How to Batch Rename Files in Windows 10

Doing so manually would be very time consuming, but thankfully Windows 10 lets you batch rename files straight from the File Explorer window. While renaming a single file or folder is intuitive enough, there are times when you need to mass rename files or folders in greater numbers. In this article, we will explore various methods of renaming files and folders in Windows 10.

One way to quickly rename a file is by using the Rename shortcut. To do so, right-click on the file and select 'Rename' from the context menu. This method works well for individual files or small batches, but it can be tedious when dealing with larger numbers of files.

Another option is to use the Command Prompt (CMD) to rename files. This method requires some basic knowledge of command-line syntax, but it is a powerful tool that can be used to automate file renaming tasks. To use CMD to rename files, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt by searching for 'cmd' in the Start menu.

2. Navigate to the directory containing the files you want to rename using the `cd` command.

3. Use the `ren` command followed by the name of the file and the new name you want to assign.

For example, to rename a file called 'oldfile.txt' to 'newfile.txt', use the following command: `ren oldfile.txt newfile.txt`

PowerShell is another built-in tool in Windows 10 that can be used to rename files. PowerShell provides more advanced functionality than CMD and can be used to automate complex file renaming tasks.

To rename a file using PowerShell, follow these steps:

1. Open PowerShell by searching for 'powershell' in the Start menu.

2. Navigate to the directory containing the files you want to rename using the `cd` command.

3. Use the `Rename-Item` cmdlet followed by the name of the file and the new name you want to assign.

For example, to rename a file called 'oldfile.txt' to 'newfile.txt', use the following command: `Rename-Item -Path oldfile.txt -NewName newfile.txt`

In addition to using CMD and PowerShell, Windows 10 also provides several other methods for renaming files. For example, you can rename a file from the Properties menu by right-clicking on the file and selecting 'Properties' then clicking on the 'General' tab and typing in the new name.

Alternatively, you can rename a file from the Context Menu by right-clicking on the file and selecting 'Rename'.

In conclusion, Windows 10 provides several methods for renaming files, including using the Rename shortcut, CMD, PowerShell, and other built-in tools. While there are third-party applications like PowerToys that can speed up the process, in most cases the built-in Windows 10 functionality will do just fine. Whether it's due to a spelling mistake or because you temporarily named it 'asdf', Microsoft's OS has several tools to help.

Windows batch rename files