How to Rename Multiple Files in Windows with Easy System Utility PRO

Renaming a few files in Windows is straightforward, but changing the names of dozens or hundreds of images, documents, videos or project files can quickly become repetitive.

The Rename Files tool in Easy System Utility PRO lets you add multiple files to one list and rename them together using a consistent format. You can keep the original filename, replace it with new text, add words before or after it and include sequential numbers.

This makes it easier to organise large collections without manually renaming every file through Windows File Explorer.

When is bulk file renaming useful?

See also: How to Add a Watermark to an Image in Windows Article

Bulk file renaming is useful when a group of files belongs to the same project but the existing names are unclear or inconsistent.

For example, a camera may create files such as:

• IMG_4281.jpg
• IMG_4282.jpg
• IMG_4283.jpg

You could rename them to:

• Garden Project 01.jpg
• Garden Project 02.jpg
• Garden Project 03.jpg

The tool can be useful for organising:

• Photographs
• Screenshots
• Scanned documents
• Customer files
• Invoices
• Product images
• Website images
• Videos
• Music files
• Project exports
• Backup files
• Downloaded documents
• Training materials

Using a clear naming pattern can make files easier to search, sort and recognise later.

Rename Files is a PRO feature

Bulk file renaming is included with Easy System Utility PRO.

The tool lets you build a list of files, choose how their new names should be created and process the complete group together.

This is particularly useful when every file needs the same prefix, suffix or numbering format.

Rather than repeating the same Windows rename process for each file, you can configure the naming structure once and apply it across the entire list.

How to open Rename Files

See also: How to Rename Multiple Folders in Windows Article

To access the bulk file renaming tool:

1. Open Easy System Utility.
2. Select Folders and Files from the left-hand menu.
3. Open the Rename Files tab.
4. Add the files you want to rename.
5. Review the list carefully.
6. Choose the naming options you want to use.
7. Check how the new names will be structured.
8. Start the rename process.

Make sure Easy System Utility PRO is activated before attempting to use the bulk controls.

Add files to the rename list

Use the file selection option to add the files you want to rename.

You may be able to select several files from the same folder at once, making it quicker to prepare a large group.

As you build the list, check that:

• Only the intended files are included
• The files belong to the same project or category
• The order is suitable for numbering
• No important file has been added by mistake
• The files are stored in the expected folders

A bulk rename can affect many files quickly, so checking the list first is important.

Rename files from more than one folder

See also: How to Resize an Image in Windows with Easy System Utility Article

You may be able to add files stored in different folders, but it is normally easier to organise one collection at a time.

Files from separate folders can have different purposes, formats and naming requirements.

For example, combining customer documents, website images and holiday photographs in the same rename list could create confusing results.

Separate the files into smaller, related groups where possible.

This also makes it easier to check the final filenames and correct any problems.

Review the order of the files

If sequential numbers are being added, the position of each file in the list can determine which number it receives.

For example:

• First file becomes Project Image 01.jpg
• Second file becomes Project Image 02.jpg
• Third file becomes Project Image 03.jpg

Check the list order before starting when the sequence is important.

This is particularly useful for:

• Step-by-step screenshots
• Event photographs
• Scanned pages
• Training images
• Product collections
• Project stages
• Video clips

If the files need to follow a particular date or subject order, arrange or select them carefully before processing.

Keep the original filename

See also: How to Unlock a File in Windows 10 and Windows 11 Article

Easy System Utility PRO can preserve the current filename while adding extra text or numbering.

This is useful when the original name already contains helpful information.

For example:

Original files:

• Homepage.jpg
• Services.jpg
• Contact.jpg

With the prefix Website - :

• Website - Homepage.jpg
• Website - Services.jpg
• Website - Contact.jpg

You could also add a year:

• Homepage - 2026.jpg
• Services - 2026.jpg
• Contact - 2026.jpg

Preserving the original filename reduces the risk of losing information you may need later.

