5 Ways to Rename Files and Folders in Windows 11

File and folder management is essential for maintaining an organized and efficient system. Poorly named files can create confusion and make it difficult to find what you need. If you’re facing issues beyond file naming, such as sound problems, check out our guide on how to fix sound problems in Windows 10.

Using Right-Click

The simplest way to rename a file or folder is to use the right-click context menu.

Steps

1. Locate the file or folder.
2. Right-click on it.
3. Select Rename from the context menu.
4. Type the new name and press Enter.

Using File Explorer

File Explorer offers an intuitive user interface to manage files, making it another excellent method to rename files and folders in Windows 10.

Steps

1. Navigate to the file or folder.
2. Click on the name to highlight it.
3. Type the new name and hit Enter.

Using Command Prompt

For those who prefer a command-line interface, renaming files and folders in Windows 10 can also be done using Command Prompt.

Steps

1. Open Command Prompt.

2. Navigate to the folder containing the file.
3. Type rename "old_name" "new_name" and hit Enter.

Using PowerShell

PowerShell is another command-line tool offering more features than Command Prompt.

Steps

1. Open PowerShell.

2. Navigate to the folder containing the file.
3. Type Rename-Item "old_name" "new_name" and press Enter.

Using Batch Rename

If you need to rename multiple files or folders at once, Windows 10 provides a built-in batch renaming feature.

Steps

1. Select all the files or folders.
2. Right-click on one and select Rename.
3. Type the base name and press Enter.
4. All selected items will now have sequential numbers added to the base name.