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

Luis: exactly, like the others with the issue. I had the same behavior today with another Excel file, and it took about 20 minutes to show the file extension. This one too was in the Documents folder, in iCloud.

I believe this has been fixed. I received a follow-up call this morning from Apple after talking with support a couple times over the past weeks to report and troubleshoot this, and they said others called in as well, and engineering thinks they've fixed it.

When the advisor called, I was actually in the process of downloading version 15.5, but they had me test it while it was still on 15.4.1, and I couldn't get the issue to happen. The advisor said they'd call me back tomorrow to verify everything is still working correctly once my system finishes the update to 15.5.

My update is now done, and the issue looks fixed! I tested multiple times with different programs, and everything works as expected.

This was amazing support by Apple. The advisor told me last week they'd get back to me once they heard more, but I didn't really believe them. I mean, hardly any companies (or people) follow up when they say they will, but they really did. Wow!

I hope it's fixed for everyone else, but if not, I'd give them a call because it seems like they really want to make it right.

macOS 15.5 is a big update. I presume it fixes many bugs. I did the update and tried if the issue is still there. I tried with 6 file types (Numbers, Pages, Excel, ".png", ".pdf" and TextEdit) on 2 locations (Desktop and Documents). So far, with my i9 2020 iMac, the issue seems fixed only with Pages and ".png" image files. Numbers files don't show the issue on Documents locations, but they do sometime on the Desktop (strange). Excel, ".pdf" and TextEdit (".rtf") show the issue, if you leave them some time. With my M2 2023 MacBook Pro, the file extension still show for Excel files, ".pdf" and TextEdit files (".rtf"); the results are the same on both locations, Desktop and Documents. This tends to point that the issue is fixed with Numbers, Pages and ".png" files on my MacBook Pro. But not sure about Numbers files on my i9 iMac.

I guess that it still has to be resolved with the other file types that I have identified, but many others could be involved.

Yes, this seems to be a known issue in macOS 15.4 where .pages and .numbers filename extensions cannot be hidden in Finder despite the setting. It might be worth reporting this to Apple for further investigation.

Another surprise for me today. I have several files that were not modified during the last day, and had their file extension masked, but the Finder suddenly decided to unmask their file extensions. Files modified before the month of may (before update 15.4.1, I assume) seem unaffected and their file extension remain masked.

For example, I have a ".numbers" document that was modified 4 days ago, and still had its file extension masked yesterday night, but the file extension is unmasked today, without being modified in the mean time.

Note: for information, the Numbers file I created yesterday night also shows now its file extension.

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.

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.

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.

Unless someone can attest to this problem occurring with files saved only locally (as opposed to files saved in locations that are synced to iCloud), I remain convinced that the problem is not with Pages or Numbers but with iCloud. There are have been similar reports with other files, like png images, and as far as I can tell always when saved to iCloud. Note: when I say “saved to iCloud”, this is also the case when saving to Documents or to Desktop if “Documents and Desktop in iCloud” is active.

Me too, macOS Sequoia update v15.6 did not solve the problem. It's getting to be beyond simply annoying to have to continually use Get Info to re-set the Hide Extension attribute for every file that was edited the previous day in either Pages or Numbers. These two apps insist on clearing this attribute. A true painful user experience that I was hoping would be resolved with the update.

Since macOS 15.6 is likely the last update we’ll see until macOS 26 is released I think you will be waiting for a very long time for a fix, especially if Apple doesn’t recognize your issue as a bug.

I suppose I should ask if you have reported this issue directly to Apple via feedback channels. Have you?

IAmSkippermark wrote:

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.

I have a lot of files from apps that have PDF version of it with the same file name (except for the extension). Having the extension frees me from opening one in an effort to find out which is which. It works for me.

kvormwald,

Instead of "Get Info" and "Hide Extension", you may try this:

 • click filename once, then a second time, like to rename it (not double-click)

  (only main part will be selected, not the file extension)

 • enter Cmd-C to copy the filename (the part before "." and file extension)

 • enter Cmd-A to select all of the filename (name and extension)

 • enter Cmd-V to paste over the whole filename and extension

• click on an empty space or enter Return

– once used to do it, you can do it pretty fast

This will get rid of the visible file extension, but it will remain as invisible.  No need to open the "Get info" window.  For me, it is quicker that way.

It does work for any file type, like image files (png, jpg, heic, etc), Microsoft documents (excel, word, power point, etc), Safari shortcuts (.webloc), pdf, txt, and more. You may not have noticed, but they all do the same buggy behaviour with their file extension.

Note:

Another way, if you prefer to see the Info window, is to select the file by clicking once on it, then:

 • enter Cmd-I (short cut for get info)

 • click the Hide extension check box

 • enter Cmd-W (short cut to close the get info window)

lkrupp,

or may be they do recognize the issue as a bug, but they haven't found a fix so far, with the priorities that have been assigned to this particular issue (this is one in many hundreds, I assume).

Thanks Bruno,

Previously to using Get Info, I was deleting the extension by clicking into the filename, then clicking to the end of the entire filename+extension and backspace/deleting the extension portion. Your suggestion is probably a faster, easier way to accomplish the same thing - I'll give it a try.

Ken