Windows CMD Rename Command - Complete Guide with Examples

The REN (or RENAME) command in Windows Command Prompt allows you to rename files and folders. This guide covers all aspects of renaming in CMD.

Introduction to REN Command

REN is the Windows command for renaming files and directories. It’s a simple but powerful tool for file management.

Syntax:

REN [drive:][path]filename1 filename2

Key Points:

• Works with files and folders
• Can use wildcards
• Simple syntax
• Fast operation

Basic Usage

Rename Single File

ren oldname.txt newname.txt

Rename with Path

ren C:\folder\oldname.txt newname.txt

Rename Folder

ren oldfolder newfolder

Rename Files

Change Extension

ren file.txt file.doc

Remove Extension

ren file.txt file

Add Extension

ren file file.txt

Rename Folders

Basic Folder Rename

ren oldfolder newfolder

Folder with Spaces

ren "old folder" "new folder"

Batch Renaming

Using Wildcards

ren *.txt *.bak

Renames all .txt files to .bak.

Sequential Renaming

for /L %i in (1,1,10) do ren file%i.txt newfile%i.txt

Advanced Techniques

PowerShell Alternative

For more advanced renaming, PowerShell offers more features:

Get-ChildItem *.txt | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace 'old', 'new' }

Conclusion

REN command provides:

• Simple file renaming in CMD
• Folder renaming capability
• Wildcard support for batch operations
• Fast execution for file management

Key Points:

• Use REN for simple renames
• Wildcards enable batch operations
• Works with files and folders
• Use quotes for names with spaces

Mastering REN command improves Windows file management efficiency.