Best File Renamer for Mac: Top Tools for macOS Sonoma & Ventura

Mac users have multiple options for batch file renaming - from built-in Finder to powerful third-party apps and AI-powered solutions. This guide covers the best file renamers for macOS Sonoma, Ventura, and earlier versions.

Built-in Mac Options

Finder Batch Rename

macOS Finder includes native batch renaming:

How to Access: 1. Select multiple files 2. Right-click → "Rename..." 3. Choose renaming method

Three Options:** - **Replace Text: Find and replace in file names - **Add Text**: Add prefix or suffix - **Format**: Sequence numbers, dates

Pros: - No installation needed - Simple interface - Reliable, Apple-supported

Cons: - Limited options - No regex support - No EXIF/metadata - No content-based naming

Best For: Quick, simple batch renames

Automator Workflows

Automator allows custom renaming workflows:

Creating a Rename Workflow: 1. Open Automator 2. New → Quick Action 3. Add "Rename Finder Items" action 4. Configure renaming rules 5. Save as Quick Action

Pros: - Powerful automation - Custom workflows - Right-click integration

Cons: - Complex setup - No live preview - Steep learning curve

Best For: Repeated, complex renaming tasks

Terminal (Advanced)

For technical users, bash commands offer raw power:

bash
# Simple rename: add prefix
for f in *.jpg; do mv "$f" "vacation-$f"; done

# Lowercase all files
for f in *; do mv "$f" "${f,,}"; done

# Remove spaces
for f in *\ *; do mv "$f" "${f// /-}"; done

Pros: - Maximum flexibility - Scriptable - Works on any Mac

Cons: - Requires technical knowledge - No undo - Easy to make mistakes

Best For: Developers and power users

Third-Party Mac File Renamers

Renamer (Best Overall Mac App)

Renamer is the most popular dedicated Mac file renamer.

Features: - Chain multiple renaming actions - Save renaming workflows - Preview before applying - EXIF data support - Regex support

Pricing: $19.99 one-time

Pros: - Beautiful Mac-native design - Powerful action chaining - Excellent preview - Good documentation

Cons: - Paid (no free version) - Learning curve for advanced features

Best For: Mac users needing serious renaming power

A Better Finder Rename

Professional-grade renamer from longtime Mac developer.

Features: - 18+ renaming actions - Preview with undo - Droplets for automation - EXIF and audio tag support

Pricing: $24.95 one-time

Pros: - Very powerful - Long Mac history - Reliable updates - Excellent support

Cons: - Interface feels dated - Steeper learning curve

Best For: Professional photographers and power users

NameChanger (Free)

Simple, free file renamer for Mac.

Features: - Replace text - Add sequence numbers - Append/prepend text - Change case

Pricing: Free

Pros: - Completely free - Simple to use - No bloat

Cons: - Limited features - No EXIF support - No advanced options

Best For: Basic renaming needs on a budget

File Renamer AI (Best AI Solution)

File Renamer AI brings AI-powered renaming to Mac users.

Features: - AI understands image content - Generates descriptive names - Batch processing - Works in browser (Safari, Chrome)

Pricing: Free tier, Pro from $9.99/month

Pros: - Intelligent, content-based naming - No software to install - Works on any Mac - Impressive accuracy

Cons: - Requires internet - Best for images (not all file types)

Best For: Photographers who want intelligent, descriptive names

Tool Comparison

| Tool | Price | AI | EXIF | Ease | Power | |------|-------|-----|------|------|-------| | Finder | Free | ❌ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | | File Renamer AI | Free+ | ✅ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | NameChanger | Free | ❌ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | | Renamer | $19.99 | ❌ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | A Better Finder Rename | $24.95 | ❌ | ✅ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | | Terminal | Free | ❌ | ❌ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |

Choosing the Right Tool

For Quick Simple Renames → **Finder** - Built-in, reliable, fast

For AI-Powered Naming → **[File Renamer AI](/app)** - Understands content, web-based

For Regular Batch Work → **Renamer** - Best Mac-native experience

For Free Power User → **NameChanger** + **Terminal** combination

For Professional Photographers → **Renamer** or **A Better Finder Rename** with EXIF support

Step-by-Step: Renaming on Mac

Using Finder (Quick Rename)

1. Select files in Finder (Cmd+A for all)
2. Right-click → "Rename..."
3. Choose "Replace Text"
4. Enter find/replace terms
5. Click "Rename"

Using File Renamer AI

1. Open filerenamerai.com/app in Safari
2. Drag photos to upload area
3. Wait for AI analysis
4. Review suggested names
5. Click Download

Using Renamer App

1. Drag files to Renamer
2. Add renaming actions (chain multiple)
3. Preview results in real-time
4. Click Rename when satisfied

macOS-Specific Tips

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Enter on selected file: Rename single file
• Cmd+Click: Select multiple non-adjacent files
• Shift+Click: Select range of files
• Cmd+A: Select all files in folder

Tags for Organization

Combine renaming with macOS tags: - Rename files descriptively - Add color tags for status - Use tag-based smart folders

Spotlight Integration

Well-named files are more findable: - Spotlight indexes file names - Descriptive names = better search - AI-generated names boost findability

Troubleshooting

"File in Use" Error

Solution: Close applications using the file, then retry

Permission Denied

Solution: Check file/folder permissions in Get Info

Finder Rename Grayed Out

Solution: Ensure you have write permission to the folder

App Can't See External Drive

Solution: Grant Full Disk Access in Privacy settings

Conclusion

Mac file renaming options range from simple to powerful:

• Start with Finder for basic needs
• Use [File Renamer AI](/app) for intelligent photo naming
• Upgrade to Renamer for complex batch operations

The right tool depends on your specific needs, but most Mac users are well-served by combining Finder for simple tasks with File Renamer AI for photo organization.

Try File Renamer AI - AI-powered file naming, works in any Mac browser.