How to Rename a File on Windows, Mac, Android & iPhone

To rename a file, select it and press F2 on Windows or Return on Mac, type the new name, and confirm. On a phone, open your file manager, touch and hold the file, and choose Rename.

For a batch, choose the method that matches the job: a numbered sequence, a change to existing names, or new names based on what each document contains.

File renaming shortcuts by device

These actions change the filename, not the format or the title written inside a document. The detailed instructions below explain common differences between devices.

How to Rename a Single File

On Windows

1. Open File Explorer and select the file.
2. Press F2. On some keyboards, use Fn + F2.
3. Enter the new name.
4. Press Enter.

You can also right-click the file and choose Rename. Microsoft documents this method in its file-renaming instructions.

Keep the extension, such as .pdf or .jpg, unchanged. Changing an extension does not convert the file's contents. To see extensions in Windows 11, use View > Show > File name extensions.

On Mac

1. Select the file in Finder.
2. Press Return.
3. Type the new name.
4. Press Return again.

You can also Control-click the file and choose Rename. See Apple's Finder renaming guide. If renaming fails, check permissions and whether an app or sync service is using the file; an open file is not automatically unrenamable on every system.

On Android

Open Files by Google or your phone's file manager. Find the file, open its menu or touch and hold it, choose Rename, and confirm the new name. The menu position and confirmation label vary by app.

If a picture only appears in a gallery app, locate the actual file in your file manager first.

On iPhone and iPad

In the Files app, locate the file, touch and hold it, then tap Rename. Enter the new name and confirm.

Available actions depend on the storage provider and your permissions. A picture in Photos is different from a file in Files: export or save a copy to Files if you need to change its filename.

On Chromebook

Open Files, select the file, right-click or two-finger tap it, and choose Rename. Type the new name and confirm. If the location is read-only, copy the file to an editable folder first.

How to Batch Rename Files

Before changing a large batch, work on a copy or make a backup. Check the selected files and the proposed names, including extensions and duplicate-name conflicts.

Windows File Explorer (Quick Sequential Rename)

1. Open the folder and select the files.
2. Press F2.
3. Enter a shared base name, such as Project_Photo.
4. Press Enter.

Windows adds numbers to distinguish the files. This works well for a related set of images, but it does not identify individual invoices or contracts.

PowerToys PowerRename (Pattern Matching)

PowerRename is Microsoft's batch-renaming utility in PowerToys. Select files in File Explorer, right-click, and choose Rename with PowerRename.

Use it to replace text, change case, or apply a pattern. Review the preview before applying changes. Choose Filename only when you want to preserve extensions, and check whether subfolders are included.

For example, replacing draft with review changes proposal_draft.docx to proposal_review.docx. It changes the name; it does not approve or edit the document.

PowerShell Commands (Full Control)

PowerShell is useful when you already know the naming rule. Open it in the intended folder and preview a narrow selection first:

Get-ChildItem -File -Filter "*.pdf" |
  Rename-Item -NewName { "project-a_" + $_.Name } -WhatIf

This previews adding project-a_ to PDF filenames in the current folder. It does not recurse into subfolders. Remove -WhatIf only after checking the proposed changes and backing up the files. Running the command again adds the prefix again.

To preview replacing text:

Get-ChildItem -File -Filter "*.pdf" |
  Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace "old-project", "new-project" } -WhatIf

The -replace operator uses regular expressions. Test carefully when the search text contains punctuation. PowerShell has no general undo for a rename script; a list of old names alone is not a complete recovery procedure.

Mac Finder (Built-In Batch Rename)

Select several files in Finder, Control-click the selection, and choose Rename. Finder offers:

• Replace Text: change part of existing names.
• Add Text: add text before or after a name.
• Format: build consistent names with an index, counter, or date.

Review the example before applying. For more batch workflows, see our guide to renaming multiple files at once.

How to Rename Multiple Files at Once with Different Names

If you already know every new name, use a renaming tool that accepts an old-name/new-name mapping and checks for conflicts. If the names must come from information inside each file, a numbered sequence will not solve the problem.

An invoice might need its supplier and invoice number; a contract might need its counterparty and start date. That requires reading the content, manually or with an appropriate tool.

How to Rename PDF Files

Renaming a Single PDF

Rename a PDF in your file manager just like any other file. Keep .pdf at the end. You do not need to open a PDF editor, and changing the filename does not change the title printed inside the document.

Content-Based PDF Renaming

A content-based renamer extracts text from a PDF, using OCR where needed for a scan, and uses selected details to suggest a name.

These are illustrative outputs, not guaranteed results:

Always check ambiguous dates, invoice numbers, and parties. Poor scans or missing information can produce incorrect suggestions.

See PDF file renaming for the product workflow and organizing invoices for a filing system.

Smart File Renaming with AI

Renamer.ai reads supported files and uses their content to generate names. Custom templates let you specify which details belong in a filename. Magic Folders can apply a configured workflow as new files arrive.

Start with a small representative batch:

1. Choose files you are authorized to process.
2. Define the fields you need, such as supplier, document date, and invoice number.
3. Test the template and review the results.
4. Resolve missing fields or naming conflicts.
5. Expand to an automated folder workflow once the output is consistent.

Use the current Renamer.ai guides for setup, or download the desktop app. Check your organization's processing requirements before using confidential documents.

File Naming Best Practices

A useful pattern is project_YYYY-MM-DD_document-type_v01.ext. Choose the order based on how you retrieve files.

• Use a consistent date format and define what the date means.
• Preserve the extension.
• Use clear document types and stable project or client IDs.
• Keep names concise enough to scan in a folder.
• Use version numbers where your storage system does not manage versions.
• Avoid putting unnecessary personal or confidential details in names.

For copyable patterns, see file naming conventions and templates.

FAQ

What's the keyboard shortcut to rename a file?

Select the file, then press F2 on Windows or Return on Mac. Some Windows keyboards require Fn + F2.

Can I rename a PDF without opening it?

Yes. Use the file manager's Rename command and preserve the .pdf extension. You only need to inspect its content if you do not yet know the appropriate name.

Why can't I rename my PDF file?

Check folder permissions, an app locking the file, a read-only location, sync conflicts, a duplicate name, or an unsupported filename. On Windows, characters such as < > : " / \ | ? * are not allowed in ordinary filenames. A very long path can also cause problems.

How do I undo a batch rename?

Immediately check Undo Rename in your file manager: commonly Ctrl + Z in Windows Explorer or Command + Z in Finder. Undo availability depends on the operation and subsequent actions. Keep backups for large batches and scripts.

Does renaming a file change its contents?

No. A filename change does not rewrite the document or convert its format. It can affect links and applications that expect the old path, so test linked workflows before renaming their files.