How to Sort by Extension Instead of Type in Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is a file management tool that comes with the Windows operating system. It allows you to navigate and organize your files and folders. By default, Windows Explorer sorts files by type, which groups similar file types together. However, if you want to sort your files by extension instead of type, there is a simple way to do it. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to sort by extension in Windows Explorer.

Step 1: Open Windows Explorer

To begin, you need to open Windows Explorer. There are several ways to do this:

• Press the Windows key on your keyboard and then type Explorer in the search bar. Click on the File Explorer app that appears.
• Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
• Click on the File Explorer icon on your taskbar (it looks like a folder).

Step 2: Access the View Options

Once you have Windows Explorer open, you need to access the View options. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on the View tab at the top of the window.
2. In the Layout section, click on the Options button.

Step 3: Change the Group by Option

After clicking on the Options button, a new window called Folder Options will appear. In this window, you can customize how files and folders are displayed in Windows Explorer.

Under the View tab in the Folder Options window, you will find a section called Advanced settings. In this section, look for the Files and Folders category.

Within the Files and Folders category, you will see an option called Group files by type. By default, this option is checked. To sort files by extension, you need to uncheck this option.

Once you have unchecked the Group files by type option, click on the OK button to save the changes.

Step 4: Sort by Extension

Now that you have disabled the Group files by type option, you can sort your files by extension. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on the View tab at the top of the window.
2. In the Layout section, click on the Sort by button.
3. A drop-down menu will appear with various sorting options. Select More... at the bottom of the list.
4. In the Choose Details window, scroll down and check the box next to File extension. Then click on the OK button.

Now, your files in Windows Explorer will be sorted by extension instead of type. You will see all the files with the same extension grouped together.

Sorting files by extension can be useful when you want to quickly find files of a specific type or when you want to organize your files in a different way. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily change the sorting option in Windows Explorer.

Conclusion

Windows Explorer is a powerful tool for managing your files and folders in Windows. By default, it sorts files by type, but you can easily change this to sort by extension instead. This can be helpful when you want to find files of a specific type or when you want to organize your files in a different way. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly sort your files by extension in Windows Explorer.

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