How to rename Files and Folders in Windows 11

A file name is described as the title of the file and the file extension. When you rename a file, only the first part of the file name is changed. The file extension remains the same and usually, is not to be changed. In case, you need to change the file extension as well, select the entire file and change the name and the extension as desired. In this post, we will learn how to rename a file or a folder in Windows 11 and Windows 10 and the various ways to do so.

How to rename Files and Folders in Windows 11/10

There are multiple ways to rename a file or folder in Windows 11/10. They are as mentioned below:

1. Using Context Menu – Right-clicking on the item
2. Using Properties
3. Using Keyboard Shortcut – Alt+Enter
4. Using Keyboard Shortcut – F2
5. Using Home Menu in File Explorer
6. By Two Single Clicks
7. Using Command Prompt
8. Using PowerShell.

1] Using Context Menu – Right-clicking on the item

Select the file or folder you want to rename and right-click on that item. The Context Menu will open.

Click on the ‘Rename’ option and enter the new name of the file or folder, and then hit Enter or click anywhere else on the screen.

In Windows 11, you will have to click on the Rename icon or select Show more options and then click on Rename.

2] Using Properties

Right-click on the file or folder and select ‘Properties’.

The Properties window will open. In the General tab, enter the new file name and then click OK.

Read: How to rename multiple Files or Folders at once in Windows

3] Using Keyboard Shortcut – Alt+Enter

Select the file you want to rename and simply press Alt+Enter.

The File Properties pop-up will open. Type in the new name of the file and click OK.

4] Using Keyboard Shortcut – F2

Select the file or folder and simply press F2 to rename the item.

TIP: How to batch rename files and file extensions.

5] Using Home Menu in File Explorer

To rename using File Explorer, select the item and click on ‘Home’.

Further, click on the ‘Rename’ option and follow the same steps.

Read: Trick to Rename folders, files in serial order instantly.

6] By Two Single Clicks

Click on the file or folder two single times. The file or folder name will get highlighted.

Enter the new name for the file and press the Enter key to save it.

Read: Best free Bulk File Renamer software to Mass Rename files.

7] Using Command Prompt

Command Prompt allows you to rename the files or folders using the ren command. Open the File Explorer and go to the destination file or folder. Next, click on the address bar and type “cmd”, and then press Enter. Use the following syntax:

ren file_path new_name

For example, this will rename the document named fileA located on D drive to fileB.

ren d:\fileA.doc fileB.doc

8] Using PowerShell

Open the file or folder location and open a PowerShell window there

Use the rename-item command:

rename-item –path d:fileA –newname d:fileB

The command below renames the folder fileA to fileB on Drive.

TIP: In Windows, now, it’s even easier to rename multiple files or folders. If you want to rename multiple files, after renaming the first file, just tap the TAB button, and you’ll be moved on to the next in-line file or folder. You can thus immediately rename the following file.

Moreover, Windows also has one more nice feature. Even if you have the ‘show file extension’ feature enabled, it does not highlight the file type extension while renaming. So you are safer, as while renaming, you will not change or delete the extension by mistake.

These are the various ways in which we can rename a file or a folder in Windows 11/10.

Now read: 7 ways to move Files and Folders in Windows.