File types not supported in email — Xfinity Email help

Find tips on renaming a file, so you can successfully send your attachment.

What you should know

In an ongoing effort to ensure the security of our customers and in keeping with industry best practices, we’ve enabled email filters for file types that have been known to carry viruses. These filters help to stop the automated transmission of virus carrying email messages without your knowledge.

File types we filter

• .vbs
• .pif
• .scr
• .bat
• .com
• .cmd
• .msi
• .reg
• .exe
• .wsf

Send files with filtered extension types over email

If you need to attach any of these filtered file types to an email message, you can rename the file, using either a different extension or no extension. You can then notify your recipients of the original file type, so they can rename the file's extension before opening it. To change the extension:

1. Click the file once to select it and press the F2 key.
   • You can also right-click the file and select Rename.
2. You can then change the extension.
   • If you can’t see the extension to change it, see below.

Determine the file extension

If you can’t see the file extension, you can change your settings to make it visible.

Show file extensions in Windows 10:

1. Click Start and then click File Explorer.
2. Click the View tab in File Explorer and then click the Options button (or click the drop down menu and click change folder and search options).
3. Click the View tab at the top of Folder Options.
4. Click OK.
   
   

Show file extensions in Windows 8:

1. Launch Control Panel.
   • In Windows 8 or 8.1, you can get this by hitting Windows + X and selecting from the menu that appears.
2. Open Folder Options.
3. Select the View tab.
4. Toggle "Hide extensions for known file types" to Off.
5. Click Ok.
   
   

Show file extensions in Windows 7:

1. Go to Start and select Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Personalization then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. Under Advanced settings, clear the check box next to Hide extensions for known file types.
5. Click OK.
   
   

Show file extensions in Windows 2000, ME and XP:

1. Go to Start.
2. Select Settings, then select Control Panel.
3. Go into the Folder Options and select the View tab.
4. Click on Show hidden files and folders
   • This will add a check mark.
5. Uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types.
6. Click OK when finished.
   
   

Show file extensions in Vista:

1. Open a folder such as Documents or Computer.
2. Click the Layout button on the left side next to the View button.
3. Select the Folder Options and then click the View tab.
4. Uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types.
5. Click OK.