PowerRename is a bulk renaming tool that enables you to: Modify the file names of a large number of files (without renaming all of the files the same name). Perform a search and replace on a targeted section of file names. Perform a regular expression rename on multiple files. Bulk Rename Utility is a software utility which allows you to rename multiple files and folders, based upon flexible criteria. For example, you can add a prefix or suffix to a file, or you can change three letters with four other letters in a filename. There are lots of ways to manipulate file and folder names.
-->PowerRename is a bulk renaming tool that enables you to:
- Modify the file names of a large number of files (without renaming all of the files the same name).
- Perform a search and replace on a targeted section of file names.
- Perform a regular expression rename on multiple files.
- Check expected rename results in a preview window before finalizing a bulk rename.
- Undo a rename operation after it is completed.
Demo
In this demo, all instances of the file name 'Pampalona' are replaced with 'Pamplona'. Since all of the files are uniquely named, this would have taken a long time to complete manually one-by-one. PowerRename enables a single bulk rename. Notice that the 'Undo Rename' (Ctrl+Z) command enables the ability to undo the change.
PowerRename menu
After selecting some files in Windows File Explorer, right-clicking and selecting PowerRename (which will appear only when enabled in PowerToys), the PowerRename menu will appear. The number of items (files) you've selected will be displayed, along with search and replace values, a list of options, and a preview window displaying results of the search and replace values you've entered.
Search for
Enter text or a regular expression to find the files in your selection that contain the criteria matching your entry. Map of cayuga lake wineries with docks. You will see the matching items in the Preview window.
Replace with
Enter text to replace the Search for value entered previously that match you're selected files. You can view the original file name and renamed file in the Preview window.
Options - Use Regular Expressions
If checked, the Search value will be interpreted as a regular expression (regex). The Replace value can also contain regex variables (see examples below). If not checked, the Search value will be interpreted as plain text to be replaced with the text in the Replace field.
For more information regarding the Use Boost library option in the settings menu for extended regex functionalities, see the regular expressions section.
Options - Case Sensitive
If checked, the text specified in the Search field will only match text in the items if the text is the same case. Case matching will be insensitive (not recognizing a difference between upper and lowercase letters) by default.
Options - Match All Occurrences
If checked, all matches of text in the Search field will be replaced with the Replace text. Otherwise, only the first instance of the Search for text in the file name will be replaced (left to right).
For example, given the file name: powertoys-powerrename.txt:
- Search for:
power - Rename with:
super
The value of the renamed file would result in:
- Match All Occurrences (unchecked):
supertoys-powerrename.txt - Match All Occurrences (checked):
supertoys-superrename.txt
Options - Exclude Files
Files will not be included in the operation. Only folders will be included.
Options - Exclude Folders
Folders will not be included in the operation. Only files will be included.
Options - Exclude Subfolder Items
Items within folders will not be included in the operation. By default, all subfolder items are included.
Options - Enumerate Items
Appends a numeric suffix to file names that were modified in the operation. For example: foo.jpg -> foo (1).jpg
Options - Item Name Only
Download fs19 pc download. Cmake_link_script. Only the file name portion (not the file extension) is modified by the operation. For example: txt.txt -> NewName.txt
Options - Item Extension Only
Only the file extension portion (not the file name) is modified by the operation. For example: txt.txt -> txt.NewExtension
Replace using file creation date and time
The creation date and time attributes of a file can be used in the Replace with text by entering a variable pattern according to the table below.
| Variable pattern | Explanation |
|---|---|
$YYYY | Year represented by a full four or five digits, depending on the calendar used. |
$YY | Year represented only by the last two digits. A leading zero is added for single-digit years. |
$Y | Year represented only by the last digit. |
$MMMM | Name of the month |
$MMM | Abbreviated name of the month |
$MM | Month as digits with leading zeros for single-digit months. |
$M | Month as digits without leading zeros for single-digit months. |
$DDDD | Name of the day of the week |
$DDD | Abbreviated name of the day of the week |
$DD | Day of the month as digits with leading zeros for single-digit days. |
$D | Day of the month as digits without leading zeros for single-digit days. |
$hh | Hours with leading zeros for single-digit hours |
$h | Hours without leading zeros for single-digit hours |
$mm | Minutes with leading zeros for single-digit minutes. |
$m | Minutes without leading zeros for single-digit minutes. |
$ss | Seconds with leading zeros for single-digit seconds. |
$s | Seconds without leading zeros for single-digit seconds. |
$fff | Milliseconds represented by full three digits. |
$ff | Milliseconds represented only by the first two digits. |
$f | Milliseconds represented only by the first digit. |
For example, given the file names:
powertoys.png, created on 11/02/2020powertoys-menu.png, created on 11/03/2020
Enter the criteria to rename the items:
Bulk Rename Utility Subfolders Online
- Search for:
powertoys - Rename with:
$MMM-$DD-$YY-powertoys
The value of the renamed file would result in:
Bulk Rename Utility Subfolders Download
Nov-02-20-powertoys.pngNov-03-20-powertoys-menu.png
Regular Expressions
For most use cases, a simple search and replace is sufficient. There may be occasions, however, in which complicated renaming tasks come along that require more control. Regular Expressions can help.
