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How to Bulk Rename Files in Windows

Rename hundreds of files in seconds, using nothing but File Explorer's built-in tools.

  1. Select the files you want to rename

    In File Explorer, hold Ctrl or Shift to select all the files you want to rename together.

  2. Press F2

    With the files selected, press F2, or right-click and choose "Rename."

  3. Type a base name

    Type the name you want and press Enter β€” the first file is renamed to exactly that text.

  4. Watch the rest get numbered automatically

    Every other selected file is renamed to the same base name with an automatically incrementing number, like (1), (2), (3), in parentheses.

  5. Why it matters

    You can turn a folder of inconsistently named files β€” vacation photos, scanned documents β€” into a clean, ordered set without renaming each one by hand.

Cleaning up hundreds of files at once

Photos from a trip, scanned pages, or exported reports often arrive with messy, inconsistent file names. Windows' built-in bulk rename feature needs no extra software β€” select the files, give them a shared base name, and File Explorer numbers the rest automatically.

Sort first, rename second

The order files get numbered in follows the order they are currently sorted or selected in, so it pays to sort the folder by name, date, or however you want the final sequence to read before you start renaming. Getting the sort order right first saves you from having to redo the whole batch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What determines the order the numbers are assigned in?

By default, numbering follows the current sort order of the files (name, date, etc.) or the order you selected them in, so it helps to sort the folder the way you want beforehand.

Can I undo a rename if I make a mistake?

Yes β€” if you catch it right away, pressing Ctrl+Z (Undo) will revert the batch rename.