How to Rename Files in Windows CMD (Command Prompt)

Renaming files in Windows using the Command Prompt (CMD) is straightforward. Below is a guide to various methods:

1. Rename a Single File

To rename a single file, use the ren or rename command.

Syntax:

ren [current_filename] [new_filename]

Example:

If you want to rename file1.txt to file2.txt:

ren file1.txt file2.txt

2. Rename Files in a Different Directory

If the file is located in a different folder, include the file’s path.

Example:

To rename a file located in C:\Documents:

ren "C:\Documents\file1.txt" "file2.txt"

3. Rename Multiple Files with Wildcards

You can rename multiple files using wildcards like * or ?.

• * matches multiple characters.
• ? matches a single character.

Example 1: Rename all .txt files to .bak files:

ren *.txt *.bak

Example 2: Rename files with specific patterns:

To rename file1.txt, file2.txt, etc., to document1.txt, document2.txt:

ren file*.txt document*.txt

4. Rename Files by Changing Extensions

You can also use the ren command to change file extensions.

Example:

Rename all .jpg files to .png:

ren *.jpg *.png

5. Rename Files Using a Loop (Advanced)

To rename files systematically, use a loop in a batch file.

Example: Add a prefix to all .txt files:

for %f in (*.txt) do ren "%f" "new_%f"

Key Notes:

• Always enclose file names with spaces in double quotes (").
• The ren command cannot move files to a different directory—it only renames them.
• Be cautious when using wildcards to avoid unintentional renaming.

Conclusion

The ren command is a powerful and simple way to rename files in CMD, whether you’re working with a single file or multiple files. For more advanced renaming tasks, you can incorporate loops or scripts.