Regular Expressions define a search pattern for text. They can be used to search, edit and manipulate text. The pattern defined by the regular expression may match once, several times, or not at all for a given string. PowerRename uses the ECMAScript grammar, which is common amongst modern programming languages.
To enable regular expressions, check the 'Use Regular Expressions' checkbox.
Note: You will likely want to check 'Match All Occurrences' while using regular expressions.
To use the Boost library instead of the standard library, check the Use Boost library option in the PowerToys settings. It enables extended features, like lookbehind, which are not supported by the standard library.
Examples of regular expressions
Simple matching examples
| Search for | Description |
|---|---|
^ | Match the beginning of the filename |
$ | Match the end of the filename |
.* | Match all the text in the name |
^foo | Match text that begins with 'foo' |
bar$ | Match text that ends with 'bar' |
^foo.*bar$ | Match text that begins with 'foo' and ends with 'bar' |
.+?(?=bar) | Match everything up to 'bar' |
foo[sS]*bar | Match everything between 'foo' and 'bar' |
Matching and variable examples
When using the variables, the 'Match All Occurrences' option must be enabled.
| Search for | Replace With | Description |
|---|---|---|
(.*).png | foo_$1.png | Prepends 'foo_' to the existing file name |
(.*).png | $1_foo.png | Appends '_foo' to the existing file name |
(.*) | $1.txt | Appends '.txt' extension to existing file name |
(^w+.$)|(^w+$) | $2.txt | Appends '.txt' extension to existing file name only if it does not have an extension |
(dd)-(dd)-(dddd) | $3-$2-$1 | Move numbers in the filename: '29-03-2020' becomes '2020-03-29' |
Additional resources for learning regular expressions
There are great examples/cheat sheets available online to help you
File List Filters
Filters can be used in PowerRename to narrow the results of the rename. Use the Preview window to check expected results. Select the column headers to switch between filters.
Original, the first column in the Preview window cycles between:
- Checked: The file is selected be renamed.
- Unchecked: The file is not selected to be renamed (even though it fits the value entered in the search criteria).
Renamed, the second column in the Preview windows can be toggled.
- The default preview will show all selected files, with only files matching the Search for criteria displaying the updated rename value.
- Selecting the Renamed header will toggle the preview to only display files that will be renamed. Other selected files from your original selection will not be visible.
The Free File Renaming Utility for Windows.
Rename multiple files with the click of a button.
Introduction
Bulk Rename Utility: file renaming software for Windows. Bulk Rename Utility is free of charge for personal, private use, at home. To use Bulk Rename Utility within a business entity, company or for commercial purposes, a commercial license is required.
Bulk Rename Utility allows you to easily rename files and entire folders based upon extremely flexible criteria.
Add date/time stamps, replace numbers, insert text, convert case, add auto-numbers, process folders and sub-folders..plus a whole lot more!
- Rename multiple files quickly, according to many flexible criteria. Learn More
- Rename files in many ways: add, replace, insert text into file names. Convert case, add numbers. Remove or change file extensions.
- Check the detailed preview before renaming.
- Rename photos using EXIF metadata (i.e. 'Date Picture Taken', 'Resolution' and other information embedded in all JPG photo files) Rename your holiday pictures from a meaningless dsc1790.jpg to NewYork1.jpg in a flash.
- Rename MP3 files using ID3 tags (a.k.a. MP3 ID3 tag renaming).
- Rename files using Windows File Properties (e.g. media video length, width, height, rate, publisher, etc).
- Change files' creation and modification time stamps.
- Easy to Install. Download and start renaming your files now!
Background
Bulk Rename Utility is an easy to use file rename program (a.k.a. file renamer). Renaming multiple files and/or multiple folders has never been easier! It has a small memory footprint so it can be left running all the time without consuming all your memory. It started as a freeware Visual Basic tool, but as its popularity has grown it has been completely rewritten in C++ to be robust and lightweight - and very, very fast! It can easily handle folders/discs containing well over 100,000 entries.. and it can batch rename 1,000s of files in seconds.
