Renaming multiple files in windows explorer

[PC Hobbyist]

This is an FYI post. I can't believe I did not know this. It is soooo simple and obvious and yet I always thought you could not rename multiple files in windows explorer. Man, I feel dumb.

Is there anyone else out there like me, who didn't know this?

If so, here is how: (pasted from the microsoft site).

How to Rename Multiple Files with Windows Explorer
1. Select multiple files in a folder. To do so, press and hold down the CTRL key while you are clicking files.
2. After you select the files, press F2.
3. 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).

 

[psych0fish]

I've been using computer for years and didn't know about this trick till very recently. Great tip.

 

[PC Hobbyist]

I've been using computer for years and didn't know about this trick till very recently. Great tip.

I know, I've also been using computers for years and I use the F2 key to rename a file, but I just never thought it would work to rename multiple files. Of course it also works by right-clicking and choosing rename. Funny how you just never try those things.

Anyway, maybe someone who didn't know that will benefit from this post.

 

[Trizoy]

I know, I've also been using computers for years and I use the F2 key to rename a file, but I just never thought it would work to rename multiple files. Of course it also works by right-clicking and choosing rename. Funny how you just never try those things.

Anyway, maybe someone who didn't know that will benefit from this post.

or a slow double click.

 

[computerhakk]

Oh, and instead of CTRL and click. Just press CTRL+A.

 

[PC Hobbyist]

Oh, and instead of CTRL and click. Just press CTRL+A.

That's good if you want to select ALL the files in the folder. But if you only want to rename certain ones that are not next to each other in the list, then you are left with Ctrl.+click.