How to batch rename multiple files on Windows 10

How to rename multiple files using PowerShell

Alternatively, you can also use PowerShell to rename 1 or multiple files. Although using this tool, in that location are many ways to manipulate files, the instruction in this guide are only meant to go started with the most mutual scenarios.

Rename single file

To rename only one file using PowerShell, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the elevation effect to open up the app.
Type the post-obit command example to navigate to the folder with the files to rename and printing Enter:

cd PATH\TO\Folder

In the command, replace PATH\TO\FOLDER with the actual path to the location.

For instance, this control navigates the "files" folder inside "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Blazon the following command to view a list of the files in the location and printing Enter:

ls
Type the following command to modify the name of a unmarried file and press Enter:

Rename-Item "Former-FILE-Name.EXTENSION" "NEW-FILE-Proper noun.EXTENSION"

In the command, make sure to specify the old and new file name and extension. The quotation marks are only required if the name includes spaces.

For example, renames the file to "hiking_trip_2021_notes.txt":

Rename-Item summer_trip_21_notes.txt hiking_trip_2021_notes.txt

Source: Windows Primal
Repeat step No. 5 to keep renaming other the remaining files.

Once y'all complete the steps, the control will change the proper noun of the file you specified.

Rename multiple files in majority

To rename multiple files in majority, when the proper noun structure is not important, use these steps:

Open up Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the acme result to open the app.
Type the post-obit command example to navigate to the folder with the files to rename and press Enter:

cd PATH\TO\FOLDER

In the command, replace PATH\TO\Folder with the bodily path to the location.

For instance, this control navigates the "files" folder inside "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Type the following command to view a list of the files in the location and press Enter:

ls
Type the following command to rename multiple files in majority and press Enter:

ls | %{Rename-Item $_ -NewName ("NEW-FILE-Proper noun-{0}.EXTENSION" -f $nr++)}

In the command, supervene upon "NEW-FILE-Name" with the bodily structure name y'all want to use.

For example, this control renames images with a ".jpg" extension using the same ("beach-trip-2021-") naming structure and appends a different number at the finish of the proper name:

ls | %{Rename-Item $_ -NewName ("beach-trip-2021-{0}.jpg" -f $nr++)}

Source: Windows Primal

After you complete these steps, all the files with the specified format will exist renamed using the naming structure you lot specified.

Trim multiple file names

To make file names shorter, or trim part of the names by an "N" number of characters on Windows 10, employ these steps:

Open Commencement.
Search for PowerShell and click the summit effect to open the app.
Type the following command example to navigate to the folder with the files to rename and printing Enter:

cd PATH\TO\FOLDER

In the command, replace PATH\TO\FOLDER with the actual path to the location.

For example, this command navigates the "files" folder within "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Type the following command to view a listing of the files in the location and press Enter:

ls
Type the post-obit command to rename files using shorter names and press Enter:

ls | Rename-Item -NewName {$_.proper name.substring(0,$_.BaseName.length-N) + $_.Extension}

In the command, inside "$_.BaseName.length-Northward" update the value of "Due north" to specify the number of characters that you want to remove.

For instance, this command trims the proper name of your files past eight characters:

ls | Rename-Particular -NewName {$_.proper noun.substring(0,$_.BaseName.length-eight) + $_.Extension}

Source: Windows Central

Once yous complete these steps, you will end upward with shorter file names depending on the length you specified in the command.

Delete office of the name from multiple files

To remove part of the file name on multiple files with PowerShell, use these steps:

Open up Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top event to open up the app.
Type the following control example to navigate to the folder with the files to rename and press Enter:

cd PATH\TO\Folder

In the control, replace PATH\TO\FOLDER with the bodily path to the location.

For example, this command navigates the "files" binder inside "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Type the following control to view a list of the files in the location and press Enter:

ls
Blazon the post-obit command to remove office of the file name and press Enter:

ls | Rename-Item -NewName {$_.name -supervene upon "Former-FILE-NAME-PART",""}

In the command, replace "Sometime-FILE-Proper noun-Part" with the actual function of the name you want to replace.

For example, this control removes the discussion "trip" from the proper noun of all files in the binder:

ls | Rename-Detail -NewName {$_.name -supplant "trip",""}

Source: Windows Primal

Afterward you complete the steps, the control will remove the part of the file name y'all specified in the command.

