{"id":311,"date":"2024-01-07T15:16:25","date_gmt":"2024-01-07T15:16:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/?p=311"},"modified":"2024-01-07T21:46:20","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T21:46:20","slug":"rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Rename a File or Multiple Files on Mac 2024 (Ultimate Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-312 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-1024x791.jpg\" alt=\"How to Rename a File or Multiple Files on Mac 2024 (Ultimate Guide)\" width=\"696\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-1024x791.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-150x116.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-696x538.jpg 696w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-1068x825.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac-544x420.jpg 544w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Learn-to-Rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-in-Mac.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In previous versions of Mac OS users had to use the command line or download and install third-party tools for this! Today, this guide introduces simple methods for renaming a file or multiple files in Mac (with examples).<\/p>\n<p>Apple has integrated many useful remaining batch capabilities into Finder since OS X Yosemite.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/#Rename_one_file_or_multiple_files_on_Mac_Step-by-Step_Guide\" title=\"Rename one file or multiple files on Mac (Step-by-Step Guide)\">Rename one file or multiple files on Mac (Step-by-Step Guide)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/#Renaming_existing_files_with_more_text\" title=\"Renaming existing files with more text\">Renaming existing files with more text<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/#Searching_and_replacing_files_in_an_instance\" title=\"Searching and replacing files in an instance\">Searching and replacing files in an instance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/#Renaming_by_the_help_of_selection_and_clicking_on_the_foldersfiles\" title=\"Renaming by the help of selection and clicking on the folders\/files\">Renaming by the help of selection and clicking on the folders\/files<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/#Renaming_Files_with_the_help_of_the_return_key\" title=\"Renaming Files with the help of the return key\">Renaming Files with the help of the return key<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/#Renaming_a_file_or_folder_using_the_terminal\" title=\"Renaming a file or folder using the terminal\u00a0\">Renaming a file or folder using the terminal\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/rename-a-file-or-multiple-files-on-mac-os-guide\/#Thats_It\" title=\"That&#8217;s It\">That&#8217;s It<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rename_one_file_or_multiple_files_on_Mac_Step-by-Step_Guide\"><\/span><strong>Rename one file or multiple files on Mac (Step-by-Step Guide)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As an example, we will batch rename some images of babies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the first step, open the finder window and locate the files you wish to rename.<\/li>\n<li>Then, drag the selection box over files with the help of your mouse or hold the shift button and click each one by one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-316 \" src=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Renaming-multiple-files-on-your-mac.jpg\" alt=\"Renaming Multiple Files on your Mac\" width=\"603\" height=\"298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Renaming-multiple-files-on-your-mac.jpg 665w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Renaming-multiple-files-on-your-mac-300x148.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Renaming-multiple-files-on-your-mac-150x74.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Renaming-multiple-files-on-your-mac-324x160.jpg 324w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 603px) 100vw, 603px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the finder toolbar, hit the action button. Alternatively, <strong>click right<\/strong> or <strong>Ctrl-click<\/strong> one of the selected files in the finder window.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-317 \" src=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/select-all-images.jpg\" alt=\"select all images\" width=\"614\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/select-all-images.jpg 675w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/select-all-images-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/select-all-images-150x73.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/select-all-images-533x261.jpg 533w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Choose rename [XX]<\/strong> items on the menu.<\/li>\n<li>From the <strong>first dropdown menu<\/strong> in the rename folder items panel, <strong>choose format<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-319 \" src=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Choose-image-format.jpg\" alt=\"Choose Image format\" width=\"678\" height=\"278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Choose-image-format.jpg 676w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Choose-image-format-300x123.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Choose-image-format-150x61.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>From the next dropdown, you need to select a <strong>name format<\/strong>. We use name and index but users can optionally select name and counter or name and date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-320 \" src=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Name-format.jpg\" alt=\"Name format\" width=\"649\" height=\"264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Name-format.jpg 674w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Name-format-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Name-format-150x61.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 649px) 100vw, 649px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Type in a common name for it in the custom format field.