Save Time: How to Rename Multiple Files at Once in Windows

Here's the dilemma: You're stuck with dozens (or hundreds) of files in Windows that have unhelpful names. This typically happens with photos shot on a smartphone and then transferred to your computer, resulting in names like IMG1001 and IMG1002. You want to rename all of these files so the names make sense, but you don't want to waste time doing it one by one.

Windows lets you rename multiple files at once, giving each one a sequential number to keep things in order. This has its uses, but you can accomplish even more with the Microsoft PowerToys PowerRename tool, which lets you add dates and times to filenames through the use of variables.

You can also turn to third-party utilities for more powerful solutions. These programs can tackle hundreds or thousands of files and will change the filename or extension to whatever you wish. You can even preview the rename and undo the rename if things aren't quite right.

Rename in File Explorer

To rename multiple files from File Explorer, select all the files you wish to rename, then press the F2 key. The name of the last file will become highlighted. Type the new name you wish to give to every file, then press Enter. All the files you selected are christened with the same name but with a number in parentheses to make each filename unique.

If you change your mind about the new name, press Ctrl + Z to undo your action, and your files will revert back to their original names. If you wish to rename additional files this way, select the new files, press F2, and then type the new name.

The new files are given sequential numbers starting from where the initial files left off, so there’s no conflict with duplicate names.

PowerToys PowerRename

PowerRename can do even more. If you don't already have PowerToys on your PC, download and install the PowerToysSetup.exe file from the program's GitHub page. Open the PowerToys Settings window by double-clicking its System Tray icon, then selecting PowerRename.

Make sure the switch for Enable PowerRename is turned on. Open the Show PowerRename drop-down menu and set it to Default and extended context menu. This adds PowerRename to the context menu in Windows. Leave the box for Hide icon in context menu unchecked.

To receive suggestions for names when searching for and replacing existing filenames, confirm that Enable auto-complete for the search and replace fields is enabled. Use the field below to set the maximum number of suggestions you receive. If you're unsure, leave the default value of 10.

Turn on Show recently used strings to see the last strings used for a search and replace. If you think you’ll need more than just the regular expressions used for search and replace, enable Use Boost library at the bottom of the settings page.

Now when you need to rename multiple files, open File Explorer and select the items you want to change. Right-click on the selection and choose PowerRename from the pop-up menu.

In the right pane of PowerRename, confirm the files you wish to rename and make sure each one is checked. Check the box for Use regular expressions. You then need to set up your search and replace strings.

For this, let’s use photos with the names of IMG_xxxx, with the xxxx representing a sequential number for each file. In the Search field, type IMG_. In PowerRename, the dot symbol is used as a variable representing a single character. So you would type four dots after the IMG_ as in IMG_.... and leave the extension as is.

In the Replace field, type the name you wish to give the files, such as New York Yankee Game. You then click the Enumerate Items button above the Apply button to add sequential numbers in parentheses to the end of the filename. This would look like New York Yankee Game (1), New York Yankee Game (2), and so on.

But PowerToys really shines by incorporating variables. Maybe you want to indicate the date each photo was taken. Use the $ sign to add variables, the letter M for month, the letter D for the day, and the letter Y for the year. The number of times you use the letter determines the exact format.

Let’s say you want to use the two-digit value for the month, the two-digit value for the date, and the four-digit value for the year. You would type the replace string as New York Yankee Game $MM-$DD-$YYYY.

Note that all the changes you have made to this point have not been applied yet. PowerRename previews the new names in the Renamed column while the original filename is still shown under the Original column. This way you can see if your syntax is correct or the new naming convention works for your needs.

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If all looks good, click the Apply button to officially rename the files. The new names will now appear in the Original column to indicate that the files have been renamed.

File Renamer

If you decide you need a third-party utility, you will find many options, both free and paid. One particularly useful utility is File Renamer by Sherrod Computers. This tool comes in three different flavors—a free Basic version, a $10 Regular version, and a $19.95 Deluxe version. Naturally, the paid versions offer more features than the free edition.

First, install File Renamer, then open the program. Browse to the folder containing the files. You'll see that all files are already selected. From the Filename section at the bottom of the program, click the drop-down box and choose Custom Filename from the list.

Type the filename you wish to give each image, then uncheck Include and select it again. The tool will then show you a sample preview of the new filename. We'll choose to keep the dash as a separator between the main filename and the numbering scheme.

In the Unique Parameter section, we can add numbers, letters, or dates to the filename. Since we have dozens of files (rather than thousands of them), we'll change the mask from 0000 to 00 and keep the other criteria the same. Finally, we'll leave the extension as is.

Check the sample file name at the bottom of the window to make sure it matches your preference. Then click on the Preview button to see the new name of each file. If you're happy with the name, click the Apply button to rename your files.

There is an Undo button that allows you to undo your rename, but this feature is only included in the Deluxe edition of File Renamer.

If you can get by without that feature, then stick with the Basic edition. If you rename a lot of files and want more advanced features, the Regular or Deluxe versions may be worth the investment.