Prior to OS X Yosemite, there was no simple way to rename multiple files at the same time on the Mac. Some people set up Automator rules. Others tried workarounds to rename files in third-party apps. Finally, Apple realized our heartache and created a much simpler way to rename multiple files at once, and it's only gotten easier as macOS updates continue. Here's how to batch-rename files on your Mac.
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Batch Renaming Files in OS X Yosemite Since the feature is built right into the Finder app, you just need to launch the folder where the files to be renamed are located. Open that folder using Finder on your Mac. Select the files that you want to rename. Windows, Mac OS X, and most Linux desktops have built-in tools for quickly renaming multiple files. Use a batch-rename tool rather than fixing them one by one. More powerful batch-renaming features may require a third-party tool or the command line. Batch-renaming features are often integrated into third-party file managers, too.
How to batch-rename files on Mac
I personally batch-rename photos most often, but it works for any files you have. They just have to be the same type in order to be renamed all at once.
All of the files you selected will be renamed with the new name and listed sequentially from the starting number you entered.
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If you have a number of files that you want to identify but want to keep their current names, you can add text to every file without changing the original title.
All of the files you selected will have the new words added to them, without changing their original title.
How to search and replace certain words in the name of specific files on Mac
Sometimes, you want to change the name of just a few files, but it's one of dozens of files with different names and may be difficult to search for. You can find and replace portions or all of the name of files if you have a general idea of the original. For example, you could find and replace the wording in the name of every file that has 'secret project' in it.
Every file that had the original word or words you searched for will be replaced with the word or words you entered to change them to.
How to undo a batch-rename of files on Mac
It's incredibly easy to undo a file rename, as long as it's the last action you performed in the finder window.
You can also hit Command-Z as a keyboard shortcut to undo.
Any questions?
Do you have any questions about renaming multiple files at once on the Mac? Put them in the comments and we'll help you out.
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On Windows 10, the process to rename a single file is easy, but it can quickly become troublesome when trying to change the name (or extension) to a long list of files within a folder.
You can always install third-party tools to ease the process, but Windows 10 includes various tools to quickly change the name of files using File Explorer as well as using Command Prompt and PowerShell.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through three ways to rename multiple files, including changing the extension, without the need to resource to third-party tools.
How to rename multiple files using File Explorer
While you can choose from multiple methods to rename files, using File Explorer is perhaps the easiest way to accomplish the task.
Renaming multiple files one at a time
To quickly rename multiple files with different names using the 'Tab' key, use these steps:
Renaming multiple files at once
To rename multiple files in bulk with the same name structure, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, all the selected files will be renamed using the same scheme. However, you'll notice that they will use a different number between parentheses. For example, summer_trip_2019 (1).jpg and summer_trip_2019 (2).jpg.
If you made a mistake, you could use the Ctrl + Z keyboard shortcut to undo the changes. Alternatively, you can click the menu button from the top-left corner (on the title bar of File Explorer), and select the Undo option.
How to rename multiple files using Command Prompt
If you're comfortable using commands, you can use Command Prompt to change the name of one or multiple files in bulk.
Renaming single file
To rename one file with Command Prompt, use these steps:
Renaming multiple files
To rename multiple files in bulk with the same name structure with Command Prompt, use these steps:
Trimming multiple file names
To make long file names shorter with Command Prompt, use these steps:
Modifying multiple file names
To rename part of the file name on similar files, use these steps:
Changing file extension
To change the file extension to another compatible extension, use these steps:
Renaming specific extension file names
The instructions outlined above will rename every file within the location. However, if you want to rename only a group of files with a particular format, you need to omit the asterisk (*) and specify the target extension in the command.
To rename files with a specific file extension, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Command Prompt will rename the files using the settings that you specified in the command.
How to rename multiple files using PowerShell
On Windows 10, PowerShell is a powerful scripting tool, which similar to Command Prompt, allows you to rename files virtually any way you want. These instructions, we'll walk you through the most common scenarios to rename one as well as various files at once.
Renaming single file
To rename a single file using PowerShell, use these steps:
Renaming multiple files in bulk
To rename multiple files in bulk when the name structure isn't important, use these steps:
Trimming multiple file names
To make file names shorter, or trim part of the names by an N number of characters, use these steps:
Deleting part of the name from multiple files
To remove part of the file name on multiple files with PowerShell, use these steps:
Replacing part of the name from multiple files
To rename the same part of the file name on similar files, use these steps:
Removing spaces from multiple files
Spaces on file names can sometimes cause problems, especially when using a command terminal. If you have files using spaces in the title, you can modify the name to include a visual separator, such as dash or underscore symbol.
To remove and replace spaces with underscores, use these steps:
Changing file extension
To change the file extension for a bunch of files with PowerShell, use these steps:
Renaming specific extension file names
The instructions outlined above will rename every file within the location. However, if you want to rename a particular file format, such as documents, images, or videos, then you can use the '-filter' option.
To change the names of a specific file format, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, PowerShell will rename the files of a specific extension using the name that you specified in the command.
Although these commands have been tested to work correctly, it's always recommended that you perform a test run before trying to rename the original files.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
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