The software gets downloaded very frequently. It has a large base of regular users and an active User's Forum. Most of the features have originated from users' suggestions. As such, it is continually being enhanced and improved.
As well as being 'recommended' by a number of web sites, Bulk Rename Utility has also appeared on many magazine cover-discs, from Brazil to Sweden.
Bulk Rename Utility is compatible with all versions of Windows, e.g. Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Windows Server 2019, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2003, 2000.
If you have a suggestion for a new feature, get in touch and it could appear in a future release of the software!
Screenshots
- Rename files, folders or both.
- Remove, add or change text in the file names.
- Perform text substitution.
- Change the case of file names.
- Remove characters or words.
- Remove digits or symbols.
- Append or prepend text to file names.
- Append the parent folder's name to a file name.
- Append dates to file names in many formats.
- Add text from the clipboard to multiple file names.
- Auto-number files with very flexible rules.
- Preview the new names before renaming.
- Sort the file details by any column.
- Save your renaming criteria into favorites.
- Filter files to rename using wildcards, name length or path length, regex or even javascript conditions.
- 32-bit and 64-bit application.
- Portable / no-install version.
- Add 'Bulk Rename Here' to the Windows Explorer for quick access (optional).
- Directory recursion - process files/folders in all sub-directories too.
- Use Regular Expressions to rename files / folders.
- Use Javascript to rename files / folders.
- Rename files from an input text-file list (CSV).
- Create an Undo batch file.
- Log all renaming activity to a log file.
- Change file and folder date/timestamps (created, modified, accessed).
- Change file/folder attributes (hidden, read-only, archived).
- Rename photos using EXIF metadata (i.e. 'Date Picture Taken', 'Resolution' and other information embedded in all JPG photo files).
- Rename MP3 files using ID3 tags (a.k.a. MP3 ID3 tag renaming).
- Rename files using Windows File Properties (e.g. length, width, height, rate, publisher, title, etc). More than a hundred attributes for different file types.
I've been trying to rename several thousand JPEG files so they will display in the order I want. Found BRU. FANTASTIC. I'm still learning the control panel but BRU has already solved my immediate problem and it is now permanently on my taskbar. GREAT UTILITY.
Other Software to Try
Bulk Rename Utility Windows 10
Try also ViceVersa PRO, easy to use file copy software (a.k.a. file synchronizer / backup).
With ViceVersa PRO you can copy efficiently multiple files between folders, disks, computers. Copy thousands of digital photos, documents and files that you need to backup or mirror to an external media (e.g. USB Drive, NAS), another hard-disk, or another computer (desktop, server, workstations over LAN, VPN).
The copy can be performed on-demand (i.e. as requested by the user), scheduled (e.g. every X hours or at an established time during the day), event-driven (e.g. when connected to the network or when a USB drive is inserted) or even in real-time (i.e. as soon as changes to files are detected). Learn more about real-time functionality
ViceVersa PRO will automatically only copy files that are new or have changed since the last time it run: so you can have an always up-to-date, exact replica of all your important files, file by file and folder by folder. It couldn't be easier!
Bulk Folder Rename Tool
If checked, all matches of text in the Search field will be replaced with the Replace text. Otherwise, only the first instance of the Search for text in the file name will be replaced (left to right).
For example, given the file name: powertoys-powerrename.txt:
- Search for:
power - Rename with:
super
The value of the renamed file would result in:
- Match All Occurrences (unchecked):
supertoys-powerrename.txt - Match All Occurrences (checked):
supertoys-superrename.txt
Options - Exclude Files
Files will not be included in the operation. Only folders will be included.
Options - Exclude Folders
Folders will not be included in the operation. Only files will be included.
Options - Exclude Subfolder Items
Items within folders will not be included in the operation. By default, all subfolder items are included.
Options - Enumerate Items
Appends a numeric suffix to file names that were modified in the operation. For example: foo.jpg -> foo (1).jpg
Options - Item Name Only
Download fs19 pc download. Cmake_link_script. Only the file name portion (not the file extension) is modified by the operation. For example: txt.txt -> NewName.txt
Options - Item Extension Only
Only the file extension portion (not the file name) is modified by the operation. For example: txt.txt -> txt.NewExtension
Replace using file creation date and time
The creation date and time attributes of a file can be used in the Replace with text by entering a variable pattern according to the table below.
