Folders on your computer help you keep your files neat and organized. Renaming folders means giving them new names that make it easier to find what you need.

Here’s a simple guide to renaming folders in Windows 11. Just follow the steps below!

Note: When naming folders, you cannot use these characters: / : * ? " < > |.

1. Rename Using Keyboard Shortcut

1. 
   Open File Explorer and find the folder you want to rename.
   
2. Select the folder by clicking it once.
3. Press the F2 key on your keyboard.
4. Type the new name for the folder and press Enter.

2. Rename With a Single Click

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the folder you want to rename once to select it.
3. Click the folder name text once more (slowly), so it becomes editable.
4. Type the new name and press Enter.

3. Rename Using File Explorer Command Bar

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select the folder you want to rename.
3. Click the Rename button on the top command bar.
4. Type the new folder name and press Enter.

4. Rename Using Right-Click Menu

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the folder you want to rename.
3. Click Rename from the menu.
4. Type the new name and press Enter.

Tip: If you see a smaller menu, click Show more options to see the full menu with the Rename option.

You can also hold the SHIFT key on your keyboard while right-clicking the folder to see the full menu immediately.

5. Rename Using PowerShell (for advanced users)

PowerShell is a tool that lets you type commands to do tasks.

1. Open Windows Terminal and select the PowerShell tab.
2. Type the following command to rename your folder. Replace the part in quotes with your folder’s full path and the new name you want.

Rename-Item -Path "FullPathToFolder" -NewName "NewFolderName" -Force
  

Example:

Rename-Item -Path "C:UsersRichardDownloadsMyFolder" -NewName "FolderNewName" -Force
  

6. Rename Using Command Prompt (for advanced users)

You can also rename folders using Command Prompt:

1. Open Windows Terminal with the Command Prompt tab.
2. Type the command below, replacing the folder path and new name.

ren "FullPathToMyFolder" "NewFolderName"
  

Example:

ren "C:UsersRichardDownloadsMyFolder" "FolderNewName"
  

Summary

• Renaming folders helps keep your files organized and easy to find.
• You can rename folders by pressing F2, clicking twice slowly, using the command bar, or right-click menu.
• Advanced users can rename folders using PowerShell or Command Prompt.
• Remember not to use these characters in folder names: / : * ? " < > |.
• Organizing folders well makes your computer easier to use and keeps things tidy.

Now you know several easy ways to rename your folders in Windows 11!