Forum Discussion
Solved
Windows 11 23H2: File Explorer will not show only EXE extension
Edition: Windows 11 Pro
Version: 23H2
OS build: 22631.3880
Windows File Explorer will not display an exe file extension for executables. However, it does show extensions of every other file type. 'Show->File name extensions' is checked in all folders.
sfc /SCANNOW terminated normally.
Windows Defender scan terminated normally.
Booting into Safe Mode doesn't make a difference.
My general account and the Administrator account are both affected.
Seems strange that Explorer won't show that one particular extension.
Go to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile] and delete the “NeverShowExt” entry.
That's what got the executable (exe) file extension showing again in Windows Explorer (a.k.a. Windows File Explorer).
I'm not fully certain as to how that entry got created, but somehow it did.
There have been claims that Internet Explorer 9.0 setup has been known to selectively hide file extensions via the registry, but I haven't verified anything. However, it might be worth mentioning that a certain program recently tried installing Internet Explorer 9.0 on my Windows 11 machine.
In short, deleting HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\NeverShowExt is what worked for me.
Go to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile] and delete the “NeverShowExt” entry.
That's what got the executable (exe) file extension showing again in Windows Explorer (a.k.a. Windows File Explorer).
I'm not fully certain as to how that entry got created, but somehow it did.
There have been claims that Internet Explorer 9.0 setup has been known to selectively hide file extensions via the registry, but I haven't verified anything. However, it might be worth mentioning that a certain program recently tried installing Internet Explorer 9.0 on my Windows 11 machine.
In short, deleting HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\NeverShowExt is what worked for me.
