How to Rename Files in Bulk for Free: Complete Guide

You don't need expensive software to rename files in bulk. Here are all the free methods available.

Free Method 1: Windows Built-in

File Explorer 1. Select all files (Ctrl+A) 2. Right-click → Rename 3. Type base name 4. Press Enter

Files become: name (1).jpg, name (2).jpg, etc.

PowerShell Free and powerful. Open Terminal and:

powershell
# Add prefix
Get-ChildItem *.jpg | Rename-Item -NewName { "prefix-" + $_.Name }

# Replace text
Get-ChildItem | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace 'old', 'new' }

Free Method 2: Mac Built-in

Finder Batch Rename 1. Select files in Finder 2. Right-click → Rename... 3. Choose rename type 4. Apply

Options: Replace text, Add text, Format

Terminal

bash
# Rename all jpg to photo-n.jpg
n=1; for f in *.jpg; do mv "$f" "photo-$n.jpg"; ((n++)); done

Free Method 3: Web-Based

File Renamer AI Free tier available for basic renaming: 1. Go to [File Renamer AI](/app) 2. Upload files 3. AI generates names 4. Download renamed files

The only free tool with AI-powered naming.

Free Method 4: Free Software

Windows - **Bulk Rename Utility** - Completely free - **Ant Renamer** - Free, open-source

Mac - **Transnomino** - Free Mac app - **Finder** - Built-in, free

Linux - **rename command** - Built-in - **thunar-archive-plugin** - GUI option

Comparison: Free Bulk Rename Methods

| Method | Ease | Power | AI | |--------|------|-------|-----| | Windows Explorer | Easy | Low | No | | PowerShell | Hard | High | No | | Mac Finder | Easy | Medium | No | | File Renamer AI (Free) | Easy | High | Yes | | Bulk Rename Utility | Medium | Very High | No |

When Free Tools Are Enough

Free tools work great for: - Simple pattern replacements - Adding prefixes/suffixes - Sequential numbering - Basic text changes

When You Might Need More

Consider upgraded tools when: - You want descriptive AI-generated names - You need regular automation - You process thousands of files daily

The Best Free Option

For most users, File Renamer AI offers the best free experience: - AI-powered naming (unique to this tool) - No installation required - Works on any platform - Free tier for basic needs

Try File Renamer AI Free - Smart bulk renaming at no cost.