There are many reasons why you may need to rename file extensions, so I’ll show you how you can change them one at a time if you have a small number of files or batch rename file extensions if you have lots of files. ..
If you have a file with no extension, Windows will probably not recognize it as a file and will give you a list of programs to choose from to open it.
In order to change the file extension for a file, you first need to be able to see file extensions in Windows. You can do this by going to My Computer and then going to Tools and Folder Options.
In Windows 7, click on the Organize button and then click Folder and search options.
In Windows 8, you can check the File name extensions box to see if any file names have special file extensions.
This will hide all extensions for known file types from the view, making it easier to browse and find files.
If the file has no extension, you need to rename it to have a .txt extension. ..
Change the file extension for a text file to .txt
How to Batch Rename File Extensions
The first way is to use the Windows Registry Editor. To do this, open the Start menu and type regedit. When you’re in regedit, click on the New button. In the New Reg File dialog, enter a name for your new file extension and click on OK. The second way is to use a program called FileZilla. This program can be found on most computers. When FileZilla is installed, it will automatically create a file called ExtensionMgr.exe in your Documents folder. This file contains all of the information you need to change the file extension for multiple files at once. To use FileZilla, open it and click on the Edit button in the top left corner of the screen. In the Edit File Extension dialog, enter a new name for your new file extension and click on OK.
Command Line
The ren command can be used to rename files on the command line. The rename command can also be used to move files around on the command line.
png -f “jpg” -o “png”
Microsoft’s website provides a guide on how to use the ren command to change the file extension of files in a directory.
Bulk Rename Utility
The Bulk Rename Utility can rename files with a few clicks, making it one of my favorite file renaming utilities.
The interface is jammed with options that make little to no sense unless you read all the document from the website. However, for our purpose, all we have to worry about is the box labeled Extension (11) down at the bottom right. Change it from Same to Fixed and then type in the new extension you want. You’ll see that the list box will show you the new name of the file instantly before you even commit the changes. Click the Rename button and that’s it.
I wanted to mention this tool because it can be a really great way to rename thousands of photos with names like DSC00x, IMG00x, etc. If you want to rename photos quickly and easily, this is a great tool to use.
Advanced Renamer
Advanced Renamer is a program that you can use to change the file extension of files. It also requires some reading to figure out, but it has user guides and tutorials. I’ll explain the process for changing the file extension here. Once you install it, go ahead and click the Add button to add their files or to add a folder, which will add all the files in that folder to the list.
To rename files and folders in Windows 10, you need to add a method in the left hand pane and then choose a new name. ..
Now type in the new extension you would like into the box at the top and then change the Apply to box at the bottom to Extension.
When you have gotten it right the way you like, go ahead and click on the Start Batch button.
If you want to rename a file without changing its extension, there are a few programs available. The last program I’ll mention does nothing but this and is the simplest of the bunch. ..
Bulk Extension Changer
Bulk Extension Changer is a program that can change the extension of files in a folder. You just have to pick the folder where the files are located, set the current extension, and then press the Go button.
In the second step, you can add multiple replacement rules in case your folder has files of many different types. If you want to include sub-directories, you’ll need to create a separate rule for each one.
Renaming file extensions can be a difficult task, but with the help of these options, it should be much easier. Hopefully, these options will help you rename file extensions and make your life easier. If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment and I’ll be happy to help.
