With all the files we create on our phones and computers, it can often be challenging to go along track of them and organize them. Files created by other applications are often only given a meaningless name. We often need to rename them to more hands identify them.

Thankfully renaming files and folders on your Mac is a relatively straightforward process. You can rename files using the Finder application or even through the control line using Mac Terminal.

My name is Eric, and I have been a software engineer for over 25 years. I have been a computer enthusiast for even longer. Renaming files and folders is something that I practice almost daily, and I will be glad to testify y'all how to practice information technology on your Mac.

Stick around if yous want to learn a few unlike methods for renaming files and folders. I volition walk you lot through the steps, and you will be on your style to doing this yourself.

Contents

  • Different Ways to Rename Files or Folders on Your Mac
    • Method i: Click on the Proper name
    • Method two: Press the Return Fundamental
    • Method three: Use the Context Menu
    • Method 4: Control Line
  • Finding the Best Method
  • FAQ
    • Why Can't I Rename a File or Folder on My Mac?
    • Can I Rename Multiple Files or Folders at One time on My Mac?
    • Tin I Add Text to Multiple File and Folder Names on Mac?
  • Conclusion

Different Ways to Rename Files or Folders on Your Mac

The process for renaming either a file or a folder is the same. The first three methods I will describe use the Finder application on your desktop to navigate to the file or folder and and so rename it.

You can use Finder to search for the file or navigate to the location. Use whatsoever method works best for you to get to the file or folder, and then follow the instructions below to rename it.

Method ane: Click on the Name

Footstep 1: Select the particular you lot wish to rename by clicking on it in one case.

Footstep 2: Click on the proper noun of the item again, but exist careful non to double-click it, or it will open the item. This will highlight the name of the item.

Stride 3: With the detail'due south proper noun highlighted, start typing the new name. If y'all wish to keep role of the existing name, utilise your mouse cursor to highlight but the function yous want to remove. Then blazon the new text you wish to add, or you can hit the delete key to delete that role.

Note: If you make a mistake or wish to become back to the original name before the name change has taken effect, only hit the ESC key, and it volition revert to the original name.

Stride 4: Click anywhere else on the screen, and the proper noun modify will accept effect.

Method 2: Printing the Return Key

Step 1: Select the item you wish to rename by clicking on information technology once.

Step ii: Printing the RETURN key. This volition select the text in the item'southward name.

Step 3: Type in the new proper name for the item.

Note: If you make a mistake or wish to go back to the original proper noun before the name modify has taken consequence, simply striking the ESC key, and it volition revert back to the original name.

Step 4: Click anywhere else on the screen, and the name modify will have result.

Step 1: Select the item you wish to rename past clicking on it one time.

Step 2: Right-click (or CONTROL+click or ii-finger click on a trackpad). This volition open up up the context menu.

Pace 3: Select Rename from the menu.

Step 4: Type the new name.

Step 5: Click anywhere else on the screen, and the name change will have effect.

Method 4: Command Line

Stride 1: Open up a Mac Final session.

Step 2: Navigate to the location that contains the file or folder you wish to rename.

Stride 3: Use the mv control to rename the item.

mv CurrentName NewName

Case:

mv test1.txt newname.txt

Finding the All-time Method

As you tin run into above, there are multiple means to rename a file or binder. The starting time three apply the Finder awarding on your desktop and are probably the methods that nearly common users volition want to use.

If you are learning how to use Mac Final or are an experienced command-line user, you may want to use the control-line method. In the end, they all produce the aforementioned results, so find the one that you are most comfy with, and that volition be the all-time method for you.

FAQ

Why Tin't I Rename a File or Folder on My Mac?

This is generally due to a permissions trouble. Either some other user or the root user owns the particular, and you don't have permission to rename it, or the file could be in apply. If yous have it open up in an editor or another application, that will prevent y'all from renaming information technology.

Can I Rename Multiple Files or Folders at One Time on My Mac?

Yes, macOS does provide a way to rename multiple files and folders simultaneously. Select the items, and so use the context carte method. A popup screen volition appear that will allow you to specify a naming format for the files or folders and so use that format to rename all of them.

This tin can also be done in Mac Final using the mv control and wildcard characters. This method can be a trivial more than involved, simply you tin can certainly do it.

Can I Add Text to Multiple File and Folder Names on Mac?

Yes, the same tool mentioned higher up that allows you to rename multiple items volition too let you lot append or prepend a text identifier to multiple items all at i time.

Conclusion

At that place are multiple ways to rename files and folders on your Mac. Using Finder on your desktop is the simplest, but Mac Terminal users may prefer the command-line method.

Either way, yous take multiple options. I hope one of them works for you lot.

As usual, let me know if you accept any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you lot!