How to Batch Rename Files with PowerRename

The short version

PowerRename is a PowerToys utility for changing many filenames in one operation. Select files in File Explorer, open Rename with PowerRename, enter the text to find and replace, then review the preview list before applying the change. The preview is the important safety check: it shows which selected names match and what each result will look like.

Install and enable PowerRename

If PowerToys is not installed, get it from Microsoft's official PowerToys distribution and complete setup. Open PowerToys Settings, choose PowerRename, and make sure the utility is enabled. The context-menu wording may vary slightly with Windows and PowerToys versions.

Replace text in a group of filenames

1. In File Explorer, open the folder containing the files.
2. Select only the files you intend to rename. Use Ctrl to add or remove individual selections, or select a contiguous group with Shift.
3. Right-click the selection and choose Rename with PowerRename.
4. Enter a search phrase in Search for and the replacement in Replace with.
5. Review the preview column. Check both files that will change and files that will remain untouched.
6. Decide whether the operation should apply to the filename, extension, files, folders, or subfolders. Do not include subfolders unless you mean to rename items inside them too.
7. Apply the rename only after the preview matches your intention.

For example, if a folder contains names such as “Trip 2025 01.jpg” and “Trip 2025 02.jpg,” replacing “Trip 2025” with “Family Trip” preserves the unique sequence numbers. A broad replacement such as searching for “1” could alter more of each name than expected, so use a specific phrase and inspect every preview.

Use regular expressions only when needed

PowerRename can interpret the search field as a regular expression when that option is enabled. This can help match patterns such as a date or a repeated prefix, but a pattern that matches too broadly can affect every selected file. Start with a small sample selection and use the preview before expanding the operation to the full folder.

The Match all occurrences option determines whether PowerRename replaces every matching occurrence or only the first one in a filename. Case sensitivity and whether the operation applies to the filename or extension also affect the result. Set these deliberately rather than relying on a previous session's remembered options.

Undo and avoid common mistakes

PowerRename supports undoing the last rename operation from File Explorer. If the results are wrong, undo immediately before making another rename operation. For high-value files, create a copy or backup before doing a large batch; undo should not replace a backup for important data.

Common problems include selecting a parent folder unintentionally, changing extensions when only names should change, and applying a short search term to every file. Limit the selection, turn off subfolder inclusion when unnecessary, and check the preview from top to bottom.

A safe repeatable workflow

Make a test folder with a few copied filenames, perform the rename there, and compare the result with the intended naming scheme. Once the pattern is right, run it on the working files. This approach is especially useful for photo imports, scanned documents, and project exports where a consistent name makes later sorting easier.