| Variable pattern | Explanation |
|---|---|
$YYYY | Year represented by a full four or five digits, depending on the calendar used. |
$YY | Year represented only by the last two digits. A leading zero is added for single-digit years. |
$Y | Year represented only by the last digit. |
$MMMM | Name of the month |
$MMM | Abbreviated name of the month |
$MM | Month as digits with leading zeros for single-digit months. |
$M | Month as digits without leading zeros for single-digit months. |
$DDDD | Name of the day of the week |
$DDD | Abbreviated name of the day of the week |
$DD | Day of the month as digits with leading zeros for single-digit days. |
$D | Day of the month as digits without leading zeros for single-digit days. |
$hh | Hours with leading zeros for single-digit hours |
$h | Hours without leading zeros for single-digit hours |
$mm | Minutes with leading zeros for single-digit minutes. |
$m | Minutes without leading zeros for single-digit minutes. |
$ss | Seconds with leading zeros for single-digit seconds. |
$s | Seconds without leading zeros for single-digit seconds. |
$fff | Milliseconds represented by full three digits. |
$ff | Milliseconds represented only by the first two digits. |
$f | Milliseconds represented only by the first digit. |
For example, given the file names:
powertoys.png, created on 11/02/2020powertoys-menu.png, created on 11/03/2020
Enter the criteria to rename the items:
Bulk Rename Utility Subfolders Online
- Search for:
powertoys - Rename with:
$MMM-$DD-$YY-powertoys
The value of the renamed file would result in:
Bulk Rename Utility Subfolders Download
Nov-02-20-powertoys.pngNov-03-20-powertoys-menu.png
Regular Expressions
For most use cases, a simple search and replace is sufficient. There may be occasions, however, in which complicated renaming tasks come along that require more control. Regular Expressions can help.
Regular Expressions define a search pattern for text. They can be used to search, edit and manipulate text. The pattern defined by the regular expression may match once, several times, or not at all for a given string. PowerRename uses the ECMAScript grammar, which is common amongst modern programming languages.
To enable regular expressions, check the 'Use Regular Expressions' checkbox.
Note: You will likely want to check 'Match All Occurrences' while using regular expressions.
To use the Boost library instead of the standard library, check the Use Boost library option in the PowerToys settings. It enables extended features, like lookbehind, which are not supported by the standard library.
Examples of regular expressions
Simple matching examples
| Search for | Description |
|---|---|
^ | Match the beginning of the filename |
$ | Match the end of the filename |
.* | Match all the text in the name |
^foo | Match text that begins with 'foo' |
bar$ | Match text that ends with 'bar' |
^foo.*bar$ | Match text that begins with 'foo' and ends with 'bar' |
.+?(?=bar) | Match everything up to 'bar' |
foo[sS]*bar | Match everything between 'foo' and 'bar' |
Matching and variable examples
When using the variables, the 'Match All Occurrences' option must be enabled.
| Search for | Replace With | Description |
|---|---|---|
(.*).png | foo_$1.png | Prepends 'foo_' to the existing file name |
(.*).png | $1_foo.png | Appends '_foo' to the existing file name |
(.*) | $1.txt | Appends '.txt' extension to existing file name |
(^w+.$)|(^w+$) | $2.txt | Appends '.txt' extension to existing file name only if it does not have an extension |
(dd)-(dd)-(dddd) | $3-$2-$1 | Move numbers in the filename: '29-03-2020' becomes '2020-03-29' |
Additional resources for learning regular expressions
There are great examples/cheat sheets available online to help you
File List Filters
Filters can be used in PowerRename to narrow the results of the rename. Use the Preview window to check expected results. Select the column headers to switch between filters.
Original, the first column in the Preview window cycles between:
- Checked: The file is selected be renamed.
- Unchecked: The file is not selected to be renamed (even though it fits the value entered in the search criteria).
Renamed, the second column in the Preview windows can be toggled.
- The default preview will show all selected files, with only files matching the Search for criteria displaying the updated rename value.
- Selecting the Renamed header will toggle the preview to only display files that will be renamed. Other selected files from your original selection will not be visible.
The Free File Renaming Utility for Windows.
Rename multiple files with the click of a button.
Introduction
Bulk Rename Utility: file renaming software for Windows. Bulk Rename Utility is free of charge for personal, private use, at home. To use Bulk Rename Utility within a business entity, company or for commercial purposes, a commercial license is required.
Bulk Rename Utility allows you to easily rename files and entire folders based upon extremely flexible criteria.
Add date/time stamps, replace numbers, insert text, convert case, add auto-numbers, process folders and sub-folders..plus a whole lot more!
- Rename multiple files quickly, according to many flexible criteria. Learn More
- Rename files in many ways: add, replace, insert text into file names. Convert case, add numbers. Remove or change file extensions.
