You can change the extension at the end of a file name in Windows 11 after making file-name extensions visible in File Explorer. Changing an extension changes the file name and the way Windows identifies it; it does not convert the file’s underlying data to a different format.
Show File Name Extensions in Windows 11
- Open File Explorer.
- Select View.
- Select Show.
- Turn on File name extensions.
How to Change a File Extension
- Find the file in File Explorer.
- Right-click it and select Rename, or select the file and use the Rename command.
- Edit the characters after the final period in the file name.
- Press Enter.
- If Windows warns that changing the extension might make the file unusable, confirm only if you understand the change you are making.
Renaming Is Not File Conversion
Microsoft explicitly notes that changing a file-name extension does not convert the file to another format. For example, renaming an image from photo.png to photo.jpg does not actually convert PNG image data into JPEG data and can make the file harder for software to open correctly.
To convert a file, open it in software that supports the original format and use an appropriate Save As, Export, or conversion feature.
Be Careful with Unknown Extensions
Extensions help Windows and applications determine how to handle files. If you do not know what an extension represents, identify the file type before changing it. Also be careful with executable and script file types, particularly files received from untrusted sources.
Summary
In File Explorer, choose View > Show > File name extensions, then rename the extension at the end of the file. Remember that renaming an extension is not the same as converting the file’s format.