Toggle File Extensions

Once you have downloaded and run the application, all you require to do is press the Win+Y shortcut key while you have any folder open:

Name: 1.jpg Views: 211 Size: 16.0 KB

And you will instantly see the file extensions, or not see them - fact is that it will switch between the two settings.

Name: 2.jpg Views: 240 Size: 16.1 KB

Using the same hotkey sequence you can bring the file extensions back.

Installing the Hotkey

To make this run at startup, you must save and then extract the download, and then create a shortcut in the Startup folder, which can be obtained by putting the following into the address bar:

shell:startup

You will observe the Toggle FileExt item that we added into the startup folder.

Name: 3.jpg Views: 198 Size: 18.6 KB

There is no UI for this application, and it will run totally work in the background with practically low memory.

Name: 4.jpg Views: 182 Size: 18.0 KB

Using the AutoHotkey Version
If you are an AutoHotkey user and would only add this to your current script, the full source code here:

; WINDOWS KEY + Y TOGGLES FILE EXTENSIONS
#y::
RegRead, HiddenFiles_Status, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer \Advanced, HideFileExt
If HiddenFiles_Status = 1
RegWrite, REG_DWORD, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer \Advanced, HideFileExt, 0
Else
RegWrite, REG_DWORD, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer \Advanced, HideFileExt, 1
WinGetClass, eh_Class,A
If (eh_Class = “#32770″ OR A_OSVersion = “WIN_VISTA”)
send, {F5}
Else PostMessage, 0×111, 28931,,, A
Return
This is not the type of tool that you will fully utilize all the time, but it works like a big part of your regular tools AutoHotkey.