Renaming files on a Mac isn’t exactly rocket science, but it can be kinda annoying if you’re doing it one by one. That’s why knowing a few tricks up your sleeve can save a lot of time—especially if you’re dealing with tons of images or documents. Sure, in previous Mac OS versions, doing batch renaming involved digging into Terminal or hunting down third-party apps, which kind of sucked because… yeah, Apple made it a little more convoluted than needed. Luckily, newer macOS versions have integrated more batch options right into Finder, making life easier (at least for most straightforward jobs).This guide walks through several methods, from simple to a little more advanced, so you can pick what suits your situation. By the end, you’ll be able to rename a bunch of files, add prefix/suffix, replace parts of filenames, or even do more complex stuff—all with a few clicks.
How to Rename Files on Mac — The Easy Ways (Finder First)
Try Simple Batch Rename in Finder
Feeling a little overwhelmed about renaming a lot of files? Don’t worry, this is the default way now, and it’s pretty reliable. Perfect for quick jobs like renaming dozens of images from DSC_001 to DSC_100, for example. If you’ve got a folder full of stuff that needs uniform naming, this is where to start. Plus, it avoids messing around with Terminal or third-party tools unless you really need to.
- Open Finder and locate the files you want to rename. Select multiple files by dragging a box, or click one, then hold Shift or Command to pick others.
- Right-click one of the selected files (or use Ctrl+Click) and choose Rename n Items from the context menu. This opens up the rename options — worth noting that you can also click the gear icon in the toolbar and select it now.
- You’ll see a dropdown with options: Replace Text, Add Text, or Format. For the most common batch renaming, choose Format.
Format Rename Method — Customizing Names
This method is what most people use for pretty much everything from number sequences to adding prefixes and suffixes. It’s flexible and doesn’t involve messing with code.
- Choose Format from the dropdown. Then, pick your name style: Name and Index (good for numbered files), Name and Counter, or Name and Date. You can see a preview of what it’ll look like right at the bottom, which is kinda handy.
- Type your common filename in the Custom Format box. For example, “TripPhotos”.
- Set the Start Number (like 1, 100, whatever).This way everything stays in order.
- Hit Rename — done. Files now follow that pattern, e.g., TripPhotos 1, TripPhotos 2, etc.
Pro tip: if you don’t like the result, just hit Edit > Undo Rename in the menu bar, or press Command + Z immediately after. Works like a charm for quick mistakes.
Adding or Replacing Text in Filenames
If you need to tweak existing filenames by adding some prefix or suffix—or replace part of their names—this method is your friend.
- Select the files—same way as above.
- Bring up the rename panel again, choose Add Text from the dropdown.
- Type the text you want to append or prepend in the input box. For example, add “_Edited” at the end.
Find and Replace Specific Texts
This one’s super handy if you’ve got hundreds of files, and only a few of them have a common word or phrase you want to change.
- Select all relevant files.
- Open the rename menu, select Replace Text.
- Input the text you want to swap out in the first box, then type the new text in the second. Hit Rename.
This is kind of finicky if you have similar filenames or if the replace text appears multiple times, so double-check your preview before confirming. I’ve noticed sometimes this doesn’t update everything on the first try, so patience might be needed.
Rename By Clicking or Using the Return Key
Sometimes old-school methods still do the trick and are great for quick edits. Just click once on the filename, then wait for it to highlight, type the new name, and press Return. Easy and fast when you’re only renaming a single file.
Using the Terminal for Power Users
If all else fails, or you want to automate a bit, Terminal can do the heavy lifting. The classic command for renaming is mv. It’s kinda like Linux commands, so if you’re familiar, it’s straightforward. For example:
mv oldfilename.jpg newfilename.jpgBut for batch renaming, you’ll want to write scripts or use loop commands. For simple renaming tasks, a quick one-liner like this can work:
for f in *.jpg; do mv "$f" "Beach_${f}"; doneThis adds “Beach_” to all JPEG files in a folder. Be cautious, because a typo can mess up your files—maybe test on a copy first.
On some setups, the terminal commands might fail the first time or behave unexpectedly, especially with files that have special characters. A tiny error in syntax and you might lose track of which file is which, so try it on a few copies first.
That’s It
From simple drag-and-drop renaming to using the terminal for serious batch jobs, Macs have enough tools built-in to handle most renaming needs. Once you get the hang of it, renaming can be quick, organized, and almost kinda satisfying. Just watch out for accidental overwrites, especially when doing replacements or batch moves—always keep a backup if it’s important stuff.
Summary
- Use Finder’s built-in Rename tool for most batch jobs
- Choose Format for sequential names or numbering
- Add or Replace specific text as needed
- Remember, undo is your friend if things go sideways
- Terminal is there for scripting or quick renaming with commands
Wrap-up
All in all, renaming files on a Mac isn’t as painful as people used to complain. The key is picking the right method for the job. Sometimes, a couple of clicks do the trick; other times, a quick terminal command gets the work done faster. Just don’t forget to double-check the preview before hitting rename — it’s easy to mess up if you’re not careful. Hope this saves someone a bit of time and frustration — worked for me on multiple setups, so fingers crossed it helps you, too!