How to Rename Multiple Files on Mac

How Do You Select Multiple Files for Renaming in Finder?

Finder supports three selection methods for building your rename batch. Click and drag creates a selection rectangle around visible files. Shift click selects every file between two anchor points. Command click adds or removes individual files from the current selection. All three methods work in Icon, List, Column, and Gallery views.

The selection count appears in the Finder status bar at the bottom of the window. Verify this count before opening the rename dialog to confirm you have the correct files selected. Finder does not provide a way to filter selections by file type, size, or date from the rename dialog itself, so accurate selection beforehand is essential.

What Are Finder's Three Rename Modes?

Replace Text mode performs a simple string substitution. Enter the search term and the replacement term, and Finder applies the change to every selected file that contains a match. The operation is case insensitive by default. Finder does not support regular expressions, partial occurrence targeting, or case sensitive matching in this mode.

Add Text mode places new text before or after the existing filename. Select "Before Name" or "After Name" from the dropdown, type your text, and Finder applies it to every selected file. Format mode replaces the entire filename with a custom base name and appends a counter. You choose the starting number and whether the counter appears before or after the base name.

What Can Finder Not Do When Renaming Multiple Files?

These limitations become apparent when your renaming task involves patterns. Restructuring filenames like "IMG_20260301_1234.jpg" into "2026_03_01_Photo_1234.jpg" requires regex capture groups that Finder does not support. Renaming photos by camera model or lens requires EXIF metadata access that Finder cannot provide. Converting filenames from UPPERCASE to lowercase requires case transformation that Finder's rename dialog omits entirely.

Batchio's find and replace with regex handles every pattern that Finder cannot. The composable rule system lets you stack multiple transformations in sequence, and the live preview shows every result before you commit. For tasks beyond Finder's capabilities, a dedicated app saves significant time and eliminates guesswork.

How Do You Rename Multiple Files with Different Extensions?

Mixed extension batches are common when renaming files from different sources. A folder might contain .jpg, .jpeg, .png, and .heic files that all need consistent naming. Finder treats the extension as untouchable, applying rename operations only to the portion before the final dot. This works well for simple text replacement but prevents you from standardizing extensions across file types.

Batchio separates extension handling into its own dedicated rule type. You can convert all .jpeg files to .jpg, change .PNG to .png for consistency, remove double extensions, or replace extensions entirely. This rule works alongside all other rule types, so you can rename the filename and fix the extension in a single operation.

What Is the Best App for Renaming Multiple Files on Mac?

Batchiobridges the gap between Finder's simplicity and Terminal's power. Beginners use the visual rule builder to construct rename patterns without learning regex syntax. Advanced users toggle regex mode for full pattern matching with capture group references. Every change is visible in the live preview before you commit, eliminating the guesswork that makes Terminal renaming risky.

The free version of Batchio includes all 9 rule types with no file count limit. The Pro upgrade at $4.99 adds saved presets for repeat workflows, folder automation with watch folders, a Finder Quick Action for right click renaming, and Apple Shortcuts integration.

Frequently Asked Questions