Replace the original filename

When the existing filenames are not meaningful, you can replace them with a new shared name.

For example:

• IMG_0031.jpg
• IMG_0032.jpg
• IMG_0033.jpg

could become:

• Museum Visit 01.jpg
• Museum Visit 02.jpg
• Museum Visit 03.jpg

Replacing the original name works best when the files belong to one clear group.

Be more careful when the current names contain dates, customer references, page numbers or other information that may be difficult to recreate.

Add text before the filename

Adding text before the existing filename creates a prefix.

For example:

Original:

Invoice.pdf

Prefix:

Customer Smith -

Result:

Customer Smith - Invoice.pdf

Prefixes can be useful for adding:

• A customer name
• A project name
• A year
• A location
• A category
• A status
• A department

Other examples include:

• Archive - Report.docx
• 2026 - Accounts.xlsx
• Website - Homepage.png
• Customer - Contract.pdf

A prefix can also help related files appear together when sorted alphabetically.

Add text after the filename

You can also append text to the end of the original filename.

For example:

Original:

Homepage.jpg

Additional text:

- Final

Result:

Homepage - Final.jpg

This can be useful for adding:

• Edited
• Approved
• Complete
• Final
• A year
• A version
• A location
• A project stage

Examples include:

• Proposal - Approved.pdf
• Product Photo - Edited.jpg
• Report - Final.docx
• Accounts - 2026.xlsx

Try to keep added text short so the filenames remain easy to read.

Add sequential numbers

Sequential numbering gives each file a unique number.

For example:

• Product Image 01.jpg
• Product Image 02.jpg
• Product Image 03.jpg

Numbering is useful when files have the same main name but still need to remain separate.

It can also help Windows display them in the intended order.

Without leading zeros, a larger collection may be sorted like this:

• Image 1
• Image 10
• Image 11
• Image 2

Using leading zeros creates a more consistent sequence:

• Image 01
• Image 02
• Image 03
• Image 10

For collections containing more than 99 files, a three-digit sequence may be clearer:

• Image 001
• Image 002
• Image 003

Choose a numbering format that is large enough for the collection.

Place numbers before or after the name

Numbers can be used at the beginning or end of a filename, depending on how you want the collection organised.

Number before the filename

Examples:

• 01 - Introduction.docx
• 02 - Installation.docx
• 03 - Settings.docx

This works well when the files must appear in a fixed order.

It is useful for:

• Instructions
• Documentation images
• Course materials
• Presentation assets
• Scanned pages
• Project stages
• Video clips

Number after the filename

Examples:

• Holiday Photo 01.jpg
• Holiday Photo 02.jpg
• Holiday Photo 03.jpg

This is useful when the shared description is the most important part of the filename.

Use clear separators

Separators make filenames easier to read.

Common options include:

• Spaces
• Hyphens
• Underscores
• Brackets

Examples:

• 01 - Garden Project.jpg
• Garden_Project_01.jpg
• Garden Project (01).jpg
• Customer Smith - Invoice.pdf

Avoid joining everything together unless that is the style you prefer.

For example:

WebsiteImage01

may be harder to read than:

Website Image 01

Removing unwanted text from filenames

The Rename Files tool can also be useful when many files contain the same unwanted wording.

For example:

• Copy of Product 01.jpg
• Copy of Product 02.jpg
• Copy of Product 03.jpg

could be changed to:

• Product 01.jpg
• Product 02.jpg
• Product 03.jpg

Other text you may want to remove includes:

• Copy of
• Final Final
• Downloaded website prefixes
• Camera-generated wording
• Old project names
• Repeated dates
• Unwanted brackets
• Export labels

Before applying a removal rule, make sure the text does not form an important part of any filename in the list.

A short piece of text may appear in places you did not expect.

Replacing text inside filenames

Replacing repeated text can help update an old naming structure without completely removing the original names.

