How to Remove Multiple Extensions from Image Files Easily

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Have you ever come across an image with a strange name like photo.jpg.png or holiday.png.jpeg? 

These extra extensions can be confusing and sometimes prevent files from opening correctly. Multiple extensions usually appear when files are saved or renamed incorrectly, or when they are downloaded from certain apps or websites.

The good thing is that you don’t need to be a tech expert to fix this. With just a few simple steps, you can clean up file names and keep your images working smoothly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through different ways to remove extra extensions from image files, step-by-step.

Why Remove Extra Extensions?

Multiple extensions can:

  • Stop your image from opening in photo viewers or editing software.
  • Causes errors when uploading files online. 
  • Makes it hard to recognize the actual file format.
  • Create confusion when sharing files with others.

Methods to Remove Multiple Extensions

Method 01 – Rename the File Manually

This is the quickest method if you only have one or two files. Just simply:

  1. Right-click on the image file.
  2. Select rename.
  3. Delete the unwanted extensions so the file name looks like photo.jpg instead of photo.jpg.png.
  4. Press Enter to save the new name.

Make sure you keep only one valid extension (like .jpg, .png, or .jpeg)

Method 02 – Use File Explorer to Show Extensions

Sometimes, Windows hides file extensions by default. To make sure you’re editing the right part of the file name:

  1. Open any File Explorer window.
  2. Click on the View tab (Windows 10) or View → Show → File name extensions (Windows 11).
  3. Check the box for File name extensions.
  4. Now, rename your files as shown in Method 1.

This ensures you don’t accidentally add another extension when renaming.

Method 03 – Batch Rename Using Command Prompt

If you have a lot of images with multiple extensions, doing it one by one can take forever. Command Prompt makes it quicker.

  1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the folder with your images using the cd command.  For example: cd C:\Users\YourName\Pictures
  3. Run a command to rename all files. For example, if your files look like photo.jpg.jpeg: ren *.jpg.png *.jpg

This will remove the extra extension from all files in the folder.

Method 04 – Use Powershelf for More Control

PowerShell gives you more flexibility if your files have different extension patterns.

  1. Open PowerShell (search for it in the Start menu).
  2. Navigate to your folder with cd (same as Command Prompt).
  3. Run this command: Dir *.jpg.png | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace “.jpg.png”,”.jpg” }
  4. Adjust the code depending on which extensions you want to clean up.

This is especially useful when images have different combinations like .png, .jpeg, .jpg, .gif, etc.

Method 05 – Use Third-Party Tools

If you prefer a simpler, click-and-go solution, there are free tools available for batch renaming. These tools let you select multiple files at once and apply rules to remove unwanted extensions automatically.

Best Practices to Avoid Multiple Extensions

  1. Always Keep File Extensions Visible

By default, Windows hides file extensions. This can easily trick you into renaming files incorrectly, as you might think the .jpg is part of the name rather than the actual extension.

  • Turn it on once, and you’re set: Go to File Explorer → View → Show → File name extensions (Windows 11) or check the box in Windows 10.
  • With this enabled, you’ll always know the true format of your image and avoid accidental double extensions like photo.png.jpg.

 

  1. Use the Save As Option Instead of Renaming

Sometimes, multiple extensions appear because users rename a file to change its format. For example, typing picture.png over a .jpg file. Renaming doesn’t actually convert the image; it only changes the name.

  • If you want a .png, open the file in an editor (like Paint, Photoshop, or GIMP) and use Save As → PNG.
  • This ensures the image is actually converted into that format instead of ending up with a confusing file name.

 

  1. Avoid Downloading from Unreliable Sources

Some websites or apps provide images with odd file naming patterns, sometimes even hiding malicious code behind misleading extensions.

  • Stick to trusted sites when downloading images.
  • If you must use files from unknown sources, check the extension carefully before opening them.

 

  1. Don’t Add Extensions Manually

If you’re in the habit of typing .jpg or .png manually each time you rename, you’re at higher risk of creating multiple extensions.

Instead:

  • Just change the main file name (e.g., image1 to holiday_pic).
  • Let the system keep the correct extension.

 

  1. Keep a Backup Before Mass Renaming

It’s easy to make a small mistake that affects hundreds of files at once. For example, a wrong batch command could strip the extension completely, rendering files unreadable until they are renamed again.

  • Always create a copy of your folder before performing a bulk rename.
  • If something goes wrong, you’ll still have the original files safe.

The Final Words

Extra extensions in image files may look minor, but they can cause errors and waste your time. However, fixing them is easy. Whether you do it by renaming a single file or batch-processing an entire folder, you can end up sorting your files nicely without any additional headache. It’s advisable to start with the manual method for a few files, and use Command Prompt, PowerShell, or a renaming tool when you have many to clean up.

With these methods, your images will have clean names, open smoothly, and be easier to share or upload anywhere.