How to Rename Files and Folders in Windows 11

This post shows students and new users how to rename or change a file or folder name when using Windows 11.

Changing a folder or file name in Windows 11 is not difficult at all. You could mistakenly change a folder name simply by clicking without knowing it. Simply right-clicking a file or folder will allow you to rename it.

There are multiple ways to rename a file or folder. You can select a file or folder and click the Rename command on the File Explorer menu, right-click on the file or folder and select Rename, or scroll to show more options to see the Rename command on the context menu.

Granted, the command to change or rename a folder is on the File Explorer menu and is easily accessible. However, we’re not used to changing files or folder names using the File Explorer menu.

There are some things to know about renaming files and folders in Windows 11:

• When you rename a file or folder, only the name is changed. The content of the file or folder will remain the same.
• You can not rename a file or folder if it’s opened or accessed by a program or another user.
• You can not use certain characters in the file or folder name. These include \ / : * ? ” < > |
• You can rename multiple files and older ones simultaneously, but it is not recommended as all the files and folders will have the same name with a number assigned to each file or folder being with 1.

How to rename a folder in Windows 11

Again as mentioned above, it’s easy to rename a folder. Although additional steps have been added to the context menu when you right-click a folder, you can use the File Explorer menu top menu to access the rename command.

Open File Explorer, then select the folder you want to rename. The rename command button is on the File Explorer menu, as highlighted below.

When you click the rename command, Windows will highlight the folder name, which will disappear as you begin typing a new name.

Type the folder’s new name. When you’re done, press Enter to save the name.

You could also right-click on the folder you wish to rename, then select the Rename command on the context menu as highlighted.

Or scroll down to Show more options

and select Rename.

How to rename a file in Windows 11

The process to rename a folder and file is the same. The steps above also apply to renaming or changing a file name.

Instead of a folder, select the file you want to rename and use the rename command to change the file name.

There are other ways to rename a file or folder in Windows 11. You can rename files and folders from the command line as well.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

In summary, renaming files and folders in Windows 11 is a straightforward task. Here are the key points to remember:

• Renaming only changes the name, not the content of the file or folder.
• A file or folder cannot be renamed if it is currently open or in use.
• Certain characters, such as \ / : * ? ” < > |, are not allowed in file or folder names.
• You can rename multiple files or folders at once, but they will be assigned the same base name with a number suffix.
• Use either the File Explorer menu or right-click context menu for renaming.

By following these simple steps, users can easily organize and manage their files and folders in Windows 11.