For example:

• Old Company - Invoice 01.pdf
• Old Company - Invoice 02.pdf

could become:

• New Company - Invoice 01.pdf
• New Company - Invoice 02.pdf

This can also be useful for correcting:

• Spelling mistakes
• Old dates
• Customer names
• Project names
• Product references
• Inconsistent abbreviations

Check the replacement text carefully before processing a large list.

A mistake could be repeated across every file.

Keep the file extension correct

A filename normally includes an extension that tells Windows what type of file it is.

Examples include:

• .jpg
• .png
• .pdf
• .docx
• .xlsx
• .mp4
• .zip

The extension is important because Windows and installed programs use it to determine how the file should be opened.

When reviewing the renamed files, make sure the correct extensions remain in place.

Changing or removing an extension may cause Windows to display an unknown file type or open the file with the wrong program.

For example:

photo.jpg

should not accidentally become:

photo.pdf

Changing the extension does not convert the file into another format.

Renaming does not convert a file

Changing a filename or extension does not change the file’s actual contents.

For example, renaming:

image.png

to:

image.jpg

does not convert the PNG image into a JPEG.

It only changes the name Windows sees.

Use a proper image, document or media conversion tool when you need to change the file format.

The Rename Files tool should be used to organise names, not to convert file types.

Check for invalid Windows characters

Windows does not allow the following characters in filenames:

< > : " / \ | ? *

Using one of these characters may cause the rename operation to fail.

Safe filename characters generally include:

• Letters
• Numbers
• Spaces
• Hyphens
• Underscores
• Brackets

Avoid adding punctuation that Windows treats as part of a path or search pattern.

Avoid reserved Windows names

Windows reserves certain names for system use.

Examples include:

• CON
• PRN
• AUX
• NUL
• COM1
• LPT1

Files cannot normally use these names on their own, even when an extension is added.

This is unlikely to affect most bulk renaming jobs, but it is worth remembering when creating very short custom names.

Avoid names that are too long

Windows supports long filenames and paths, but some programs still have difficulty opening files with very long locations.

The complete path includes:

• The drive letter
• Every folder above the file
• The filename
• The file extension

For example:

C:\Users\Name\Documents\Customer Projects\Website Images\Very Long Product Description 01.jpg

Adding too much custom text can make the full path unnecessarily long.

Use names that are descriptive without including every possible detail.

Check for duplicate filenames

Two files in the same folder cannot have exactly the same name and extension.

For example, this folder cannot contain two files both called:

Product Image 01.jpg

Duplicate name conflicts may happen when:

• Sequential numbering is not enabled
• The same custom name is applied to every file
• A renamed file already exists in the folder
• Previous files were renamed using the same pattern
• Several files originally had similar names
• Replacement text makes two names identical

Sequential numbers are one of the easiest ways to keep filenames unique.

Check the destination folders before starting a large rename.

Files with the same name but different extensions

Windows can store files with the same main name when their extensions are different.

For example:

• Report.docx
• Report.pdf
• Report.xlsx

These are treated as separate files.

However, they can still be confusing when extensions are hidden in File Explorer.

Make sure you understand which file type each entry uses before renaming a mixed collection.

Show file extensions in Windows

Displaying extensions in File Explorer makes it easier to check that the correct file types remain after renaming.

In Windows 11:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select View.
3. Open Show.
4. Enable File name extensions.

In some versions of Windows 10:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select the View tab.
3. Tick File name extensions.

This can help prevent accidental confusion between similarly named documents, images or executable files.

Close files before renaming them

A file may not rename successfully when it is open in another program.

Before beginning, close any application using the selected files.

For example:

• Close Word before renaming an open document
• Close an image editor before renaming a photo
• Close a video player before renaming a video
• Close a spreadsheet program before renaming an Excel file
• Allow downloads to finish before renaming them
• Stop file transfers using the selected files

Save any open work before closing the program.

Check programs running in the background

Some software continues using files after its main window has closed.

