How to rename files in bulk with Bulk Rename Utility

If you often work with photos, documents, series, or design projects, sooner or later you'll have to. rename a bunch of files at onceDoing it one by one is a real chore, especially when you have dozens or hundreds scattered across several folders. That's where this comes in. Bulk Rename Utility, a veteran, powerful and free tool that many users are unaware of, but that can save you hours of work.

In this article we will look at it in detail How to rename files in batch with Bulk Rename UtilityIn what situations does it shine, what options does it offer, and how to easily take advantage of them even if you have no idea about regular expressions. We'll also briefly compare, Other ways to rename files in Windows (such as doing it from the Explorer itself or with PowerShell) so that you are clear about when it is worthwhile to use this program.

When does it make sense to use Bulk Rename Utility

There are many typical cases where it is almost mandatory to use an advanced tool and not limiting itself to basic Windows renamingSome of the most common scenarios are these:

For example, if you have a CD or a music folder where all the tracks are named something like «Track 01», «Track 02», «Track 03» And so on, it quickly becomes impossible to tell which song is which without playing them one by one. These kinds of situations justify using tools designed for Rename many files at once.

Another classic example is that of cameras and mobile phones that generate names like DSC00001.JPG, DSC00002.JPG and so on ad infinitum; if you dump several cards or mix photos from different trips, finding a specific image becomes an odyssey.

Something very similar happens with TV series and movies, where you might already have files called S1.E1, S1.E2, S10.E10 and you want to normalize everything to the format S01.E01, S01.E02, etc., maintaining the padding with zeros even when there are two-digit seasons.

In the professional world, it is also common for programs like Revit, AutoCAD, or other technical tools to generate huge batches of PDFs with extremely long and unintelligible namesSomething like “My3D-Model-Project454-A101General.pdf” when what you really want to deliver to the client is a clear structure like “A1-101 General Plan.pdf”.

In all these cases, and many more, Bulk Rename Utility allows define patterns, replace strings, add numbers, dates, prefixes or suffixes and see at that moment what the final names will look like before confirming the change.

Basic bulk renaming functions in Windows

Although Bulk Rename Utility is very powerful, it's worth remembering that Windows includes a very basic multi-renaming feature. that can get you out of trouble in simple cases.

If you select multiple files in the same folder, right-click on one of them and choose "Rename"When you type a new name and press Enter, Windows renames all the names with that same name and adds a number in parentheses to differentiate them (file (1), file (2), etc.).

This method is quick and convenient, but it has significant limitations: All files end with the same base name, only the number changes, and they must all be together in the same folder, without the possibility of acting on subfolders.

If what you need is retain part of the original name But to change another one (for example, replacing the string "-textobuscado" with a different word while keeping the rest of the name), the native Windows system falls far short.

Something similar happens when you have files spread across many folders and subfolders and what you want is change the same text in all those filesGoing folder by folder is incredibly time-consuming, and that's where advanced tools come in.

Batch renaming using PowerShell as an alternative

Before delving into Bulk Rename Utility, it's worth mentioning that Windows includes a very powerful option for users who aren't afraid of the command line: PowerShell, an advanced command interpreter that allows you to automate renaming with a single command.

PowerShell has been included since older versions such as Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10And all you have to do is open the Start menu, type "PowerShell" and run it to start launching commands without installing anything additional.

The basic workflow would be, first, change to the directory where the files are located that you want to modify with a command like cd Documents o CD Documents\WorkThe Tab key autocomplete helps avoid typing full paths.

Once you're in the correct folder, you can use a command like Get-ChildItem -Filter "*textobuscado*" -Recursion | Rename-Item -NewName {$_.name -replace "textobuscado","textoqueponer"}This function locates all files whose name contains the string to be searched for—even in subfolders, thanks to the -Recurse parameter—and replaces that part of the name with another.

In that command, the part Get-ChildItem -Filter «*searchtext*» locate all elements that meet the filter, -Resource This also causes each subfolder to be examined, the vertical bar | send each result to the next command and Rename-Item It handles changing the name using the replacement rule specified within {$_.name -replace …}.

In addition, PowerShell allows you to add the parameter -WhatIf At the end of the command, a kind of simulation is performed, listing which names would be changed and how they would look without actually executing the renaming, which is very useful for Avoid surprises if you make a mistake in the pattern.

