In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll show you how to quickly rename multiple files at once on a Mac without having to download a third-party app.
Batch renaming in Finder lets you change the name of multiple files at once. As someone who frequently needs to rename large groups of files, I find it incredibly helpful to have this feature built right into macOS.
Rename multiple files at once on Mac
1) Open Finder and select the files you want to rename. After that, Control-click or right-click and pick Rename from the menu. Or, click File > Rename from the top menu bar.
2) You have three main options on the batch rename interface when you click the top-left drop-down menu: Replace Text, Add Text, and Format.
The first two options, Replace Text and Add Text, work exactly how they sound. You can quickly replace text contained within the file names or append text to the beginning or end of file names. It works beautifully.
The Format option is a bit more robust than the other two. It lets you rename the entire file and is more appropriate when addressing groups of files with dissimilar names.
3) In this example, we’re going to completely format the file names and rename them to something that makes more sense to us. Note that in this screenshot, I also added numbers to each file, so the output will be something like: My iMac 1, My iMac 2, My iMac 3, and so on.
Tip: Want to put a space between My iMac and the number 1? If you don’t, the files will be renamed as My iMac1, My iMac2, and so on. Therefore, to rename them as My iMac 1, My iMac 2, and so on, put a space after My iMac. When you do that, you’ll see the changes next to “Example:.”
4) When you’re done tweaking the settings to your liking, simply click Rename. The file names will then be overwritten according to the format you applied. If something doesn’t look right, press the Command + Z keys to undo the change.
While Mac’s Finder rename tool lacks some of the advanced features found in third-party paid utilities, like extension renaming, it’s still deep enough to satisfy the needs of most users.
If you need something more advanced, I recommend Name Mangler 3 ($18.99). It offers many features and an intuitive interface that’s easy to learn.
Further reading: How to rename photos, videos, docs, and files on iPhone or iPad