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

I have confirmed via my own experiment:

The extension is re-appearing for files saved to iCloud. For files saved locally, the re-appearance of the file extension is NOT happening.

Proof:

My entire Desktop is saved to iCloud such that I can see all my desktop files from all of my devices. I open a numbers file (no extension displayed) that resides on my Desktop, make a change, and save it back to the Desktop. It saves under the same name (without an extension), and a short while later the extension magically appears. Next, I place numbers file (no extension displayed) and remove it from the desktop and store it locally on the iMac. I open it, make a change, and save it back to the same location it came from on the iMac - the extension never re-appears.

I spoke with level 2 Apple support again a couple weeks ago, and the person said the original issue was elevated to the wrong team. It was elevated to the "iWorks" team and not the Mac OS/iCloud team, so he basically started the report from scratch. He had me do some things and then said he'd contact me in a couple days after engineering told him what they needed, but he never got back to me. I gave it a few days and ended up calling, and the new advisor saw all the notes from engineering and what they needed, and he took over the case at that point, and we ran a ton of diagnostics that got saved to a file and ultimately uploaded to the Apple support site. I also included a video showing Finder and Numbers open side by side and the extension reappearing without me doing anything after about 15 seconds of saving a document.

He said engineering would need 2-3 days to analyze the info, but we gave them a couple extra days because of the holiday and have a call scheduled. I'll update once I hear back.

There is no fix for me, and for others that have put comments in this discussion. You won't have the issue with files stored on local folders, only on those folders shared on iCloud storage. It happens with ".numbers" and with ".pages" documents, but also with many other file types. For the time being, we have to wait for a fix from Apple.

I think I understand what is happening with the issue. When a change is made to a file, it is synchronized to iCloud, and during this process, the file extension is temporarily unmasked (for some reason), then masked again. The same thing happens when you copy or move a file to an iCloud location, and we can see the file extension appearing for a short time, then disappearing. The last step (re-mask the file extension) seems to be omitted in the synchronize process for a file change. Maybe the re-mask is not omitted, but is called too soon and the action does not happen, this is just an idea.

Note that when copying or moving a file to a local folder, we don't see that process with the file extension appearing and disappearing. Just try in both locations, you will see what I mean.

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.

VikingOSX:

As I understand your reply, every files saved with Pages and Numbers should show their file extension. This is strange, because it is the other way around here, my file extensions have always remained hidden in the past. Note that it is my preference, so I am happy with that (except for the issue we are having now).

To all, some observations:

• when a file is modified and closed, its file extension may take a few minutes to show again

• when creating a new document with page, removing the ".page" at the end of the filename hides the file extension

• new document created today or recently don't seem to manifest the issue

The good news is that someone is looking at it.

I am wondering why the "iWorks" team did nothing about receiving an elevated problem report that is concerning another team. Maybe they don't have the information to contact any other team, maybe they are in different locations. We are not used to the hierarchy in those very large companies.

Just adding my name to the list of people who are being affected by this. I'm up to date with Sequoia 15.5, and my files stored on iCloud are still showing unwanted extensions even after toggling them off in the Get Info box. Looking forward to a fix.

I have been experiencing this exact behavior as well on macOS 15.5 and posted a similar issue to the community.  I can change the behavior temporarily using the File >> Get Info >> Hide Extension setting, but it reverts back to adding the full filename extension at some later time.  Unfortunately I don't have any new suggestions to add to what’s already been discussed on this thread, but I wanted to attach my name to receive new updates.  I certainly appreciate all the time and effort that many of the community have contributed to researching and diagnosing this issue.

Hi there, etrecheck is a free tool to get us past the 20 questions part of diagnosing problems.

https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Since MacOS Sequoia 15.4, I have encountered the same problem. It's really painful.

No solution worked.

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.

In regards to Etrecheck application

Part 1 of 2

Download the Application Etrecheck ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 

The application is free or paid for added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - Share Report >> Copy , then  paste  >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

Part 2 of 2

At one time there was an  Etrecheck Application available on the Apple Apps Store.

Due to certain constrains place upon the Developer, by APPLE, the developer chose to remove it from the Store and make is available Directly from them.

This specific application is well known,  on these Forums,  as a Go To for trouble shooting and avoiding all the question / answer and question / answer to finally get the issue pinned down.

It is also known and reported by Reliable Sources that,  sometimes APPLE SUPPORT has invoked using this same Developer Distributed Version of Etrecheck application to trouble shot computer issues 

Luis:

in my case, this happens only with files stored in folders located on Desktop or in Documents, and both of them are sync'ed on iCloud

IAmSkippermark:

it does not work every time for me, but so far, it did 3 times out of 4. My last success was today with a ".page" document. Yesterday, I had to repeat the hide extension on the second Mac before it decided to work.

I also have ".webloc" extensions appearing sometimes, when I save web page links from Safari. The only trick I found to prevent it, is to wait until the extension appears and disappears by itself, before I click on the icon generated (like selecting, or moving it). It may take a couple of seconds, but it works most of the time.