When it comes to the discussion of Windows and macOS, many people have often mentioned various levels of features. One of the simplest is the ease of batch renaming multiple files on Windows compared to Mac. Many people face this issue when they switch from Windows to Mac. Let me tell you it also batch renames files on Mac. It’s just that the options don’t look as good as expected.
Finder on macOS lets you add text or replace anything from existing filenames. In short, you can get things done if it has to be a one-time event. But is there a time-investment commitment worth organizing your file collection in the long run? Definitely not. Therefore, we will also take a look at a paid but affordable option and a free option.
Warning word. Apple recommends that you do not rename any system folders as it may cause apps to malfunction.
Here are two methods you can follow to batch rename several files at once on your Mac. Let’s start with the cumbersome native method.
Note: We tested these solutions on macOS 11 Big Sur beta 6 and everything worked fine.
Batch Rename Multiple Files Using Finder on Mac
Step 1: Hold down the Shift key and select multiple files one by one. Alternatively, you can hold down the Shift key and select files using the mouse.
Step 2: With the source files selected, right-click on them and choose Rename from the contextual menu.
Note: As of macOS 11 Big Sur, Rename XX Items (where xx is the number of files selected) rename.
Stage 3: In the Rename Finder Items window that opens, use the first dropdown to select Format.
Step 4: Select ‘Name and Directory’ from Name Format below. Select “Name & Date” if you plan to assign a date, or “Name & Counter” to add numbers after the name.
You can choose ‘Add Text’ or ‘Replace Text’ but the latter proved to be quite tricky especially when trying to rename songs or documents.
Step 5: Next to Custom Format is where you need to assign the exact text you plan to add to the images. I used it for this guide Rename Multiple Files in the box. The window will show a small preview of what the filename will look like under the Custom Format box.
Here, if you plan to assign custom value, you need to choose the position where you want the value to appear – before or after. Use the Where drop-down menu for this and select after or before a name. You can choose the alphabet or numbers.
Step 6: Check the Rename Finder Items window carefully to make sure you’ve selected and assigned the appropriate values. Press Rename.
If you made a mistake or want to edit the name, don’t worry. Just press Command+Z on the keyboard.
Finder offers a pretty simple option to rename files in the back and it gets the job done. However, choosing the right options takes some time and you should always do it in different folders without using any smart folder management apps.
Using Renamer to Batch Rename Few Files on Mac
Let’s look at another option to batch rename several files using the Renamer app. Here’s how to quickly rename files using this app.
Stage 1: Launch the Rename application.
Step 2: To get started, you can drag and drop all the files you want to rename in the Renamer application window.
Alternatively, you can use the built-in options to specify the naming scheme to follow for files. The app calls these options Renamerlet.
Stage 3: Hit Apply after dropping all files and confirming the new renaming scheme. This much.
This app takes the cake by showing you the new filenames alongside the previous ones. It’s always helpful to verify these quickly.
The Renamer app is very useful for reorganizing your photo collections, music and other files. It also provides an option to Find and Replace the names of files on the selected storage system.
You will have to pay $19.99 to purchase a single user license. The Mac App Store offers several alternatives for a similar price. However, a better option would be to pay $9.99 per month for a SetApp subscription to enjoy free access to 190+ apps for macOS and iOS at this price.
Honestly, this is a much better deal than buying a single, equally expensive app with similar or advanced features.
Batch Rename is Easy
The biggest challenge when organizing data between folders and drives is dealing with filenames. A few renaming apps offer advanced features that you’ll usually use once a year, maybe eventually.
I use Gemini 2 and Commander One to manage and organize files (photos, music and documents) on different drives. Using Renamer for free is very easy and saves a lot of time as I already have a SetApp subscription.
Next: Want to edit your Mac’s menu bar? Manage those icons consuming a lot of space using these awesome menu bar apps from the next link.
