How to Use the ren Command | Rename Files and Folders in Windows

What is the ren Command?

The ren command, short for “rename,” is a simple yet powerful tool in Windows that allows users to rename files and folders directly from the command line. It enables the renaming of individual files or multiple files at once, using wildcard characters for batch renaming.

Main Uses

• Rename individual files: Change the name of a specific file.
• Rename folders: Change the name of a directory.
• Batch rename multiple files: Use wildcards (* and ?) to rename multiple files simultaneously.

How to Use the ren Command

The ren command is easy to use and requires specifying the current file/folder name and the new name.

Basic Syntax

ren <current filename> <new filename>

or

rename <current filename> <new filename>

• <current filename>: The name of the file or folder to rename.
• <new filename>: The new name for the file or folder.

Examples

1. Rename a single file

ren C:\Users\Tamaglo\Documents\oldfile.txt newfile.txt

This command renames oldfile.txt in the Documents folder to newfile.txt.

2. Rename a folder

ren C:\Users\Tamaglo\Documents\OldFolder NewFolder

This renames the folder OldFolder to NewFolder in the Documents directory.

3. Batch rename multiple files

ren *.txt *.bak

This renames all .txt files in the current directory to .bak files. The * wildcard allows you to perform this action on multiple files.

Practical Use Cases for ren

• File organization: Use the ren command to quickly organize and rename project files, such as changing .log files to .backup for archiving.
• Folder renaming in batch processes: Automate folder renaming for better organization during tasks like backing up data or managing projects.

Advanced Renaming with Wildcards

The ren command supports wildcards for more flexible renaming options.

Wildcards

• *: Represents zero or more characters.
• ?: Represents a single character.

Example 1:
Rename all files starting with report and ending in .txt to .bak:

ren report*.txt report*.bak

Example 2:
Rename files like file1.txt, file2.txt (where the second character varies):

ren file?.txt file?.bak

Important Considerations When Using the ren Command

• Cannot rename files across directories: The ren command does not support renaming files across different directories. For this, use the move command.
• Be careful with file extensions: Renaming file extensions can change the way files are associated with programs. Use caution when renaming critical or system files.

Related Commands

• move: Move and rename files across directories.
• copy: Copy and rename files.

Conclusion

The ren command is a simple but efficient tool for renaming files and folders in Windows. Its ability to rename multiple files using wildcards makes it ideal for organizing and managing large sets of files quickly. While it cannot rename files across directories, it remains a powerful tool for everyday file management tasks.

Tamaglo

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