How to Change a PDF File Extension

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A file's extension (the letters appearing after the period in a filename, such as "txt" in "details.txt") tells a computer what type of file it is and what type of program should be used to open that file. If a file has an incorrect extension, you may be unable to open it. It's relatively easy to change the extension on a PDF file on both a Mac and a PC, whether you need to change another extension to PDF or if you need to change a PDF extension to something else.

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Windows

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Step 1

Open a Windows Explorer window. Go to "Tools" and "Folder Options." (If you can't see "Tools" in the menu, try hitting the "Alt" key.)

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Step 2

Click the "View" tab and make sure "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked. Click "OK."

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Step 3

Click once on the file you wish to change the extension for; this will highlight the file.

Step 4

Right-click on the highlighted and file and choose "Rename" from the menu.

Step 5

Override the current file extension (the section after the period) and change it to or from PDF depending on your needs. Click away from the file to activate the change.

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Mac OS X

Step 1

Right-click on your desktop. Go to "Finder," "Preferences" and "Advanced." Make sure "Show file extensions" is checked and click "OK."

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Step 2

Click twice on the filename of the file whose extension you wish to change. It should become editable.

Step 3

Change the part of the filename after the period to or from PDF depending on your needs.

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