Quite often, users have to change file formats so that they can be opened for viewing or editing in a specific program. There are a lot of converters and additional methods for this. But often it is the extension that has to be changed. We’ll talk about how to change the file format on Windows 10. Naturally, not only the issues of changing extensions will be affected. Let us dwell separately on some of the most common situations of changing formats similar to each other, choosing among them the simplest and most affordable solutions for every ordinary user.
How to change the file extension in Windows: Windows 10 and system features
So, let's start with the simplest and for now, we will focus solely on the means of the system, focusing on changing the extension rather than the format. How to change the file extension in Windows 10, using the most common "Explorer" for this? This is being done quite simply. Looking ahead, it is immediately worth noting that all formats unknown to the system and without any manipulation will be displayed with the extensions assigned to them, but those objects that the system “knows” will be shown by default without extensions.
To display them, you must first go to the view menu options and then uncheck the extension hiding line box for registered file types.
In the same way, you can simply use the special panel at the top, on which there is a corresponding item for activating the display of extensions.
Now for quick renaming you just need to press the F2 key or use the item rename item in the RMB context menu. But in this way you will have to rename files exclusively one at a time.
Batch Rename
Now let's see how to change the file format on Windows 10 if such a procedure is necessary not for one object, but for several. For this, the easiest way is to use the command line with the “ren” command (short for English “rename”). Suppose in the selected folder we need to change the extensions of all JPG files to PNG format.
While in the catalog, through RMB on an empty space while holding down the Shift key, call the console and write the necessary command in it, as shown in the image above. In it, the first extension corresponds to the existing one, and the second will be used for replacement. However, keep in mind that when changing the extension, the file structure may turn out to be such that, after performing the operations, the files of the selected editor simply will not open.
How to change the file extension in Windows 10 using third-party programs?
As you can see, there are not so many options for changing the expansion of the system. Now let's see how to change the file format on Windows 10, using third-party applications for this. Needless to say, you can use other file managers. One of the classic applications can be called FAR Manager, which very much resembles the notorious Norton Commander, previously used in DOS-systems. Everything is quite simple here.
Select the desired file (or group of files), and then use the rename function by applying the keyboard shortcut Shift + F6.
Change Office Document Formats
Now briefly about how to change the format of a file related to an office document on Windows 10. In the editors themselves, you just need to open the source document, and then select any of the available formats when saving. The most interesting thing is that almost all the latest modifications of the Microsoft office suite support even viewing and editing PDF documents, so you can cross-format between different documents using such tools.
Convert Media Files
In Windows, there are not as many media editing tools as we would like. Nevertheless, changing the format of a graphic file can be quite simple even in editors such as Paint. Again, batch conversion will fail, and you will have to open the files one at a time.
If we talk about sound files or videos, it is best to install the appropriate editor, open the source file in it, and then “re-save” in a new format. In this case, you can even change some important characteristics of the source object by setting your own parameters. For example, you can use the "native" video studio, which in the tenth version of Windows, in general, looks very good.
Additional utilities and services for quick format changes
Finally, you can perform the conversion between incompatible or partially similar formats using special conversion programs, which can now be found on the Internet as many as you want. In addition, if you are too lazy to do such procedures on your own, you can always use special online services on which it is enough to download the source object or group of files, select the final format and wait for the conversion process to complete. But many such resources may have a limit on the number and size of files downloaded for processing, so this should be taken into account.