The main drawback is that, although the syntax is not particularly complex, many users are put off by the "text" environment and the need to understand a minimum of commands and filtersTherefore, for them, Bulk Rename Utility is usually a more user-friendly solution.

What is Bulk Rename Utility and what does it offer?

Bulk Rename Utility is a Free program for personal use, available for Windows, designed specifically to rename large batches of files or folders with all kinds of rules: text replacement, numbering, dates, uppercase/lowercase changes, regular expressions, etc.

Its interface, when you first open it, may impress because it has many panels and boxes, all visible at onceIt has virtually no hierarchies or tabs, which makes it seem more complex than it actually is for the most common tasks.

One of its advantages is that, after installation, it can integrate into the Windows Explorer context menuSo, if you're in a folder with files, you can select the ones you want, right-click, and use the "Bulk Rename Here" option.

Another key advantage is that the application It always shows a preview of new names. In the file list, you'll see a column with the current name and another with the resulting name, so if the configuration isn't what you wanted, you can correct it before clicking the final button. If you're interested in advanced alternatives to Explorer that also facilitate bulk tasks, try managers like Directory Opus or XYplorer.

The program is free for home use, but if you need it commercially it also offers a relatively inexpensive paid licenseThis is something worth highlighting compared to other professional software that is usually much more expensive.

Rename photos, disks, and other files with Bulk Rename Utility

One of the most frequent uses of Bulk Rename Utility is organize photo collections which originally have generic names like DSC00001.JPG, as well as music discs with tracks simply called “Track – 1”, “Track – 2”, etc.

Imagine you have a folder called something like “2011 – 09 – Tennis Photos” full of images with the typical camera name; you can select all the photos (for example with the shortcut Ctrl + E) and then, by right-clicking on any of them, choose “Bulk Rename Here” to directly open the program in that location.

Once inside, the interface displays the files at the top and, at the bottom, the different configuration sections are displayed: Remove, Add, Replace, Numbering and many other tabs that you can use depending on what you want to achieve.

If what you need is to completely replace the name generated by the camera, a common strategy is to go to the block remove (delete) and adjust the option to delete a certain number of characters from the original name, for example the 8 characters of “DSCXXXXX” without touching the extension.

Then, in the section Add (add), you can write the base text you want to use, something like tennis_photos_ or any other prefix that makes sense for that album, so that all the files share that root name.

Finally, in the section Numbering You configure how the files will be numbered: you can decide if the number will go at the beginning (prefix) or at the end (suffix), the format (decimal, hexadecimal, Roman numerals), the initial value and the padding with zeros.

With that simple combination—removing the original name, adding a new generic one, and numbering it—you end up with something like this: tennis_photos_001.jpg, tennis_photos_002.jpgmuch easier to identify and ready to use in albums, websites or wherever you need it.

Renaming series episodes: from S1.E1 to S01.E01

Another fairly common problem among TV series fans is having episodes labeled as S1.E1, S1.E2while others are already in format S10.E10and want to unify everything with two digits: S01.E01, S10.E10, etc.

Bulk Rename Utility allows you to solve this using its options replacement and numberingYou can even use regular expressions if you want something more sophisticated, although it's not strictly necessary for simple cases.

If you don't know regex, you can start with a practical approach: using the zone. Repl. (Replace) to replace text patterns (e.g., removing unnecessary letters or symbols) combined with the area Numbering to add numbers with zero padding.

The key is that the program lets you try different combinations step by stepSo you can perform a simple first renaming to normalize the format and, if necessary, run a second pass to polish details (for example, adjusting leading zeros or unifying the way the season is written).

If at any point you decide to take the plunge and learn some regular expressions, Bulk Rename Utility also supports them, but the author himself recommends Don't complicate your lifeIf the pattern you want to achieve is very convoluted, it is better to rename it in several simple iterations, rather than trying to do it all at once with a long and difficult-to-debug expression.

Rename large batches of drawings or documents from Revit and similar programs

In professional environments such as architecture, engineering, or construction, it is very common to export from Revit or other programs. dozens of plans in PDF format whose names are not exactly friendly or legible for a customer.

Instead of having an ordered set of type “A1-101 General Floor Plan”Often, you get names full of internal information that only the software understands, something like "My3D-Model-Project454-A101General.pdf", which greatly complicates sending and archiving.