Replace part of the proper noun from multiple files

To rename the same part of the file name, use these steps:

Open Offset.
Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the app.
Type the following command instance to navigate to the binder with the files to rename and press Enter:

cd PATH\TO\Binder

In the command, supersede PATH\TO\FOLDER with the actual path to the location.

For example, this command navigates the "files" folder inside "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Blazon the post-obit command to view a listing of the files in the location and press Enter:

ls
Type the following command to supersede function of file proper name and press Enter:

ls | Rename-Detail -NewName {$_.proper noun -replace "Erstwhile-FILE-NAME-Part","NEW-FILE-Proper name-Function"}

In the control, replace "OLD-FILE-Name-PART" and "NEW-FILE-Proper name-PART" with the erstwhile and new role of the file proper name.

For example, this command replaces the give-and-take "vacation_" for "hiking_trip_" on the file name:

ls | Rename-Particular -NewName {$_.name -replace "beach--","hiking_trip_"}

Source: Windows Central

Once you complete these steps, the command will modify the file names with the replacement you specified in the control.

Remove spaces from multiple files

Spaces as part of the file proper name tin sometimes cause problems, fifty-fifty more, when using a control panel. If you have files that contain spaces in their names, you lot can use PowerShell to replace the character for a visual separator, such as a dash or underscore symbol.

To remove and supplant spaces with underscores in file names, utilize these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top event to open the app.
Blazon the following command example to navigate to the folder with the files to rename and press Enter:

cd PATH\TO\FOLDER

In the command, replace PATH\TO\FOLDER with the actual path to the location.

For example, this command navigates the "files" folder inside "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Type the following command to view a listing of the files in the location and press Enter:

ls
Type the following command to remove spaces from file name and press Enter:

ls | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Proper name -replace " ","SEPARATOR" }

In the command, brand sure to replace "SEPARATOR" with the symbol you want to utilize instead of a infinite.

For example, this control replaces spaces with underscores in all the files:

ls | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace " ","_" }

Source: Windows Fundamental

After you lot complete the steps, the file names' spaces will be replaced with the separator y'all specified.

Alter file extension

To change the file extension for a bunch of files with PowerShell, employ these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell and click the top consequence to open the app.
Type the following command example to navigate to the folder with the files to rename and press Enter:

cd PATH\TO\Binder

In the command, supervene upon PATH\TO\FOLDER with the bodily path to the location.

For example, this command navigates the "files" folder inside "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Blazon the following command to view a listing of the files in the location and press Enter:

ls
Type the following command to modify the extension on files and press Enter:

ls | Rename-Item -NewName { [io.path]::ChangeExtension($_.proper name, ".NEW-EXTENSION") }

In the control, supervene upon ".NEW-EXTENSION" with a new extension for the files.

For case, this control changes whatever file extension to ".doc":

ls | Rename-Detail -NewName { [io.path]::ChangeExtension($_.name, "physician") }

Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, PowerShell will change the extension to the one you specified.

Rename specific extension file names

The above instructions will rename every file within the folder location. However, if y'all want to change the name of a particular file format, such equally documents, pictures, or videos, you can use the "-filter" option.

To change the names of a specific file format with PowerShell commands, use these steps:

Open First.
Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open up the app.
Type the following command case to navigate to the folder with the files to rename and press Enter:

cd PATH\TO\Binder

In the control, supplant PATH\TO\Binder with the bodily path to the location.

For case, this command navigates the "files" binder inside "Documents":

cd Documents\files

Source: Windows Central
(Optional) Blazon the following command to view a listing of the files in the location and printing Enter:

ls
Type the following command to rename files with a specific extension and press Enter:

ls -filter *.EXTENSION | %{Rename-Item $_ -NewName ("NEW-FILE-NAME-{0}.EXTENSION" -f $nr++)}

In the command, supplant "NEW-FILE-NAME" and "EXTENSION" with the parameter yous want to use.

For example, this command renames only files that include the ".jpg" extension:

ls -filter *.jpg | %{Rename-Item $_ -NewName ("beach-trip-{0}.jpg" -f $nr++)}

Source: Windows Central