.pages and .numbers filename extensions cannot be hidden since macOS 15.4

diogenes wrote:

Since upgrading to 15.4, all new Pages and Numbers files show their filetype (filename extension) .pages/.numbers even though the box in Finder Settings is unchecked. This seems like a bug to me since previously they did not appear if the setting was not checked. I don't use other Apple apps so I don't know if the same is occurring with Keynote files. Text Edit .rtf files behave correctly. When the box is checked the .rtf extension appears; unchecked, they do not.

Not sure why you would hide extension to begin with...

Non-the less —the current stable release of Sequoia including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 15.4.1

I would start there...

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Same issue. Issue started with 15.4 and Numbers 14.4, and it continued with 15.4.1.

When I first save the file, it saves without the extension, but after a minute or two, the extension will suddenly appear. They can be hidden again with CMD-I, but they will reappear, even if no changes are made to the file.

I contacted support, and they weren't able to get it happen on their machine, but we did a screen share, and they saw it happening on both my machines.

They suggested reinstalling 15.4.1, saying "that will likely fix the issue." I knew that was a waste of time, but I did it anyway. The issue still persists. Went a step further and completely formatted my MacBook and then reinstalled the OS with the only software installed being the OS with stock apps, Pages and Numbers. Issue still persists.

They also advised creating a second user account to see if it still happens. It does.

Called support back, and the wanted to see the issue, so we screen shared and went through all the steps I'd gone through with the first advisor...again. Once they saw it, the advisor created an incident report and submitted it to engineering. They said they haven't had any other reports about this, so I would suggest calling them so they can see it's more than just me.

There are other Apple Discussions about it, and I showed them those so they could tell it wasn't just me. Your post (this one here) is new and wasn't available when I called them.

Kind of a lot of work for something I believe is an issue at Apple's end, but sometimes you gotta jump through the hoops.

This happens on both an M-series desktop and M-series MacBook. All software is up to date.

leroydouglas wrote:

Not sure why you would hide extension to begin with...

I'm the opposite. Not sure why someone would show extensions. Having .numbers or whatever extension showing takes up so much room and hides half the filename.

FWIW, I cannot reproduce this on 15.4 (I have yet to update to 15.4.1).

I have multiple Pages and Numbers files, some with hidden extension, some without, and they retain their settings according to that I choose in the Info window.

This suggests to me that maybe there is something peculiar to your setup, as is often the case. If it were an outright bug we'd likely all see it happen.

Where are these files being saved? By any chance, are they saved to an online location, or to a drive using a non-mac-native format (like ExFAT or NTFS)?

Does the problem also manifest itself when running in Safe Mode?

I have been having this exact issue as well. I've also noticed it is not with every Pages or Numbers file, but a lot of them. I can change the behavior temporarily, but it will revert back to adding the full filename extension. I am on macos 15.4.1. Unfortunately I don't have any helpful suggestions to add, but I appreciate that others are experiencing the same issue.

Just to add a clarification, there has never been a Finder setting to “hide all extensions”.

There is s checkbox for “Show all extensions”. The negation of “Show All” is not “Hide All”.

When the box is unchecked, it means that the Finder will honor the show or hide setting of each particular file-that’s how you may see some with extension and some without.

"Not sure why you would hide extension to begin with..."

Ehhh, readability? To look at a list of numbers files with .numbers behind everyone of them is annoying to say the least.

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

Just to add a clarification, there has never been a Finder setting to “hide all extensions”.

There is s checkbox for “Show all extensions”. The negation of “Show All” is not “Hide All”.

When the box is unchecked, it means that the Finder will honor the show or hide setting of each particular file-that’s how you may see some with extension and some without.

For additional clarification:

• The Finder is a little flaky. You might need to manually relaunch it before it starts working.
• Each file has its own "Hide extension" setting in Finder > Get Info. This setting works along with the setting in Finder > Settings. This value must be "enabled" (set to hidden) in order for Finder > Settings to have any effect. So once an individual file has its extension hidden, then the overall Finder setting can be used to force it to be shown anyway. Kinda confusing, but that's how it works.

In my case, as one example, in my mac's local documents folder I have several numbers or pages files. When I open the "get info" card for one of these files, it will have "hide extension" box unchecked, so I will check it. Then a short time later, it will default back to being unchecked and then showing the filename extension again. I also have the finder > settings "show all filename extensions" unchecked. I never did any of this before, the files just started showing their filename extension on some of my pages or numbers files for no reason recently, after my update. It doesn't matter how many times I check the box to hide extension, it will soon enough default back to showing the filename extension. I have not tried safe mode yet, but I have rebooted several times.

Are you running any third party cleaning or anti virus apps?

does it happen in Safe Mode?

Might run an entrecheck report for us.

isaac_allen wrote:

In my case, as one example, in my mac's local documents folder I have several numbers or pages files. When I open the "get info" card for one of these files, it will have "hide extension" box unchecked, so I will check it. Then a short time later, it will default back to being unchecked and then showing the filename extension again. I also have the finder > settings "show all filename extensions" unchecked. I never did any of this before, the files just started showing their filename extension on some of my pages or numbers files for no reason recently, after my update. It doesn't matter how many times I check the box to hide extension, it will soon enough default back to showing the filename extension. I have not tried safe mode yet, but I have rebooted several times.

This setting to hide an extension is saved in metadata, in the extended attributes of the file.

Something is preventing that metadata to be stored with the file.

My guess is some conflict due to an antivirus or "cleaner".

Does the setting stay correctly if you try this in Safe Mode?

Please run Etrecheck and post its report as BDAqua suggested.

Thank you, IAmSkippermark, for doing this work (and for putting up with some of the comments from the community). I am on Sequoia 15.4.1 and Numbers 14.3 and am having the same experience. My Finder displays and Open Recent displays start appending .numbers extension but not for all Numbers files, which makes for a big mess; some files with extensions and some without extensions. It seems to be happening to my most heavily- and recently-used files, but not always:

• I just tested a non-extension file by updating and saving it on my Mac; that did not trigger the addition of the extension in Finder or in Open Recent.
• I opened the same file on my iPad, edited/saved it there, and that did not trigger the addition of the extension on my Mac in Finder or Open Recents either.

As an update, about 4 hours later I see the .numbers extension both in Finder and in Open Recent.

Hi @BDAqua - I know your reply was to the OP, but I'm experiencing the same issue and wanted to say that I'm not running any 3rd party cleaning or antivirus apps.

For me, the issue happens in Safe Mode.

Not sure what entrecheck is.