This can include:

• Cloud storage software
• Antivirus programs
• Media organisers
• Photo management tools
• Backup software
• File indexing services
• Video editors
• Game launchers

If a file remains locked, wait for the related background task to finish or restart Windows before trying again.

Be careful with OneDrive and other cloud storage

Renaming a file inside OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive or another cloud service can also rename it online and on other connected devices.

This may affect:

• Shared links
• Collaborators
• Website embeds
• Synced computers
• Backup jobs
• Recently used document lists
• Automated workflows
• Shortcuts

Before bulk renaming cloud files:

1. Make sure syncing is complete.
2. Check whether other people are using the files.
3. Record the original names where necessary.
4. Rename a small test group first.
5. Allow the new names to finish syncing.

Avoid shutting down the computer immediately after a large cloud rename.

Renaming files can break links

Programs and documents can refer to files using their exact path and filename.

Changing a filename may break:

• Website image links
• Video project references
• Spreadsheet links
• Document links
• Shortcuts
• Music playlists
• Backup rules
• Software configuration files
• Scripts
• Database references

For example, a webpage looking for:

images/header-photo.jpg

will not find the file after it is renamed to:

images/homepage-banner.jpg

Update any related links or settings after the rename.

Be careful with website files

Renaming website images, CSS files, scripts or downloadable documents can cause broken links when the website still uses the old filename.

Before renaming website assets:

• Check where each file is used
• Update the website code or media references
• Avoid changing active theme or plugin files
• Keep a copy of the original structure
• Test the website after uploading the renamed files

Bulk renaming is most useful before files are uploaded or linked to a live website.

Be careful with project files

Video editors, design software and other project-based programs may link to media using exact filenames.

Changing those files outside the program may result in missing media warnings.

This can affect:

• Video projects
• Audio projects
• Design documents
• Presentation files
• Website projects
• Photo catalogues
• 3D projects

Where possible, rename files before importing them into the project.

If they are already in use, check whether the program includes its own media management or relinking tools.

Do not rename active program or Windows files

Avoid using bulk renaming on files inside:

• C:\Windows
• C:\Windows\System32
• C:\Program Files
• C:\Program Files (x86)
• Driver folders
• Recovery partitions
• Application data folders you do not understand

Windows and installed programs rely on specific filenames.

Changing them could prevent software, drivers or Windows features from working correctly.

The Rename Files tool is intended for personal, project and storage files that you are authorised to manage.

Back up important files first

Renaming normally changes only the name, not the content of the file.

However, another program may stop finding the file after its path changes.

Before renaming an important collection:

1. Back up the files.
2. Record the original filenames.
3. Save a screenshot of the folder.
4. Close programs using the files.
5. Test the naming format on a small group.
6. Confirm that the renamed files still open.
7. Continue with the remaining files.

This is especially important for business records, customer documents and irreplaceable photographs.

Test a small group first

A test group helps you check that the naming pattern looks the way you expected.

Start with two or three copied files and confirm:

• The original names are kept or removed as intended
• Prefixes and suffixes are in the correct place
• Numbering follows the expected order
• Spacing is correct
• File extensions remain valid
• No duplicate names are created
• The files still open normally

Once the result looks right, apply the same setup to the full collection.

Remove a file from the list

If you add a file by mistake, remove it from the Easy System Utility list before beginning the rename.

Removing a list entry does not delete or change the real file.

It only prevents that file from being included in the current bulk operation.

Review the complete list one final time before selecting the rename button.

Clear the file list

Use the clear option when you want to remove all files from the current list and start again.

This may be helpful when:

• The wrong group was added
• The files are in the wrong order
• You want to separate images and documents
• The naming format has changed
• The list contains unrelated projects
• You want to restart with a smaller test

Clearing the list does not remove files from the computer.

Run Easy System Utility as an administrator

Files stored in protected folders may require administrator permission before they can be renamed.

