Renaming several files at once is very useful when working with a very large collection of data. Fortunately, there are several quick and efficient ways to accomplish this task on both Mac and Windows devices.
How to rename multiple files at once
There are two options for renaming several files at once: using the native tools of each operating system or resorting to specialized software that offers this feature. See below the two available alternatives.
Using native system tools
Windows
- Abra a pasta “Windows Explorer”;
- Thecla pressure Ctrl e click on the files in the folder you want to rename;
- Thecla pressure F2;
- Enter the new name for the files and press Enter.
When performing the first steps above, note that only one of the selected files is highlighted, which may lead to believe that only it will be renamed. However, when pressing the key Enterall selected files will be given the same name.
However, if an error occurs when trying to rename multiple files, you can undo the action by pressing Ctrl + Z.
Mac
- Open Finder;
- Thecla pressure Cmd and click on the files;
- Right-click and select “Rename X Items…”;
- From the “Rename Finder Items” menu, choose to replace text in names, add text to names, or change name format;
- Click “Rename”.
As with Windows, if you make a mistake trying to rename files all at once, press the keys Cmd + Z to undo the action.
Some of the items below should pay attention to when being renamed:
- Applications and Items folders that come with the system, such as the Library folder, can cause problems when they are renamed. It is recommended to revert to the original name or, if this does not resolve the issue, reinstall the software;
- File extensions are represented by the dot followed by a few letters that appear at the end of some filenames, such as .jpg. Changing this may prevent you from being able to open the file again;
- The home folder is named after the user and is related to the macOS login session. Modifying this name may prevent you from correctly logging onto your computer.
Using third-party software
You can use a variety of specialized software to rename multiple files at once on Windows and macOS. Among the most common are:
Windows
Mac
If you want to know how to get more out of your computer’s resources, check out 10 tricks every Mac user needs to know and 10 tips for optimizing Windows.
