If you need a powerful way to rename multiple files or folders at once – without any third-party utility then this article is exact what you need. In this article, I will show you how to bulk rename (mass rename) thousands of files or folders by a single Command Line. And more, Windows Explorer also has a great feature that help us bulk rename files or folders. Combining with a powerful Command Line in PowerShell, you can customize any flexible name you want.
Why we don’t use third-party software utilities?
There are many third-party software utilities that help you mass rename files, folders very easily. Most popular utilities are: Bulk Rename Utility, Advanced Renamer, Rename-It!, Fast File Renamer or Lupas Rename. But installing many too programs/ software may cause our computers slow down, hang or crash (untrusted software may even harm our computers).
So, why we have to use third-party utilities while we can bulk rename files, folders with one Command Line? (That is Windows built-in)
Bulk Rename File/ Folder by Command Line (TUT Mass File Rename)
Windows comes with a variety of “built-in” ways to rename multiples files or/and folders at once, includes Windows Explorer, DOS Command Prompt, and PowerShell. To help you easy to understand this Guide, I will give 2 popular use-cases (examples) as below:
Ex1. Change all file extensions: We have 1000 TXT files in a folder and we want to change all to HTML files; or we have 1000 PNG files wanna change to JPG files
Ex2. Change complex file name in bulk: We have a bunch of files or folders which we want to name sequentially, for example, we have 1000 beautiful images and we want to name it from New-File-Name-1.JPG to New-File-Name-1000.JPG
1. Change All file Extension by a Command Line
With example 1, we can do it easily by using the command line REN: REN *.PNG *.JPG (or REN *.TXT *.HTML):
– In Windows Explorer => goto menu File => Open Command Prompt => Open Command Prompt
– Type the command above in Command Prompt window
2. Bulk Rename files or folders in Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer is a quick way to rename multiple files or folders at once, but not many people know and use it:
– Select all files/ folders you want to rename (or you may use the shortcut: Ctrl + A)
– Hold the pointer to the first file/ folder then select Rename from the Context Menu (or you may use the shortcut: F2)
– Type new file name (for example: “New-File-Name“) then press Enter to save it.
Done ! Now Windows Explorer will auto rename all the selected files/ folders sequentially, from New-File-Name (1).JPG to New-File-Name (1000).JPG
3. Mass Files, Folders Rename by Windows Powershell Command Line
– Mass rename files, folders in Windows Explorer is a very fast and easy method. But lacking in flexibility => PowerShell is extremely flexible.
– To open PowerShell in Windows, you search “PowerShell” from the Start Menu => then select Windows PowerShell.
cd D:\a\media\files\2016\10\
dir | rename-item -NewName { $_.name.Replace(” (“,”–“) }
dir | rename-item -NewName { $_.name.Replace(“)“,””) }
Hope you enjoy it.
Please leave a comment if you need further help.