Many users spend hours renaming these files manually, or they mount macros in Excel or scripts which require reviewing plan by plan by copying and pasting values, which also ends up being quite cumbersome and prone to errors.

Bulk Rename Utility simplifies the process because it allows define search and replace patterns Perfectly adapted to Revit-generated names: you can remove automatic prefixes or suffixes, rearrange parts of the name, insert sheet codes, etc., in seconds. For professional workflows with many similar files, you can also review options for Rename multiple files at once in Windows.

One of the great advantages of this type of workflow is the interactive preview, since You can see, file by file, how the name would look. Before renaming; if a pattern doesn't capture all cases well, you can adjust it without making any irreversible changes.

Furthermore, as the program allows you to enter consecutive numbers, dates, prefixes and suffixesIt is very easy to impose an internal standard of nomenclature for an entire set of sheets, which facilitates long-term organization and reduces errors in future revisions.

Rename part of the name according to a specific pattern

It's not always about throwing away the current name and starting from scratch; often what you want is replace only a part of the text in many files that share that fragment, keeping the rest intact.

Think of a set of documents where they all include the same brand or reference, for example budget-2017-GarciaCompany.docx, financial-analysis-2017-GarcíaCompany.xlsx and similar variations that only share the string «García Company».

If you used Windows' basic bulk renaming, they would all end up with the same base name and a number in parentheses, which would be a mess, whereas with Bulk Rename Utility you can tell it that Find that exact substring and replace it with another one.

To do this, simply select the files and use the block Replace (Repl.)In the "Replace" field, you write the text you want to locate, and in "With" you indicate the new text you want to replace it with, seeing at once how the names change in the preview.

If what interests you is Remove that part of the text without adding anything new.You can simply leave the replacement field empty (or use empty quotes if you're doing it via PowerShell), so that the string disappears from the final name.

Basic steps to change names with Bulk Rename Utility

Although the interface is full of options, for most everyday needs it's enough to follow a few very simple steps that are always repeated.

The first is Open the Bulk Rename Utility application. After installing it; if you have enabled the integration with the Explorer, you can also access it from the right click with “Bulk Rename Here”.

The left panel shows a kind of folder explorer which allows you to navigate to the folder where the files you want to process are located, whether it's a folder with photos, documents, or any other type of files.

Then you select the files to modify, either with the mouse or with keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl + A for all, Ctrl + click to select several individually, etc.), and at the bottom you start adjusting the sections that interest you, usually Replace, Add, Remove and Numbering.

As you configure each block, the table at the top displays one column with the current name and another with the new, planned name, so You can check that you're not breaking anything important. before applying the operation.

When everything is the way you want it, all that's left is to click the button. Rename located in the lower right corner; the program will ask for confirmation and, if you proceed, will make all the changes in seconds even if it involves hundreds or thousands of files.

Advantages, tips and usage recommendations

One of the great advantages of Bulk Rename Utility is that it allows rename by stepsIf the pattern you're looking for is complicated, you can first make a partial change (for example, cleaning up certain prefixes), apply the renaming, and then run a second pass to adjust numbers, dates, or suffixes.

This philosophy avoids having to assemble extremely complex configurations with many conditions at once; instead, you choose one simple goal per stage, check the result, and continue with the next iteration.

Another interesting trick is to use bulk renaming not only for internal organization, but also with SEO in mind: for example, if you do product reviews, you can name the photos as review_samsung_galaxy_s2_1.jpg, review_samsung_galaxy_s2_2.jpgetc., to provide semantic context to the images.

Although the program includes advanced options such as regular expressions, date and time changes, or complex numberingIt is not mandatory to master them all; you can stick with the four functions you always use and refer to the official manual or the examples folder (samples) installed with the program when you need something more sophisticated.

Finally, it's worth remembering that Bulk Rename Utility is designed to work with huge amounts of files without breaking a sweatWhether you have 10, 100, or 10.000 files, the process remains just as fast as long as you know which pattern to apply and carefully review the preview. If you need to quickly locate large collections before renaming, tools like Everything They are very useful.

With all of the above, it is clear that Bulk Rename Utility has earned its reputation as an essential program for anyone who frequently works with large volumes of files: It saves time, reduces errors, and gives very fine control over the names.Whether you're organizing personal photos, TV series episodes, project plans, or corporate documents spread across multiple folders.