4 Easy Ways to Batch Rename Files on Windows 11

Are there multiple files that need to be renamed to preserve the file? Well, renaming files can be tedious, especially when you have a bunch of files to deal with. Furthermore, you won’t want to go through them one by one. Well, there is a much more efficient way to batch rename files on Windows 11.

Furthermore, batch renaming saves time and allows for easier file organization and management. The most important part of bulk file renaming is that you don’t want to worry about mis-naming any of them. In this article, we will talk about 4 different ways to batch rename files on Windows 11 to help you organize things efficiently. Let’s start with the easiest.

Tip: If you’re using a Mac, you can check out this article to learn the best ways to rename multiple files at once on your Mac.

How to batch rename files on Windows 11 with File Explorer

This is the easiest way to rename multiple files on Windows 11. Let’s show you how.

Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to the files and folders you want to rename.

Step 2: Click the View tab and select Details.

Step 3: Select all the files you want to rename. Then go to the Home tab and click the Rename button.

Alternatively you can select the first file, press and hold the shift key and click on the last file to select all files, or just press ‘Ctrl + A.’

Step 4: Rename the first file and press Enter.

That’s it! The selected files will be renamed using the name of the structure you specified, with a count in parentheses to make each filename different. For example, telegram group (1).jpg, telegram group (2).jpg, etc. If you are using a Mac, our guide to creating and renaming folders will be helpful.

How to rename multiple files at once on Windows 11 using Command Prompt

It’s kind of unusual, but Windows also provides a way to batch rename files through the Command Prompt. Follow the instructions below:

Step 1: Open Windows Search, type Command Prompt and press Enter. Click Yes on the prompt.

Do you know? There are 7 quick ways to open Command Prompt on Windows.

Step 2: In Command Prompt, type the following command ‘cd c:\PATH\TO\FILES’.

In PATH\TO\FILES, copy the location of the file or directory and paste it in. Example: ‘:cd %USERPROFILE%\Documents\files’.

Step 3: Now, type ‘ren *.FILE-EXTENSION ???-FILE-NAME.*‘ to batch rename files and press Enter.

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batch rename files and press Enter

And there you go. All the files you selected will be renamed.

Batch Rename Files in Windows 11 Using PowershellStep 1

Open Windows PowerShell

Click Yes on the prompt.Step 2

: In PowerShell, type the following command ‘cd PATH\TO\FOLDER’

type the following command ‘cd PATH\TO\FOLDER’Step 3: Now type the following command ‘is | %{Rename-Item $_ -NewName (“NEW-FILE-NAME-{0}.EXTENSION” -f $nr++)}

Type the following command ls | %{Rename-Item $_ -NewName (“NEW-FILE-NAME-{0}.EXTENSION” -f $nr++)}

Replace ‘NEW FILENAME’ with the actual structure name you want to use and add the appropriate file extension in place of ‘EXPAND’.

And that’s it. Following the steps above will rename the selected files with the specified format. If you are confusing PowerShell with Command Prompt, both are similar but different. Confused? Check out our guide explaining the difference between Command Prompt and Powershell.

Use Microsoft’s PowerToys to Batch Rename Files in Windows 11

Windows default file renaming works for most people, but for users who are looking for more customization and a bit more options for bulk file modification, there’s PowerToys. As its name suggests, it is intended for the proficient user. It provides batch renaming files on Windows 11 using a tool called PowerRename, which is more capable than the default tool on Windows 11.

All told, follow the instructions below to rename multiple files at once using PowerToys.

Step 1: Download PowerToys from GitHub using the link below and install it.

Download PowerToys from GitHub

Open PowerToys and in Admin mode

Make sure the PowerRename feature is enabled

Navigate to the files you want to rename

Right click and select ‘View more options.’

Step 6: Select the existing filename to be replaced with the new filename and click Apply.

select PowerRename to open all selected files

All file names will be changed immediately

There are many tools available to batch rename files, including Batch Rename Utility and Advanced Renamer. However, the interfaces of these tools are complex and they do not provide easy ways to perform the renaming process.

Therefore, we recommend you to use the tools mentioned in this article to efficiently rename files in bulk in Windows.

FAQ about renaming files on Windows 11

1. Is there a quick way to rename files in Windows 11?

The fastest way to rename files in Windows 11 is to use File Explorer. Select the files you want to rename > right click > go to rename > rename files > click save.

2. What is the shortcut to rename a file or folder?

The keyboard shortcut for renaming files in Windows is F2.

Windows Batch File Rename Easily

There are different ways to batch rename files on Windows 11. All of the file renaming methods listed are practical and effective. You can choose the method that is most convenient for you or easiest for you to complete your task.

Categories: How to
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