, but others prefer to have them displayed to help with identifying files and their associated apps. Indeed, many workflows would suffer without extensions being front and center.

Fortunately, if you work with Apple devices, you can choose to have them made visible or hidden. Whether you work on Mac, iPhone or iPad, the choice is up to you. The following series of steps show you how it's done.

Show or Hide Extension for One File on Mac

  1. On your Mac, select a file, then choose File -> Get Info from the dropdown.
  2. Click the arrow next to "Name & Extension" to expand the section.
  3. To show or hide the filename extension, check or uncheck the box next to Hide extension.

finder

Show or Hide Extensions for All Files on Mac

  1. Open a Finder window on your Mac.
  2. Select Finder -> Settings... from the menu bar.
  3. Select the Advanced tab.
  4. Check or uncheck the mark next to Show all filename extensions.

finder

Show or Hide Extensions for All Files in iOS

Since iOS 11, Apple's Files app has made file management a more realistic proposition on ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌. It provides access not only to the files stored on your device and in iCloud, but also access to files stored in third-party services that support integration with the app, like OneDrive or Dropbox.

The only issue until recently was that the Files app did not support the displaying of file extensions. With the release of iOS 16, however, Apple quietly added an option to show file extensions in the currently viewed folder. The following steps show you how to enable it.

  1. In the Files app, navigate to a folder.
  2. On ‌iPhone‌, tap the encircled ellipsis (three dots) button in the top-right corner of the screen. On ‌iPad‌, tap the icon made up of four small squares.
  3. Select > View Options at the bottom of the dropdown menu.
  4. Choose Show All Extensions.

files

That's all there is to it. All the files in the current folder will now display their extensions. To revert, simply unselect the same option in the View Options submenu.

Popular Stories

iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 16.4 for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

Monday March 27, 2023 10:00 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 16.4, the fourth major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that came out last September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.4 comes two months following the release of tvOS 16.3. The tvOS 16.4 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update....
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
Apple Music Classical

Apple Explains Why It Launched an iPhone App Dedicated to Classical Music

Monday March 27, 2023 8:54 pm PDT by
Apple today published a support document explaining why it decided to release a standalone Apple Music Classical app for classical music. In short, Apple says the app was designed to support classical music's complex metadata:Classical music is different. It has longer and more detailed titles, multiple artists for each work, and hundreds of recordings of well-known pieces. The Apple Music...
iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Low-Energy Chip to Allow Solid-State Buttons to Work When Device is Off or Out of Battery

Wednesday March 29, 2023 1:54 am PDT by
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use a new ultra-low energy microprocessor allowing certain features like the new capacitive solid-state buttons to remain functional even when the handset is powered off or the battery has run out, according to a source that shared details on the MacRumors forums. CAD-based render of new solid-state buttons on iPhone 15 Pro models The source of this rumor is ...