How To Change File Type In Windows 10: A Comprehensive Guide

With the inclusion of computers in our day-to-day activities, it is mandatory for users to know how to change file type in Windows 10 from one format to another. Every file format have different properties. 

Hence, a text editor can open the ‘.txt’ file. On the other hand, a ‘.html’ file will be launched automatically in the default browser. 

Though the content within the files might be the same, the file types matter a lot. However, changing the file format is a bit complex and any wrong step can damage it. 

Hence, to change the file type in Windows 10, you can take help from this guide. 

Here is how to Change the Type of File in Windows 10

Check out a few effective ways to change the file type in Windows 10-based system.

Way 1- Display File Format and Change it

Display File Format and Change it

At first, you have to change the File Explorer settings to the display file extensions on Windows. For that, open the File Explorer.

Then, proceed to the View tab that you can locate in the upper menu.

Check the box beside the ‘File name extensions’ option to enable the file extension in Windows 10.
Then, you can see the hidden file extensions including .exc,.doc,.docs, .mp3, .mp4, and more.

Alternatively, you may select the Options button. Furthermore, navigate to the upper right-corner and unmark the checkbox beside ‘Hide Extensions for known file types’. 

After that, all the files will appear on the screen along with their extensions. Now, double-click on a file and edit it as per your preferred file extensions. 

Alternatively, right-click on the file that you want to edit. Next, select “Rename” and modify the file extension. 

Way 2- Use the Command Prompt

If you want to change a group of file extensions in Windows 10, you can use the Command Prompt. In order to do so, follow the given steps.

Step 1

Let’s consider you want to change the .amr audio file to .mp3 extension. At first, create a new folder on the device. Move all the ‘.amr’ files to this folder. Thereafter, open the Command Prompt in Windows 10. 

For that, right-click on the Windows logo present at the bottom left corner of the screen and choose the Command Prompt.

Step 2

Alternatively, enter ‘ CMD’ within the Search box and find and open the Command Prompt. Also, you have to change the path to the new folder in the Command Prompt.

Hence, enter ‘:d’ in the given field and press the Enter key to change it to another disk. To change the current working directory to the ‘test’ folder, type ‘cd test’ and hit the Enter key.

Step 3

Now, enter “ren *.* *.xxx”  as well as hit the Enter button to change all the extension files to .xxx. 

Note:  To change the file extension to mp3, type ‘ren *.* *.mp3’ command in this case.

Way 3- Via the Registry Editor

Via the Registry Editor

Press the Windows and R keys together to launch the Run dialog box. Enter ‘regedit’ in the given field and press the Enter key to run it. 

Once the Registry Windows opens, navigate to the following path 

‘Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced’

Next, search for a DWORD entry labeled as “HideFileText”. Now, double-click on the mentioned DWORD entry and set the value to 0. After that, all the hidden file extensions will appear on the screen.  

So, exit from the Registry Editor and restart the computer to save the changes. Now, you can view the file extension and change it accordingly.

These are the ways that you can implement to change the file type in your Windows 10-based device.

You are suggested to apply every method without ignoring a single step.

Maria Colombo
Maria Colombo
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