How To Change File Name On Macbook

Are you doing some file housekeeping or organizing etc. and need to rename a bunch of files? Well, you're on the right page to learn how to do this automatically on your Mac.

How to Batch Rename Files on a Mac

In this article, we'll take you through the steps to batch rename your files without the need to install a third-party tool. Plus, we've provided the steps for common how-to questions related to this topic.

How to Batch Rename Files on a Mac?

This method will work using any file type, as long as all the file types are the same:

From the dock click on "Finder."
Find the files to rename.
Hold down "Shift" and select the files.
From the "Finder" window, select "Action."
Click on "Rename (number) Items…"
At the drop-down menu, from the set of rename tools, select "Format."
Choose a format for the structure you want:
- "Name and Date"
- "Name and Index," or
- "Name and Counter."
At "Custom Format," add a name for the batch of files.
Type in a "Starting number," it can start from any number, then "Rename."

How to Batch Rename Files on Mac With Automator?

Before starting, have a folder with all the files to rename saved to the desktop. To batch rename your files using Mac Automator:

Select "Finder," > "Applications folder," then click on the "Automator app."
Select "Folder Action" > "Choose."
In the first column on the left select "Files & Folders."
From the middle column, double-click on "Rename Finder Items."
A pop-up box will appear essentially asking if you wish to include the original files with the original names after renaming. Select "do not add" if you prefer not to keep them.
In the "Rename Finder Items" window, from the first drop-down menu, select "Make Sequential."
Check the radio button next to "new name" and enter the new name for your files.
From your desktop or in Finder, drag the folder containing all your files into the pane.
Then click the play button.

How to Batch Rename File Extensions on Mac?

To batch rename file extensions using Mac:

Open "Finder."
Locate the files to rename.
Hold down the "Shift" to select the files.
From the "Finder" window, click on the cog icon (Action button) or, right-click on the selected files to access the menu.
Under "Get Info" and above "Compress Items," select "Rename Items."
From the Rename toolbar, select "Format."
Now select the "Name Format" for renaming your files. Choose from:
- "Name and Index"
- "Name and Counter," or
- "Name and Date."
Enter the new name to be included in all selected files, into the "Name Format" box.
Enter a number in the "Start numbers at" box, the number can start from any number.
Select "Rename."

How to Rename Multiple Files Using Macro?

To batch rename files using Visual Basic's macro in Excel:

In a new worksheet, in one column, enter all the current file names for the files to rename, then in another column, enter the new file names.
Open your workbook, then select "Visual Basic" under the "Developer" tab or press "Alt" + "F11." The "Visual Basic Editor" window will open.
To create a new module, select "Insert" > "Module."
Enter the following VBA code into the code window:
Sub RenameMultipleFiles() With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker) .AllowMultiSelect = False If .Show = -1 Then selectDirectory = .SelectedItems(1) dFileList = Dir(selectDirectory & Application.PathSeparator & "*") Do Until dFileList = "" curRow = 0 On Error Resume Next curRow = Application.Match(dFileList, Range("B:B"), 0) If curRow > 0 Then Name selectDirectory & Application.PathSeparator & dFileList As _ selectDirectory & Application.PathSeparator & Cells(curRow, "D").Value End If dFileList = Dir Loop End If End With End Sub
Then click on "Save."

Note: In this demonstration, Range("B:B") refers to where the original file name list is, and Column D refers to where the new file name list is. Therefore, you need to update these references, to reflect the columns your data occupies.
In the current worksheet, select "Run" to run the macro.
From the Browser dialog box, select the directory containing the files to rename, then click "Ok." When you navigate to the directory you'll see the changed file names.

Additional FAQs

How Do I Rename Multiple Files at Once?

To rename multiple file names simultaneously using macOS:

1. From the dock, click on "Finder."

2. Find the files to rename.

3. Hold down "Shift" to select the files.

4. From the "Finder" window, select "Action."

5. Choose "Rename (number) Items…"

6. At the drop-down menu, from the set of rename tools, select "Format."

7. Choose a file name format for the structure you want:

· "Name and Date"

· "Name and Index," or

· "Name and Counter."

8. At "Custom Format," add a name for the batch of files.

9. Add a "Starting number," it can start from any number.

10. Choose "Rename. All your selected will be renamed and listed sequentially from your entered starting number.

To rename multiple file names simultaneously using Windows:

1. Open "File Explorer."

2. Locate the folder containing the files needing their names changed.

3. Select the "View" tab.

4. Click on the "Details" view, then the "Home" tab.

5. Click on the "Select all" button. Use the "Ctrl"+ "A" keyboard shortcut to select all files. Or hold down the "Ctrl" key and click on each file.

6. From the "Home" tab, select "Rename." The name of one of the highlighted files will be highlighted.

7. Enter the new file name for all your files then "Enter." All files will now have the new name with a number to differentiate them.

What Is the Fastest Way to Rename a File on Mac?

Here is the fastest way to rename a single file using Mac:

1. Select the file you wish to rename.

2. Hit the "Enter" key. The current file name will be highlighted.

3. Type in the new file name then hit "Enter" again.

How Do You Rename Multiple Photos on a Mac?

Here are two ways to rename multiple photos on Mac, using Finder:

1. In Finder, select all the photos you need to rename then right-click on them.

2. Choose "Rename (number) items" on the menu. The rename window will appear with options for you to choose from:

· Search and replace words or numbers,

· Add text to all the file names, or

· Reformat the file names entirely and

· Choice of how to number the files.

3. After you've entered a new format and your desired settings, select "Rename."

Before starting, have a folder with all the photos you wish to rename saved to your desktop. To batch rename your photos using Mac Automator:

1. Select "Finder," > "Applications folder," then click on the "Automator app."

2. Select "Folder Action," > "Choose."

3. In the first column on the left select "Files & Folders."

4. From the middle column, double-click on "Rename Finder Items."

5. A pop-up box will appear essentially asking if you wish to include the original files with the original names after renaming, select "do not add" if you prefer not to keep them.

6. In the "Rename Finder Items" window, from the first drop-down menu, select "Make Sequential."

7. Check the radio button next to "new name" and enter the new name for your files.

8. From your desktop or in Finder, drag the folder containing all your photos into the pane.

9. Then click the play button.

How Do You Rename a Folder on a Mac?

Here we'll show you two ways to rename a folder using your Mac.

1. Find the folder you wish to rename.

2. Click on the folder, then left-click on it.

3. The current name of the folder is highlighted. Start typing the new name or select the words you wish to replace.

4. When complete, hit "Enter."

To rename multiple folders:

1. Find the folders you wish to rename.

2. To highlight them, click once on the first folder, then hold down the "Shift" key and click once on the last folder, if the folders are in a particular sequence. If they're not in a particular sequence, hold down the "Command" key whilst clicking once on the folder you wish to rename.

3. To get the option to rename, right-click on the highlighted folders.

4. Choose "Rename (number) items" from the drop-down menu.

5. Type the file name you wish to replace in the "Find" field of the pop-up box.

6. Then the replacement file name in the "Replace with" text field.

7. Choose "Rename."

Batch Renaming Your Files in a Few Clicks

Today, our computers and laptops include built-in features and tools designed to help us out. Imagine having to rename a load of files one by one. Not only would this be extremely tedious, but you could make a mistake, and cause repetitive strain injury.

Now that we've shown you various ways to get your files and folders renamed quickly, we'd like to know, what methods you've used. Were you happy with the results? Let us know in the comments section below.