How to Batch Rename Files — Rename Hundreds of Files at Once

Rename Hundreds of Files in Seconds

Manually renaming files one by one is painful. Here's how to rename entire folders of files using patterns, sequences, and find-replace.

Method 1: Windows File Explorer (Built-in)

The simplest method for basic sequential renaming:

1. Select all files (Ctrl+A)
2. Right-click → Rename
3. Type the base name (e.g., "photo")
4. Press Enter

Result: photo (1).jpg, photo (2).jpg, photo (3).jpg... Limitation: Only sequential numbering, limited pattern control.

Method 2: Windows PowerShell

For more control:

# Add prefix to all JPGs
Get-ChildItem *.jpg | Rename-Item -NewName { "vacation_" + $_.Name }

# Sequential numbering
$i = 1; Get-ChildItem *.jpg | ForEach-Object {
  Rename-Item $_ -NewName ("photo_{0:D3}.jpg" -f $i++)
}

# Replace text in filenames
Get-ChildItem *.pdf | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace 'old', 'new' }

Method 3: Mac Finder (Built-in)

1. Select all files
2. Right-click → Rename Items
3. Choose: Replace Text, Add Text, or Format
4. Preview changes and click Rename

Mac's Finder is surprisingly powerful for batch renaming with format options.

Method 4: Mac Terminal

# Add prefix
for f in *.jpg; do mv "$f" "vacation_$f"; done

# Sequential numbering
i=1; for f in *.jpg; do mv "$f" "photo_$(printf '%03d' $i).jpg"; ((i++)); done

# Find and replace in filenames
for f in old; do mv "$f" "${f//old/new}"; done

Common Rename Patterns

Pattern	Before	After
Add prefix	photo.jpg	2026_photo.jpg
Add suffix	report.pdf	report_final.pdf
Sequential	IMG_4521.jpg	photo_001.jpg
Date-based	scan.pdf	2026-03-24_scan.pdf
Find-replace	document_v1.pdf	document_v2.pdf
Lowercase	Photo.JPG	photo.jpg
Remove spaces	my file.pdf	my_file.pdf

Tips for Batch Renaming

1. Back up first: Always copy files before bulk renaming — mistakes are hard to undo
2. Preview changes: Use the preview feature (Mac Finder) or echo commands before executing
3. Use sequential padding: 001 instead of 1 — keeps files sorted correctly
4. Avoid special characters: Stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores
5. Keep extensions: Never accidentally rename the file extension

Organizing Files After Renaming

After renaming, you might want to:

• Combine into PDF: Use Image to PDF to combine renamed images
• Create ZIP archive: Use Create ZIP to bundle renamed files
• Convert formats: Use Batch Convert Images for format standardization

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a batch rename?

Windows doesn't have built-in undo for batch renames. Mac Finder supports Cmd+Z to undo. Always back up first.

How do I rename files by date taken?

Use PowerShell with $_.LastWriteTime or a dedicated tool that reads EXIF data.

Can I batch rename files in subfolders?

Yes — add the -Recurse flag in PowerShell or use find with -exec on Mac/Linux.

Related Tools

• Image to PDF — Combine renamed images into PDF
• Create ZIP — Bundle files into an archive
• Batch Convert Images — Convert image formats in bulk