Add or Remove "Shortcut" Name Extension

Add or Remove "Shortcut"  Name Extension

To Add or Remove "Shortcut" Name Extension in Registry Editor
1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

3. In the registry, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

4. In the right pane of Explorer, double click/tap on link to modify it. (See screenshot above)

5. To Remove the Shortcut Extension
A) Change the value to 00 00 00 00 and click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: To change the value, press the Delete (Del) key once and type 00.

B) Go to step 7.
6. To Restore the Shortcut Extension
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Change the value to 1E 00 00 00 and click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: To change the value, press the Delete (Del) key once and type 1E.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply changes.