- Check the detailed preview before renaming.
- Rename photos using EXIF metadata (i.e. 'Date Picture Taken', 'Resolution' and other information embedded in all JPG photo files) Rename your holiday pictures from a meaningless dsc1790.jpg to NewYork1.jpg in a flash.
- Rename MP3 files using ID3 tags (a.k.a. MP3 ID3 tag renaming).
- Rename files using Windows File Properties (e.g. media video length, width, height, rate, publisher, etc).
- Change files' creation and modification time stamps.
- Easy to Install. Download and start renaming your files now!
Background
Bulk Rename Utility is an easy to use file rename program (a.k.a. file renamer). Renaming multiple files and/or multiple folders has never been easier! It has a small memory footprint so it can be left running all the time without consuming all your memory. It started as a freeware Visual Basic tool, but as its popularity has grown it has been completely rewritten in C++ to be robust and lightweight - and very, very fast! It can easily handle folders/discs containing well over 100,000 entries.. and it can batch rename 1,000s of files in seconds.
The software gets downloaded very frequently. It has a large base of regular users and an active User's Forum. Most of the features have originated from users' suggestions. As such, it is continually being enhanced and improved.
As well as being 'recommended' by a number of web sites, Bulk Rename Utility has also appeared on many magazine cover-discs, from Brazil to Sweden.
Bulk Rename Utility is compatible with all versions of Windows, e.g. Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Windows Server 2019, 2016, 2012, 2008, 2003, 2000.
If you have a suggestion for a new feature, get in touch and it could appear in a future release of the software!
Screenshots
- Rename files, folders or both.
- Remove, add or change text in the file names.
- Perform text substitution.
- Change the case of file names.
- Remove characters or words.
- Remove digits or symbols.
- Append or prepend text to file names.
- Append the parent folder's name to a file name.
- Append dates to file names in many formats.
- Add text from the clipboard to multiple file names.
- Auto-number files with very flexible rules.
- Preview the new names before renaming.
- Sort the file details by any column.
- Save your renaming criteria into favorites.
- Filter files to rename using wildcards, name length or path length, regex or even javascript conditions.
- 32-bit and 64-bit application.
- Portable / no-install version.
- Add 'Bulk Rename Here' to the Windows Explorer for quick access (optional).
- Directory recursion - process files/folders in all sub-directories too.
- Use Regular Expressions to rename files / folders.
- Use Javascript to rename files / folders.
- Rename files from an input text-file list (CSV).
- Create an Undo batch file.
- Log all renaming activity to a log file.
- Change file and folder date/timestamps (created, modified, accessed).
- Change file/folder attributes (hidden, read-only, archived).
- Rename photos using EXIF metadata (i.e. 'Date Picture Taken', 'Resolution' and other information embedded in all JPG photo files).
- Rename MP3 files using ID3 tags (a.k.a. MP3 ID3 tag renaming).
- Rename files using Windows File Properties (e.g. length, width, height, rate, publisher, title, etc). More than a hundred attributes for different file types.
I've been trying to rename several thousand JPEG files so they will display in the order I want. Found BRU. FANTASTIC. I'm still learning the control panel but BRU has already solved my immediate problem and it is now permanently on my taskbar. GREAT UTILITY.
Other Software to Try
Bulk Rename Utility Windows 10
Try also ViceVersa PRO, easy to use file copy software (a.k.a. file synchronizer / backup).
With ViceVersa PRO you can copy efficiently multiple files between folders, disks, computers. Copy thousands of digital photos, documents and files that you need to backup or mirror to an external media (e.g. USB Drive, NAS), another hard-disk, or another computer (desktop, server, workstations over LAN, VPN).
The copy can be performed on-demand (i.e. as requested by the user), scheduled (e.g. every X hours or at an established time during the day), event-driven (e.g. when connected to the network or when a USB drive is inserted) or even in real-time (i.e. as soon as changes to files are detected). Learn more about real-time functionality
ViceVersa PRO will automatically only copy files that are new or have changed since the last time it run: so you can have an always up-to-date, exact replica of all your important files, file by file and folder by folder. It couldn't be easier!
Bulk Folder Rename Tool
Bulk Rename Utility App
Are you looking for a simple way to backup your files to Amazon S3? Try S3Express S3 Command Line Utility for Windows. Easily upload, query, backup files and folders to Amazon S3 storage, based upon multiple flexible criteria. Quickly upload only new or changed file using multipart uploads and concurrent threads. Create custom batch scripts, list Amazon S3 files or entire folders, filter them with conditions, query, change object metadata and ACLs and much more. Free 21-day trial available.
