4 Ways to Rename Multiple Files at Once on Windows 10 and 11
Renaming files on Windows is easy. Simply right-click on the file and select the rename option from the context menu, and you can edit the file name instantly. But if you have to rename multiple files on Windows, it isn’t as straightforward. Nonetheless, there are quite a few ways rename multiple files in batch on Windows, with each having it’s pros and cons.
Renaming Multiple Files at Once on Windows
Let’s start with the native option available in the File Explorer on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
1. Renaming Files From Windows File Explorer
The native renaming option in Windows file explorer is powerful and should get the job done for most people.
1.PressWindows+Eto open the File Explorer and multi-select all the files or folders that you want to rename. you may do that by holdingCtrland clicking on the files to select with left click. You can also holdShiftand click on the start and end file to select all the files in between.
2.Once selected, right-click on the first file and select theRenameoption.
3.Enter a new name for the file you pressEnter.
4.This will rename all the selected files by adding a serial number at last. For example, suppose you have renamed the file name toTechwiser. In that case, it will rename file toTechwiser (1), the next one asTechwiser (2), and so on for all the remaining selected files.
4.On the other hand, you may also rename the first file and then pressTabto rename the next one. That way, you can give a different name to all the selected files. The process is much faster than selecting the rename option for each file individually.
2. Renaming Files Using PowerRename
Power Rename is an extension ofMicrosoft’s Power Toys applicationwhich is free and open-source. Compared to the native option, Power Rename brings some advantages to the table. First, you can use it to edit only a part of the file name. Second, you can also add details like the date of the file created to its name automatically. This feature will come in handy when you want to rename files taken with your DSLR or your screenshots to something meaningful.
1.Download thePowerToys app from GitHuband install it. You can also download it from theMicrosoft Storeeasily, but it will be a few versions behind.
2.Open the app, select thePower Renameoption in the sidebar, and enable it.
3.Now open File Explorer and select all the files and folders you want to rename. When you select the folder, it not only selects the folder but also all the files and folders within.
4.Once selected, right-click and select thePower Renameoption.
5.It opens the Power Rename window with all the selected files and also files inside the folder.
6.With Power Rename you need to search for the name in the filename and then you’re able to replace that with the name you want. For example, if many of your files contain the word images, you can search for ‘images’ keyword, then you can replace with some other name like ‘photos’. So if the filename is ‘Techwiser images’, it will get renamed to ‘Techwiser photos’.
7.Just enter the name that you want to be replaced in theSearch forsection at the top right corner. EnableCase sensitiveto select files with exact capitalization. EnableMatch all occurrencesto replace the text for all the occurrences.
8.Now you can enter the name that you want to replace with in theReplace withsection.
9.The preview will show both the original and renamed version of the files/folders so you know what the final result looks like. So you know the final outcome.
10.Once done, click onApplyat the bottom left corner to rename the files in bulk on your Windows computer.
Here are some moreregular expressionsfor a more robust search while renaming files and folders on Windows File Explorer.
3. Renaming Files Using Command Prompt
You can also rename multiple files using CMD or Command Prompt on your Windows. Though the process has a bit of a learning curve, it can make things faster as you get the hang of it.
1.Open the Command Prompt by pressing theWindows keyand searching for CMD.
2.In the Command Prompt, typecdand enter the file’s location. For example:
3.Now typedirto show all the files and folders in that file location.
4.Finally to rename, type ren, then type the name of the file, and then type the filename to which you want to rename. For example,ren originafilename.jpg newfilename.jpgcommand will change the originalfilename to newfilename. This way you’re able to rename a single file.
5.To rename multiple files, use asterisk sign (). To select the file based on the extension, just type.extension. For example, if you prefer to select all jpg files, type*.jpgto select all the jpg files in the selected directory.
6.To select all files, type*.*. It means, it will select all file names with all extension types.
7.You can also typea*.*to select all files that start with a. Typing*a.*will select files that end with a. The possibilities are just endless in terms of selecting when using CMD.
8.Once selected, you also have multiple options for renaming. You can mention the file name to change or an extension that changes the extension for all the selected files.
9.You can use the question mark. Like???.*will shrink down the file name to just 3 letters. So by adding or decreasing the question marks, you can shrink down the original filename to that many characters.
10.You can also type the file name and then add???to add the last 3 letters into the renamed file name.
4. Renaming Files Using File Renamer Basic
While command prompt allows more customization and different ways to rename files in bulk on Windows, it is hard to use because of the lack of a user interface. Here come third-party apps that can rename multiple files, providing more options to select and rename. There are many apps like Bulk Rename Utility, Advanced Renamer, Metamorphose 2, etc. But File Renamer Basic is easy to get started with and carries most functions making it a good and balanced utility tool.
1.Open the link, download theFile Renamer Basic app, and install it. The basic version is free to use.
2.Open the app and select the folder in the top left panel. Now you should see all the files inside that location.
3.Now you can begin renaming files and folders in different ways. By choosing theDelete / Remove / Insertoption, you can remove some characters from the front or end. You can also insert any new name at any position.
4.UseFind / Replaceoption like the power rename to find a common name across all files and replace it.
5.Advancedoption lets you insert the file’s date, parent folder’s name, or even resolution.
Renaming Multiple Files on Windows
File Explorercan get the work done for most people. You can give the same name to all files with a serial number at the end or give different names to different files. To only change a part of the filename, try PowerRename. However, it is only useful when you have the same name in every filename. But can come in handy for renaming screenshots and DSLR photos. For more customization options, go forCommand Promptor the third-party apps to rename files.
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
