Turn off change file extension warning in Windows 7

Question

Is there a way to turn off the file extension rename dialog in Windows 7?

The one that prompts you

Rename: If you change a filename extension, the file might become unusable. Are you sure you want to change it?

score 22 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 17 '14 at 04:56

In response to a comment about the accepted answer, I also found the AHK script to be quite slow. This modification seems to make it faster:

While, 1
{
 WinWaitActive, Renommer ahk_class #32770
 send o
}

You'll notice I'm using windows in french. For english use:

While, 1
{
 WinWaitActive, Rename ahk_class #32770
 send y
}

For windows in portuguese (at least the pt-BR version), use:

While, 1
{
 WinWaitActive, Renomear ahk_class #32770
 send s
}

Natalie Adams · Answer 2 · 2018-04-25T14:44:56.387

It is very much possible, with the right tools, patience, and nice disassembler and some luck you can disable it.

However, it is not as simple as changing a registry key.

Here is an example of someone disabling the "delay" when you try to delete a file that is in use. http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/NoDeleteDelay.aspx
I just tried to poke around and didn't find anything useful.

I think a better solution than RtvReco is for someone to create a menu option to the context menu that says like "Rename2" and pops up a messagebox prompting for the new filename and uses Windows API to rename it.

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 08 '09 at 20:38

It's possible with an AutoHotkey script:

While, 1
{
 WinWait, Rename ahk_class #32770
 WinActivate, 
 ControlClick, Button1
}

Install AutoHotkey, save the code above in a file with the .ahk extension and launch the script. It will wait for the Rename window to appear. When it does, it automatically "clicks" on the Yes button (identified here with "Button1").

If you don't want to install AutoHotkey, here is a compiled version of the same script. Run the executable and watch it do its magic :-) .

Note it does not really answer the question, as the question still appears. But it's automated so you'll not be bothered by it anymore.

score 6 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 24 '20 at 02:11

6

You cannot disable the file extension warning message. It has this design to ensure the user's safety from modifying the files accidentally.

Source: Microsoft Community Answer

edited Sep 24 '20 at 02:11

wasif

9,176

answered Jan 09 '14 at 20:57

r0ca

5,833

score 6 · Answer 5 · edited Sep 24 '20 at 02:14

6

Rather than download an app, why not just use the ren *.aa *.bb command in cmd (command prompt)?

edited Sep 24 '20 at 02:14

wasif

9,176

answered May 02 '14 at 07:00

Helpful

77
1
1

Mike Clark · Answer 6 · 2025-01-31T20:36:52.760

I wrote a purpose-built C++ program to dismiss this dialog very quickly. It uses win32 event hooks, so there is no sleeping or polling. The only faster way would be to use DLL injection into explorer.exe and I didn't want to do that because of the complexity and stability concerns.

It is not localized -- it will only work with an English titlebar ("Rename") and button label ("&Yes").

Reasoning: I found the AutoHotkey based solutions to be slower than I'd like. I have a muscle-memory for pressing ENTER whenever I see that dialog, and so having the dialog visible for too long can lead me to get into a race with AHK to confirm the dialog (which ends up with me pressing ENTER with the file icon selected, which opens/runs the file -- not what I intended).

score 3 · Answer 7 · edited Sep 24 '20 at 02:13

You can't, however, all is not lost.

You can use RtvReco to automatically close the warning as soon as it appears. this nifty little tool is designed to automate many aspects of Windows, by pressing buttons in annoying dialog boxes, choosing menu items, maximising, and minimising windows for you.

... or use a decent file mananger instead of Windows Explorer (e.g. Total Commander).

Both programs are shareware, try before you buy.

I am aware of this registry hack, however, it does not work for me with Windows 7.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

Set the value of ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin to zero 0 and Reboot.

P.S.: Of course there are free alternatives to Total Commander, it just so happens to be my file manager of choice.

score 1 · Answer 8 · edited Sep 24 '20 at 02:15

Make a VBScript that renames the file, place that in special folder "SendTo", right-click on file that needs its extension changed and fill in the new name.

No warnings any more, and it only takes a few minutes to create the script.

The script contains this:

on error resume next
Set objArg = Wscript.Arguments
do
   if objArg.Count < 1 then exit do
   fil=objArg(0)
   Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
   if Err.Number > 0 then exit do
   Set f1 = FSO.GetFile(objArg(0))
   fil=f1.Name
   i=inputbox("","",fil)
   if i = fil then exit do
   f1.Name = i
   exit do
loop

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jun 07 '12 at 04:23

Here is the code I used to solve the issue in AutoIT script. The only issue is that is keeps running and hogs some resources. Unless yall have a better idea to fix the script. :-)

While 1
  if WinActive("Rename","") Then
    Send("!y")
  EndIf
  WEnd

score 1 · Answer 10 · edited Jul 16 '12 at 02:48

As we have files that when downloaded automatically has the date and time added as the extension. So I have been looking for a solution and found one.

Download a program called Free Commander. They have a portable version that can be installed on a USB thumb drive if needed.

This program allows you to select multiple files as in my case, and renames the extension without asking are you sure.

score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Jun 10 '17 at 16:18

I was also quite tired of this stupid message so I've made my own Autohotkey Script, with some new ideas.

I didn't want a permanent settimer or the "while" command eating resources all the time. Since I always use F2 for renaming files, I've made a hotkey to add a special function to this key. Thus, the timer is only triggered when pressing this key, and goes off when the task is complete.

I've also considered that I only want my script to affect this particular dialogue box. Taking into account the name alone was not enough, because the same rename dialogue appears when you try to rename an item in the start menu, for instance.

So, there are some conditions for this function to work. First, it will operate on Explorer windows and on the Windows desktop. With the rest of the programs or environments, F2 will continue working normally. Also, to prevent conflicts such as the aformentioned, the script checks the width and height of the rename dialogue window so as to verify that it's a match.

Finally, I've also included the feature of autoselecting the whole file name (together with the extension, like before Windows 7), because I prefer it this way. Feel free to remove the line Send ^+{end} if you don't want it.

For English versions of Windows, you will have to change "cambiar nombre" to whatever is on the title of your rename dialogue window. Also, change the "s" with a "y". In case it doesn't work, you can also use Autoit3 Window Spy to check out that your rename dialogue window actually has this size (if (warnw = 515) and (warnh=154).

#SingleInstance force

GroupAdd, folders2, ahk_class CabinetWClass
GroupAdd, folders2, ahk_class WorkerW
GroupAdd, folders2, ahk_class ExploreWClass
GroupAdd, folders2, ahk_class Progman
return

$F2::
if ( Winactive("ahk_group folders2") )
{
Send {F2}
Send ^+{end}
settimer, renombrar, 20
return
}
Else
{
Send {F2}
Return
}

renombrar:
WinWaitActive, Cambiar nombre ahk_class #32770
WinGetPos,,, warnw, warnh, Cambiar nombre
if (warnw = 515) and (warnh=154)
{
send, s
click up left
settimer, renombrar, off
return
}
Else
{
settimer, renombrar, off
return
}

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Jan 12 '20 at 20:03

Here is an AutoHotkey script that mutes/unmutes the sound when the window pops up.

All the settings before the loop are how I start my every script for faster execution.

Edit the Sleep value untill you don't hear the beep.

#NoEnv
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
CoordMode, Mouse, Window
SendMode Input
#SingleInstance Force
SetTitleMatchMode 2
#WinActivateForce
SetControlDelay 1
SetWinDelay 0
SetKeyDelay -1
SetMouseDelay -1
SetBatchLines -1

Loop
{
    WinWait, Rename ahk_class #32770 ahk_exe Explorer.EXE
    Send, {Volume_Mute}
    ControlClick, Button1
    Sleep, 800
    Send, {Volume_Mute}
}
Return

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Sep 24 '20 at 02:06

You can use a VBScript for this:

Dim WshShell,strFile,strNewExt
Set WshShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
strFile = Wscript.Arguments.Unnamed(0)
strNewExt = InputBox("Please enter the new extension","Windows Explorer")
WshShell.Run "Cmd /c ren " & Chr(34) & strFile & Chr(34) & " *." & strNewExt

Then save this VBScript as NoAlertRen.vbs in C: and then to create context menu entry:

Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\Shell
Create new key named NoAlertRen
Create new string value named MUIVerb and set value to Change Extension Without alert
Create new string value named Position and set value to Bottom
Create new subkey named command
Set default value to cscript //nologo C:\NoAlertRen.vbs "%1"

Repeat steps for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell.

This will add Change extension without alert to folders and files.

Another hack

SHIFT+F10 -> Open Command/Powershell window here ->

Command Prompt: ren "file" *.newExt
Powershell: Rename-Item "File" -Newname {$_.Basename + ".NewExt"}

score 0 · Answer 14 · edited Oct 23 '16 at 07:41

0

I really don't think this is possible without using either:

Command Prompt (a hassle unless you're used to it)
A third party workaround, either a file manager or something that deals with the prompt so you don't have to

Personally I use PTFB (Push the Freakin' Button); it's pretty low on resources and very fast. It's not exactly cheap, but is a handy thing to have for other stuff.

edited Oct 23 '16 at 07:41

Gareth

19,080

answered Feb 25 '15 at 09:54

Paul Roberts

1

Turn off change file extension warning in Windows 7

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