HOW TO: Rename Multiple Files in Windows XP with Windows Explorer (2024)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition More...Less

IN THIS TASK

  • SUMMARY

    • How to Rename Multiple Files with Windows Explorer

    • Notes

Summary

This step-by-step article describes how to use Windows Explorer to rename multiple files in Windows XP.

How to Rename Multiple Files with Windows Explorer

  1. Start Windows Explorer. To do so, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.

  2. Select multiple files in a folder. To do so, press and hold down the CTRL key while you are clicking files.

  3. After you select the files, press F2.

  4. Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

NOTE: When you complete the preceding steps, the highlighted state of all files except one disappears, so it may appear as if you are only renaming one file. However, after you press ENTER, all of the files are renamed. When you rename multiple files, all of the renamed files have the same name with a number in parentheses appended to the name to make the new file name unique. For example, if you type BUDGET as the new name, the first file is named BUDGET. All of the remaining selected files are named BUDGET(x), where x is a unique number, starting with (1).

Notes

If you make a mistake when you try to rename multiple files, you can press CTRL+Z, or click Undo Rename on the Edit menu to undo file rename action you just completed, and you can repeat this process as needed.

The Rename function in Windows Explorer does not match the behavior of the REN command you may use at a command prompt. For example, if you had files that are named smitha.doc, smithb.doc, and smithc.doc, you could use the ren smith*.doc smythe*.doc command. All file names automatically show the new spelling, and are renamed smythea.doc, smytheb.doc, and smythec.doc.

If you use the Windows XP Rename function in Windows Explorer, after you select the three "smith" files, and rename smitha.doc to smythea.doc, all the other files you selected are named smythea(x).doc. To return to the original file name structure (the use of a, b, c, etc), you must rename each file individually.

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HOW TO: Rename Multiple Files in Windows XP with Windows Explorer (2024)

FAQs

HOW TO: Rename Multiple Files in Windows XP with Windows Explorer? ›

Windows method one

To select multiple files on Windows using one method, follow these steps: Click on one of the files or folders you want to select. Hold down the control key (Ctrl). Click on the other files or folders that you want to select while holding the control key.

How do I select multiple files in Windows XP? ›

Windows method one

To select multiple files on Windows using one method, follow these steps: Click on one of the files or folders you want to select. Hold down the control key (Ctrl). Click on the other files or folders that you want to select while holding the control key.

How to rename multiple files numerically in order on Windows? ›

If you wish to rename additional files this way, select the new files, press F2, and then type the new name. The new files are given sequential numbers starting from where the initial files left off, so there's no conflict with duplicate names.

How will you rename a file folder by using Windows Explorer? ›

Open File Explorer by going to My Computer, or by pressing Windows Key + E on your keyboard. Find the file you want to rename, select it and select Rename on the ribbon (or press F2 on your keyboard). Type the new name you want the file to have and press Enter.

How to rename multiple files in Windows using Command Prompt? ›

This command works as follows:
  1. for %A in (WI*. ...
  2. ren "%A" "Windsor%~nxA" This part of the command renames each file, replacing 'WI' with 'Windsor' and preserving the rest of the original file name and extension.
  3. %~nxA This is a special variable that represents the name and extension of the current file in the loop.
Nov 7, 2023

How to rename multiple files in Windows XP with Windows Explorer? ›

Summary
  1. Start Windows Explorer. To do so, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
  2. Select multiple files in a folder. To do so, press and hold down the CTRL key while you are clicking files.
  3. After you select the files, press F2.
  4. Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

How do you select multiple files at once? ›

When using Windows, you can select multiple files at once by following these steps:
  1. Position the cursor over the file or folder you want and click to select it.
  2. Press and hold the control (Ctrl) key.
  3. Click each of the additional files or folders you want to select.
  4. Release the control key to complete the action.

How do you rename all files with numbers in Windows? ›

Open File Explorer, select the files you want to rename, and then press F2. The last file in the list is selected. Type the name you wish to use and press Enter. All the files you selected are given the same name with successive numbers in parentheses.

Why can't I rename a file in Windows Explorer? ›

There are different reasons why you can't rename files in Windows. For instance, the files or folders you are trying to rename are being used by another program. Besides, the antivirus software may prevent you from changing the name of a file or a folder. In addition, you can't rename file that is open or in use.

How to quickly rename folders in Windows? ›

Rename a Folder Using the Ribbon in File Explorer
  1. Press WINDOWS+E to open File Explorer, then locate the folder or file you want to rename.
  2. Press ALT+H to access the Home tab on the ribbon, then R to execute the Rename command.
  3. Press ENTER to save the new name and exit edit mode.

What is the shortcut to rename a folder in File Explorer? ›

Press F2 to execute the Rename command. (N) If you are renaming a folder, the entire folder name is selected. If you are renaming a file, the name of the file is selected but the file extension, if visible, is not selected.

How to change file type of multiple files at once? ›

You have a few utilities available.
  1. Powershell. Use Rename-Item in combination with Get-ChildItem Get-ChildItem "*.png" | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace "\.png$",".jpg" }
  2. Command prompt. Use the ren command ren *.png *.jpg.
  3. Power Rename. ...
  4. Note: This assumes that you are on the folder where the files are located.
Jan 9, 2024

How to bulk rename file extension using cmd? ›

How to batch rename extensions. Navigate to the folder containing the files you want. Once there, launch Command prompt from the folder menu by holding down shift and right-clicking on an empty space. Once in Command prompt, you can now use the “ren” (for rename) command to rename, for example, .

How do I rename a folder in command line? ›

Here's how you can do it:
  1. Open Command Prompt.
  2. Navigate to the folder you want to rename using the cd command.
  3. Type ren old_folder_name new_folder_name and press Enter. Replace old_folder_name with the current name of the folder and new_folder_name with the name you want to change it to.
Dec 29, 2023

How do I select multiple files that aren't next to each other? ›

Press and hold CTRL. Select the next item that you want. Important Be sure to press and hold CTRL while you select the next item that you want to include in the selection.

How do I select all in Windows XP? ›

To select an entire file:
  1. Choose Edit Select All from the menu bar (Ctrl+A).
  2. All of the text in your file will be selected instantly.

What is the shortcut key for multiple select? ›

Control + click. Selects two or more non-consecutive items. To select multiple non-consecutive items, press the Ctrl key as you click each item.

Which key do we use to select multiple files? ›

You have to select files and folders before you can cut, copy, or move them elsewhere. The fastest method to select all files in a folder is to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A.

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