Rename Folder in Windows 10  

    Rename Folder in Windows 10

    Rename Folder in Windows 10

    How to Rename Folder in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    05 Apr 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Rename Folder in Windows 10


    This tutorial will show you different ways to rename a folder in Windows 10.

    Starting with Windows 10 build 21343, Microsoft is updating File Explorer (Win+E) when renaming folders to now support using CTRL + Left / Right arrow to move your cursor between words in the folder name, as well as CTRL + Delete and CTRL + Backspace to delete words at a time, like other places in Windows.

    If a folder is currently in use, for example by a program, Windows will not allow you to rename it.

    If you rename more than one folder at the same time, the new name for each folder will be new folder name, new folder name (1), new folder name (2), etc...

    When you rename a folder in Windows, the name cannot contain any of the following characters: \ / : * ? " < > |
    Rename Folder in Windows 10-characters.png


    Contents







    OPTION ONE

    Rename Folder using Keyboard Shortcut


    1 While on your desktop (Win+D) or in File Explorer (Win+E), select the folder(s) you want to rename. (see screenshot below)

    2 Press the F2 key.

    3 Type a new name for the folder(s), and press Enter or click/tap on another area.

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-folder_name.jpg






    OPTION TWO

    Rename Folder from File Explorer Ribbon


    1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

    2 Navigate to and select the folder(s) you want to rename. (see screenshot below)

    3 Click/tap on Home tab, and click/tap on the Rename button in the ribbon.

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-rename_folder_ribbon.jpg

    4 Type a new name for the folder(s), and press Enter or click/tap on another area. (see screenshot below)

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-folder_name.jpg






    OPTION THREE

    Rename Folder with Two Single Clicks


    This option is only available if you selected to Double-click to open an item (single-click to select) instead of Single-click to open an item (point to select).


    1 While on your desktop (Win+D) or in File Explorer (Win+E), navigate to the folder you want to rename.

    2 Click/tap on the folder once to select it. (see screenshots below)

    3 Wait at least one second, and then click/tap on the folder name text to rename it.

    4 Type a new name for the folder, and press Enter or click/tap on another area.

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-rename_folder_two_single_clicks.png Rename Folder in Windows 10-folder_name.jpg






    OPTION FOUR

    Rename Folder from Context Menu


    1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

    2 Navigate to and select the folder(s) you want to rename.

    3 Perform the action you want to do below: (see screenshot below)

    A) Right click or press and hold on the selected folder(s), and either press the M key or click/tap on Rename.

    OR

    B) Press and hold Shift key and right click on the selected folder(s), release the Shift key, and either press the M key or click/tap on Rename.

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-rename_folder_context_menu.jpg

    4 Type a new name for the folder(s), and press Enter or click/tap on another area. (see screenshot below)

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-folder_name.jpg






    OPTION FIVE

    Rename Folder from Properties


    1 While on your desktop (Win+D) or in File Explorer (Win+E), navigate to the folder you want to rename.

    2 Right click or press and hold on the folder you want to rename, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-rename_folder_properties-1.jpg

    3 In the General tab, type a new name in the top field, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-rename_folder_properties-2.png






    OPTION SIX

    Rename Folder in PowerShell


    For more Rename-Item command usage details, see: Rename-Item | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open PowerShell or an elevated PowerShell depending on the required rights to rename the folder you want.

    2 Type the command below into PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Rename-Item -Path "Full path of folder" -NewName "New Name" -Force

    Substitute Full path of folder in the command above with the actual full path of the folder you want to rename.

    Substitute New Name in the command above with the actual new name you want to rename the folder with.

    For example: Rename-Item -Path "C:\Users\Brink\Desktop\Folder" -NewName "Folder new name" -Force

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-rename_folder_powershell.png

    3 When finished, you can close the Powershell window if you like.






    OPTION SEVEN

    Rename Folder in Command Prompt


    For more ren command usage details, see: ren | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open a command prompt or an elevated command prompt depending on the required rights to rename the folder you want.

    2 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    ren "Full path of folder" "New Name"

    Substitute Full path of folder in the command above with the actual full path of the folder you want to rename.

    Substitute New Name in the command above with the actual new name you want to rename the folder with.

    For example: ren "C:\Users\Brink\Desktop\Folder" "Folder new name"

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-rename_folder_command_prompt.png

    3 When finished, you can close the command prompt window if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn


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  2. thename
    Posts : 330
    Pro 20H2
       New #1

    Rename Folder in Windows 10-explorer10.jpg
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. Josey Wales
    Posts : 26,719
    Windows 11 Pro 26100.2894
       New #2

    I just RC on the Folder and rename it in the context menu. It has worked for me in 1909.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

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