Every file stored on your hard drive has associated with it a set of properties. These file properties indicate characteristics of the file, such as whether it is read-only hidden. The file properties can also provide information about the file, such as how much disk space it uses and what program it is opened with.
In order to change those file properties you are allowed to change (some, such as file size, cannot be changed directly), you need to display the Properties dialog box for the file. The normal way is to simply right-click on the file and choose Properties from the resulting Context menu. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. The Properties dialog box for a file.
The number of tabs and properties displayed in the dialog box will differ for different types of files. (You can also click the Advanced button to see additional file properties.) You can modify some properties displayed in the dialog box while others are for your information only. Making changes to properties can affect how the file is treated by Windows or by other programs. For instance, some searching programs allow you to search based upon information stored in a file's properties.
This tip (12986) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.
You can improve your efficiency at navigating the file system by using the Quick Access view. This tip shows you how to ...
Discover MoreWhen you have a lot of files in a folder, it is helpful to be able to know how to sort through all the files. Windows 10 ...
Discover MoreWindows allows you to customize many aspects of its user interface. One thing you can modify is how a folder's icon ...
Discover MoreThere are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments