How to Rename Multiple Files on Windows?

Windows enables you to rename many files simultaneously, allocating sequential numbers to each one to maintain order. Although the Windows File Explorer, Power Rename, Command Prompt, etc., enables you to add dates and times to filenames using variables that have purposes, you can accomplish even more with it.

For stronger solutions, you can also use third-party utilities. The filename or extension can be changed to anything you want by using these apps, which can handle hundreds or thousands of files. You can preview the rename and undo it if anything isn't right.

Renaming Multiple Files at Once in Windows

Let's start with the native Windows option found in File Explorer.

Using Windows File Explorer

The native renaming feature in Windows file explorer is effective and ought to work for the most users.

1. To multi-select all the files or folders you want to rename, press Windows+E to launch File Explorer. Holding Ctrl while using a left-click to pick the files will enable you to do that. 
2. To pick all the files, you may also click on the start and end files while holding Shift.
3. After the first file has been chosen, right-click it and choose Rename from the menu.
4. After pressing Enter, type a new name for the file.
5. A serial number will be added to the end of the names of all the selected files.

Alternatively, you can also rename the first file before renaming the following one by pressing Tab. You can then give each selected files a unique name in this manner. The procedure is substantially faster than individually choosing the rename option for each file.

Using Power Rename

A free and open-source addition to Microsoft's Power Toys software is Power Rename. 

1. Install the Power Toys app after downloading it from GitHub. It's also accessible through the Microsoft Store, however it will be a few releases behind.
2. Launch the application, choose the Power Rename option from the sidebar, and turn it on.
3. Right-click on File Explorer and choose all of the folders and files you want to rename. When you choose a folder, all of the files and subfolders inside are likewise chosen.
4. After choosing something, use the right-click menu to pick Power Rename.
5. All of the selected files as well as files inside the folder are displayed in the Power Rename window.
6. When using Power Rename, you must look for the desired name in the filename and then change it. For instance, if the word "images" frequently appears in your files, you can search for the phrase and then replace it with another name, such as "photos."
7. Simply type the name you wish to replace in the "Search for" field in the upper right corner. To choose files with precise capitalization, enable case sensitivity. To replace the text for each and every instance, enable Match all occurrences.
8. You can now fill up the Replace with the area with the name you want to replace it with.
9. To give you an idea of what the finished product will look like, the preview will display both the original and renamed versions of the files/folders. So now you are aware of the result.
10. To rename all of the files on your Windows PC, click Apply in the bottom left corner.

Using Command Prompt

On Windows, you may also rename multiple files using CMD or Command Prompt. Although there is a slight learning curve, if you get the hang of it, the method can help things go more quickly.

1. Press the Windows key, type CMD to launch the Command Prompt.
2. Type cd and the file's location into the Command Prompt. For instance:
3. Type dir to display every file and folder in that location.
4. When you're ready to rename, type ren, followed by the file's name and the file's new name. As an illustration, the command ren originafilename.jpg newfilename.jpg will replace the original file name with the new file name. You can rename a single file in this manner.
5. Use the asterisk (*) to rename many files at once. Just enter *.extension to choose the file depending on its extension. 
6. For instance, typing *.jpg will select every jpg file in the specified directory if you want.
7. Type *.* to select all files. It indicates that all file names with all possible extension types will be chosen.
8. Another option is to type a*.* to pick all files whose names begin with a. Files with an at the end will be chosen if you type *a. When using CMD, there are countless options for selecting.
9. After choosing something, you have several renaming alternatives. You can specify a file name to alter or an extension to change all of the selected files' extensions.
10. The question mark is acceptable. 
11. The file name will be reduced to 3 letters if you use???.*. So you can shorten the original filename to that many characters by increasing or lowering the question marks.

Using File Renamer Basic

Although Windows' command prompt offers more customization options and more methods for renaming files in bulk, it is challenging to use due to the absence of a user interface. Third-party applications that can rename multiple files are now available, giving users greater selection and renaming choices. However, File Renamer Basic is simple to use, has the majority of features, and is a well-rounded utility program.

1. Click the link, download, and install the File Renamer Basic application. Use of the fundamental version is free.
2. Launch the application, then choose the folder from the top-left panel. You should now be able to see every file in that location.
3. At this point, you can start renaming files and folders in various ways. You can eliminate some characters from the beginning or finish by selecting the Delete, Remove, or Insert option. Additionally, you can add any new name in any position.
4. To find a common name across all files and replace it, use the Find / Replace option, similar to the power rename.
5. You can add the file's date, the name of its parent folder, or even the resolution using the advanced option.

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Conclusion

Most people can complete their tasks with File Explorer. You can give each file a unique name or give them all the same name with a serial number at the end. Try Power Rename if you want to only alter a portion of the filename. However, it is only helpful if every filename contains the same name. However, it can be useful for renaming screenshots and DSLR pictures. Use the Command Prompt or third-party programs to rename files for more customization choices.