How To Batch Rename Multiple Files On Windows 10

It’s simple to rename a single file on Windows 10. The issue arises when you have to rename numerous files in a particular folder. You can speed up the process of renaming a large number of files by using File Explorer, PowerShell, Command Prompt, or even the Microsoft PowerToys application.

The simplest way to rename one or more files on Windows 10 is by using File Explorer. This guide will show you how to bulk rename files using File Explorer.

Rename multiple files one at a time

First, you must open File Explorer. You can quickly open File Explorer with the icon in the taskbar, the “Windows key + E” keyboard shortcut, or by clicking the File Explorer icon from the left pane in the Start menu.

1. Using the “Tab” key, rename multiple files as follows:

Step 1: Go to the folder containing the files you want to rename.
Step 2: Select the View tab.
Step 3: Choose the Details view.
Step 4: Select the first file in the folder.
Step 5: Click the Home tab.
Step 6: Click the Rename button.
Step 7: Pick a new name for the file.
Step 8: Press the Tab key to jump and trigger the rename action for the next file down the list.
Step 9: Confirm the new file name.
Step 10: Press the Tab key again to jump and trigger the next rename.
Step 11: Continue repeating steps 9 and 10 to rename all the files.

A helpful tip while renaming is you can keep pressing the Tab key to skip a file and keep renaming other files.

2. Another option is to click the file once and then gradually click the name again to start the renaming process, then proceed to steps 8 through 11 of the instructions for ‘Using the “Tab” key’.

3. You can right-click the file by pressing the F2 key and selecting the Rename option from the context menu. Continue the process as mentioned in ‘Using the “Tab” key’ starting from step 8 through to step 11.

Rename multiple files all at once

Use these steps on Windows 10 to bulk rename files with the same name structure

1. You can use the “View” tab to batch rename files as follows:

Step 1. Open File Explorer.
Step 2. Navigate to the folder with the files to change their names.
Step 3. Click the View tab.
Step 4. Select the Details view.
Step 5. Click the Home tab.
Step 6. Click the Select all button. You can also use the “Ctrl + A” keyboard shortcut to select all files.
Step 7. Click the Rename button from the “Home” tab.
Step 8. Confirm the new file name base and press Enter.

2. You can also press and hold the Ctrl key and then click each file to rename or you can choose the first file, press and hold the Shift key, and then click the last file to select a group. Then repeat the process from above steps 7 to 8.

The selected files will be renamed once you finish the steps using the naming structure you defined, with a count number in parenthesis to make each file name unique. For instance, my_music_video (1).png and my_music_video (2).png

If you made a mistake, you could use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + Z” to reverse the modifications. Alternatively, you can choose the Undo button by clicking the menu button in the title bar.