To restart Easy System Utility with elevated access:

1. Select Start ESU as administrator.
2. Approve the Windows User Account Control prompt.
3. Return to Folders and Files.
4. Open Rename Files.
5. Add the files again if needed.
6. Repeat the rename process.

Administrator permission can help with restricted personal or project files.

It does not make it safe to rename important Windows or program files.

Why could a file not be renamed?

A file may remain unchanged when:

• It is open in another program
• Another file already uses the new name
• The new name contains invalid characters
• The filename or full path is too long
• Windows permissions block the change
• The drive is read-only
• The file was moved after being added
• Security software is scanning it
• A cloud service is processing it
• The storage drive is disconnected
• The file no longer exists

Check the affected file, correct the issue and run the rename again where appropriate.

Why did only some files rename?

Each file is processed separately.

This means some files may rename successfully while others remain unchanged because they are locked or have naming conflicts.

After the process:

1. Open the folder in File Explorer.
2. Check which files changed.
3. Review any files still using their old names.
4. Look for duplicate filename conflicts.
5. Close programs using the remaining files.
6. Try the affected files again.

Do not run the same full list repeatedly without checking it, as files already renamed may receive another change depending on the configured options.

Can you undo a bulk file rename?

The exact original names may not be restored automatically.

If you preserved the original filename as part of the new name, manually reversing the change may be straightforward.

If the original names were completely replaced, you will need a record, backup or screenshot showing what they were.

Before applying a major rename, consider:

• Copying the files to a test folder
• Recording the original filenames
• Keeping a backup
• Renaming a smaller group first
• Preserving the original name in the new format

This makes it easier to correct the result if you change your mind.

Example bulk file renaming formats

Add a project name

Original:

• Homepage.png
• Services.png
• Contact.png

Renamed:

• Website - Homepage.png
• Website - Services.png
• Website - Contact.png

Replace camera filenames

Original:

• IMG_5101.jpg
• IMG_5102.jpg
• IMG_5103.jpg

Renamed:

• Woodland Walk 01.jpg
• Woodland Walk 02.jpg
• Woodland Walk 03.jpg

Create ordered documentation screenshots

Original:

• screenshot-a.png
• screenshot-b.png
• screenshot-c.png

Renamed:

• 01 - Open Settings.png
• 02 - Select Cleaning Options.png
• 03 - Start Analysis.png

Add a status

Original:

• Homepage Design.jpg
• Contact Design.jpg
• Pricing Design.jpg

Renamed:

• Homepage Design - Approved.jpg
• Contact Design - Approved.jpg
• Pricing Design - Approved.jpg

Add a year

Original:

• Invoice 01.pdf
• Invoice 02.pdf
• Invoice 03.pdf

Renamed:

• Invoice 01 - 2026.pdf
• Invoice 02 - 2026.pdf
• Invoice 03 - 2026.pdf

Remove repeated text

Original:

• Copy of Image 01.jpg
• Copy of Image 02.jpg
• Copy of Image 03.jpg

Renamed:

• Image 01.jpg
• Image 02.jpg
• Image 03.jpg

A sensible bulk file renaming process

A careful way to rename several files is:

1. Decide how the new filenames should look.
2. Back up important files.
3. Record the original names.
4. Close programs using the files.
5. Open Folders and Files > Rename Files.
6. Add the files you want to rename.
7. Check the complete list and file order.
8. Decide whether to preserve the original filenames.
9. Add or remove the required text.
10. Configure sequential numbering where needed.
11. Check for invalid characters.
12. Confirm that file extensions will remain correct.
13. Test the setup on a small copied group.
14. Start the bulk rename.
15. Review the completed filenames in File Explorer.
16. Open several files to make sure they still work.
17. Update any links, shortcuts or projects that used the old names.

Easy System Utility PRO makes it quicker to rename multiple files in Windows using a consistent naming structure. Whether you are organising photos, documents, website images or project files, prefixes, replacement text and sequential numbers can turn an unclear collection into one that is much easier to manage.