2 tips to teach you how to batch rename Windows easily

In the Windows operating system, changing the name of a single file is relatively simple, but when a large number of photos and files are involved, manually changing the name one by one can become tedious. But don't worry! Windows provides a batch rename feature and Microsoft PowerToys tools that can help you solve this problem efficiently. By using these features, you can easily batch rename multiple files, saving time and effort. Instead of manually changing file names one by one, these functions allow you to add prefixes, suffixes to multiple files at once, or rename them according to specific rules, making file organization and management more convenient. Therefore, take advantage of the batch rename feature provided by Windows and Microsoft PowerToys

Method 1: Use "File Explorer" to batch rename in sequence

The built-in renaming function of Windows File Explorer can help users conveniently modify file names in batches. Although the function is simple, it can already meet most daily needs.

1Use the Windows E shortcut key to open "File Explorer" and find the folder where the file you want to rename is located.

2Select the file to be renamed:

• Press Ctrl A to select all files.
• Hold down the Ctrl key and click or select multiple files.

3Press the F2 shortcut key or click the "Rename" button on the toolbar.

4 Enter the new file name in the editable text box, and then press the "Enter" key to confirm.

Batch rename in sequence through "File Explorer"

When you rename multiple files, the system automatically adds the same base name to each file and then appends a sequence of numbers after the name. For example, if you rename a file to "Reports", the system will generate a naming format like "Report(1)", "Report(2)" through "Report(n)". This feature can help you quickly organize and identify large numbers of files and avoid duplicate name problems.

If an error occurs during the renaming process, or you want to restore the original file name, you can press Ctrl Z to undo the changes.

Method 2: Use PowerRename to batch modify file names

PowerToys is a set of free utility tools provided by Microsoft for Windows. The PowerRename function is specially used to modify file names in batches.

Advantages of PowerRename

• Compared with the batch renaming function that comes with Windows, PowerRename provides more control options and customization functions.
• Supports the use of regular expressions for precise matching and replacement operations.

How to use PowerRename

1Download and install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store.

2 Open the PowerToys settings, select "PowerRename" in the left menu, and turn on the "Enable PowerRename" switch.

Enable PowerRename

3 In "File Explorer", find the folder where the file you want to rename is located.

4Select the file you want to rename, then right-click and select "Rename using PowerRename".

Rename using PowerRename

5Set renaming rules:

• Enter the text or regular expression you want to find in the "Search" box.
• Enter the replaced text in the "Replace" box.

6 Click the "Apply" button to apply the renaming rules.

PowerRename usage example

For example, I have a batch of desktop wallpapers downloaded from Bing. The file names are similar to OHR.BalloonDay_ZH-CN7571792218_UHD.jpg. To change:

1. OHR. is replaced with Bing_;
2. Delete the _ZH-CN7571792218_UHD part in the file name;
3. Change the .jpg extension to .jpeg in batches.

It can be operated in the following three steps:

1Enter OHR. in the "Search" box, enter Bing_ in the "Replace" box, and then click "Apply".

Replace text

2 Check "Use regular expressions" and enter _([^_] )_UHD in the "Search" box to find the second one starting with _ and ending with UHD and replace it with empty, that is, delete this part. Then click "Apply".

Use regular expressions

How to write regular expressions, please refer to Microsoft official documentation: Regular Expression Language – Quick Reference.

3 Enter jpg in the "Search" box, enter jpeg in the "Replace" box, select "Extension Only" in the "Apply to" drop-down list and click "application".

Batch replacement extensions

This step will replace the jpg extension with jpeg, but it does not involve format conversion, just a name change. Since jpg is jpeg, you can do this.

This article introduces two methods of batch renaming files in Windows systems, using the "File Explorer" that comes with Windows and the Microsoft PowerToys tool. Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, and you can choose the appropriate method according to your needs.

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