<\/li>\n<li>You must add a starting number for the files in the start number at the file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong>keep in mind that if you have selected a number format then you can use the Where dropdown to choose whether the sequential numbers are there before or after the common name of files.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be happy with the preview example at the bottom of the rename panel, then hit rename.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Selected files are now done with the chosen nomenclature. Remember that if you do not like the changes, you can choose <strong>Edit &gt; Undo rename<\/strong> in the finder menu bar or press the <strong>Command-Z key<\/strong> to revert files to original names.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Renaming_existing_files_with_more_text\"><\/span><strong>Renaming existing files with more text<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With the help of the finder\u2019s renaming tool, users can add supplementary text to filenames without changing their original titles.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Select files whose name you wish to adjust.<\/li>\n<li>Bring up the finder items panel as mentioned above.<\/li>\n<li>From the first dropdown menu, select Add Text.<\/li>\n<li>In the input field, type in the additional text.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Searching_and_replacing_files_in_an_instance\"><\/span><strong>Searching and replacing files in an instance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With this, users can create specific files whose names carry a certain piece of identifying text. This is handy if you have tens or hundreds of files in a folder with various names and wish to change only those with a certain word.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Select all files in a folder.<\/li>\n<li>Bring in the panel just like you did before.<\/li>\n<li>This time, you need to select replace text in the first dropdown.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-321 \" src=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Search-and-Replace-File-Names.jpg\" alt=\"Search and Replace File Names\" width=\"657\" height=\"261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Search-and-Replace-File-Names.jpg 670w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Search-and-Replace-File-Names-300x119.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Search-and-Replace-File-Names-150x60.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 657px) 100vw, 657px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the finder field, add in the text you want to replace and enter with the one you want to replace it with in the Replace with the field, <strong>hit rename<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Renaming_by_the_help_of_selection_and_clicking_on_the_foldersfiles\"><\/span><strong>Renaming by the help of selection and clicking on the folders\/files<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is quite easy and can be done with the help of a finder.<\/p>\n<p>For this:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Once you have selected the icon, choose the actual filename text and hover for some time with the cursor.<\/li>\n<li>You shall see the text highlight, it indicates the renaming of the file.<\/li>\n<li>Type in a new one.<\/li>\n<li>Click on return or click away with the cursor to set change.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Renaming_Files_with_the_help_of_the_return_key\"><\/span><strong>Renaming Files with the help of the return key<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Press on the file or folder icon from the OS X Finder.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>return key<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Type in the new name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This is a quick yet traditional way of renaming on the Mac. I love it!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Renaming_a_file_or_folder_using_the_terminal\"><\/span><strong>Renaming a file or folder using the terminal\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The command line is somehow advanced, but the user can perform the underlying tasks for any file or directory through the terminal.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Type the following syntax replacing with files and filenames as required:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<pre><code>mv olddekisoft newdekisoft\r\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p>The concept above is the <a href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/copy-move-and-rename-files-in-linux-guide\/\">same in Linux<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, if you click right on the file name in the finder of modern versions of OS X, you can select the rename option for a specific file, or use it for various at a time if many are selected. This works best but is only available for the new versions of OS X.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thats_It\"><\/span><strong>That&#8217;s It<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s now your turn to try and rename files or folders and try to do multiple ones or in batch at once! What could go wrong? Well, you won&#8217;t know the order and will also have to organize all of them again. I use the <a href=\"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/sensible-file-renamer-v1-0-download\/\">SFR tool<\/a> as I am a Windows user, it does all of this but in a snap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In previous versions of Mac OS users had to use the command line or download and install third-party tools for this! Today, this guide introduces simple methods for renaming a file or multiple files in Mac (with examples). Apple has integrated many useful remaining batch capabilities into Finder since OS X Yosemite. Rename one file [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":312,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,27],"tags":[28,29],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dekisoft.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}