How to Bulk Rename Files on Windows, Mac, Linux & Chromebook Without Installing Software

Renaming one file is easy. Renaming 300 is an afternoon gone. Maybe it's a semester of lecture notes, a season of podcast episodes, a folder of client documents, or every asset in a design project. Whatever it is, you need to rename multiple files at once.

Your operating system already has a basic bulk rename option, and below we cover each one honestly. When the built-in tool isn't enough, Smart Bulk Renamer gives you full batch renaming in a browser tab on any computer, with nothing to install and no admin rights needed.

Windows 10 and 11: File Explorer's F2 trick

Select the files in File Explorer, press F2, type a name such as Report, and press Enter. Windows renames everything to Report (1), Report (2), Report (3)…

Where it falls short: you can't choose the numbering format, keep part of the old name, find and replace text, or preview the result. Microsoft's free PowerToys add-on (PowerRename) does more, but it has to be installed, which isn't possible on many work and school PCs.

macOS: Finder's "Rename Items"

Select files in Finder, right-click, and choose Rename. You get three modes: Replace Text, Add Text, and Format (name plus index, counter, or date). It's genuinely useful for simple jobs.

Where it falls short: it only does one operation at a time, it's Mac-only, and it can't read a document's content to name it.

Linux: Thunar, GNOME Files, or the terminal

On XFCE, the Thunar Bulk Renamer is excellent. GNOME Files (Nautilus) can rename a selection with templates and find-and-replace. Power users reach for rename or a shell loop.

Where it falls short: it depends on your desktop environment, and a mistyped shell command can rename hundreds of files the wrong way with no preview and no undo.

Chromebook and Google Drive: no bulk rename at all

The ChromeOS Files app and Google Drive both rename one file at a time. If you're on a Chromebook, a school laptop, or working from Drive, there's no built-in way to batch rename.

The browser way: one bulk renamer for every computer

Smart Bulk Renamer works the same in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, on Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS. Learn it once and use it on your work PC, your MacBook, and your Chromebook. Your files are processed locally and never uploaded.

  1. Open the tool.
  2. Pick a folder (Chrome and Edge, including on Chromebook) to rename files where they are, or drag files in from any browser.
  3. Choose a rule and watch the preview update instantly.
  4. Click Apply. Folder files are renamed in place; uploaded files download as one ZIP.

Four rules that cover almost everything

  • Pattern: build names from {name} (the old name), {n} (1, 2, 3), and {nnn} (001, 002, 003). Example: Lecture_{nnn} gives Lecture_001.pdf, Lecture_002.pdf…
  • Replace: swap text in every filename, e.g. find final_v2, replace with approved. Leave Replace empty to delete the text.
  • Extension: change one extension to another across a batch, e.g. jpeg to jpg or htm to html. This changes the name only, not the file format.
  • Smart OCR: read the text in PDFs and images and name them by date, vendor, document type, and number. See our guide to renaming invoices automatically.

Safety features the built-in tools don't have

  • Live preview: old and new names side by side before anything is touched.
  • Conflict detection: if two files would end up with the same name, both are flagged and nothing is applied until you fix it.
  • Safe characters: characters Windows doesn't allow in filenames (< > : " / \ | ? *) are replaced automatically, so names work on every system.
  • Undo: one click reverts the last apply.
  • CSV rename plan: export a list of every old and new name for your records.

Which option should you use?

  • A quick "Name (1), Name (2)" on Windows: F2 in File Explorer is fine.
  • A simple find and replace on a Mac: Finder's Rename Items works.
  • Anything else (zero-padded numbering, keeping part of the old name, changing extensions, naming by document content, working on a Chromebook, Google Drive files, or a PC where you can't install software): use Smart Bulk Renamer.

Frequently asked questions

How do I rename multiple files at once in Windows 11?

Select the files in File Explorer, press F2, type a name and press Enter. Windows names them Name (1), Name (2) and so on. For custom patterns, find and replace, or zero-padded numbers without installing PowerToys, use a browser-based bulk renamer such as Smart Bulk Renamer.

Can I bulk rename files on a Chromebook?

The Chromebook Files app renames one file at a time. Smart Bulk Renamer runs in Chrome, so you can pick a folder and rename every file inside it in place, with a preview before anything changes.

Is it safe to bulk rename files in a browser?

With Smart Bulk Renamer, yes. Files are processed on your device and never uploaded. Duplicate names are blocked before you apply, and Undo reverts the last batch.

Can I bulk rename files in Google Drive?

Google Drive renames one file at a time. Download the files (Drive gives you a ZIP), rename them in Smart Bulk Renamer, then upload the renamed set back to Drive.

Also read: how to bulk rename photos online for free.

Bulk rename your files now — free →