Rename file extensions in bulk, including files in subfolders

Bulk Rename Files

2/21/2015

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Batch Rename

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Rename file extensions in bulk, including files in

subfolders
by admin on July 3, 2012

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This post talks about how to rename file extensions in bulk using simple commands. No 3rd party tools are required. At the end of the
post, you can find a download link for the batch file script.

Change file extensions in bulk:

We can change the extension of files in the bulk using rename command. For example, you have set of files with extension .log and
you want to rename them to .txt. You can do this with the below command
rename *.log

*.txt

The drawback with this command is, we cant use it to rename file extensions recursively in the sub folders. Next, well look at a
solution which allows us to do so.

Recursively rename file extensions

If you want to rename files from one extension to another, recursively in all sub folders, then you can use the below command.
forfiles /S /M *.ext1 /C "cmd /c rename @file @fname.ext2"

For example, if you want to rename all xml files to txt files, the command would be as below
forfiles /S /M *.xml /C "cmd /c rename @file @fname.txt"

Remove file extensions

The below command would remove extension for the specified file types.
forfiles /S /M *.ext /C "cmd /c rename @file @fname"

If you want a batch file script, it can be downloaded from the below link:
Batch file script for renaming file extensions in bulk

Add prefix to file names

If you want to add any prefix to file names, it can be done as in the below example. Here we try to add photo to every jpg file in the
current folder and subfolders.
forfiles /S /M *.jpg /C "cmd /c rename @file photo@file"

Similarly, we can add a number to a file name.

forfiles /S /M *.jpg /C "cmd /c rename @file 99@file"

http://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-file-extensions-bulk/

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Rename file extensions in bulk, including files in subfolders

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Handling names with white spaces

If the new name you want to assign to the files has white space within it, it can be done by adding double quotes around the file name.
So that forfiles does not misinterpret this doublequotes, you need to escape them with \
For example to add pic.jpg to each of the jpg files, the command would be as below.
forfiles /M *.jpg /C "cmd /c rename @file \"@fname - pic.jpg\""

Additional Reading...
Batch file : How to get current directory
Batch file : ECHO command
Windows environment variables
{ 17 comments read them below or add one }
DPS Chawla February 24, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Great Thanks REgards
Reply
atul June 17, 2014 at 11:35 am
thanks for suggestion
Reply
devilJake June 18, 2014 at 4:08 pm
I want only the extensions of files starting with certain type of names to be renamed, within the folder as well as subfolders.
How can I do it?
For example:
rename all files starting with the name *-common.xml to *-common.xml.txt
The other .xml files have to be left intact.
Reply
admin January 14, 2015 at 8:18 pm
This should do
ren *-common.xml *-common.xml.txt

devilJake June 18, 2014 at 5:08 pm

Figured it by out myself.
forfiles /S /M *-common.xml /C cmd ren *-common.xml *-common.xml.txt
Reply
admin January 14, 2015 at 8:20 pm
If you are using forfiles, you donot need to use * again in the cmd part.
forfiles /S /M *-common.xml /C "cmd ren @file @file.txt"

http://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-file-extensions-bulk/

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Cathryne July 10, 2014 at 3:02 pm

Thanks for these hints

Is it also possible to include a space in the prefix? I tried the following:

forfiles /S /M *.jpg /C cmd /c rename @file photo location @file

=> The syntax of the command is incorrect
forfiles /S /M *.jpg /C cmd /c rename @file photo location @file
=> ERROR: Invalid argument/option
Reply
admin January 9, 2015 at 5:46 am
The file name need to be surrounded with double quotes if it has white spaces. Added example command to the post.
Volker September 25, 2014 at 9:13 am
I have here some files with ending like this
(1).txt
e.g. file_a(1).txt
I tried this forfiles /S /M *.ext1 /C cmd /c rename @file @fname.ext2 for renaming them to .txt
e.g. file_a.txt
Can you help me?
Reply
Will October 23, 2014 at 5:06 pm
The Add prefix to file names code is faulty. When I ran it, it keeps adding the prefix to all of the files in the folder over and over
again until I kill it.
Reply
admin October 24, 2014 at 12:02 am
It worked fine for me. Can you tell me how many files you have in the folder that you were intending to add the prefix?
Masim October 29, 2014 at 6:57 am
I just tried to rename midi karaoke files to midi files,
forfiles /S /M *.kar /C "cmd /c rename @file @fname.mid"

This doesnt work if the file name has spaces in it, (OS Win XP Sp3).
But I found other solution that works flawlessly
FOR /R %f IN (*.kar) DO REN "%f" *.mid

For more info:

https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/for.mspx?mfr=true
Reply
Ap.Muthu January 8, 2015 at 6:32 am
None of the websites including this has alluded to the renaming of files by removal a second extension.
If a folder contains several files like *.mo.po and *.mo as file extensions, how do we selectively rename the *.mo.po to *.po whilst
not touching the *.mo that were already there?
Reply
admin January 9, 2015 at 12:18 am
Try this command
forfiles /M *.mo.po /C "cmd /c rename @file @fname"

It works only if you dont have files with the same name and two different extensions.
ex: 1.mo.po and 1.mo. You would get error in renaming as a file already exists with the name.
Let us know if it works for your usecase.
steve szajko January 14, 2015 at 7:44 pm

http://www.windows-commandline.com/rename-file-extensions-bulk/

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A virus added .zwrkocj to all file types, how would I remove that?
Reply
admin January 14, 2015 at 8:15 pm
If it has converted files like file.ext to file.ext.zwrkocj then I think you can run the below to get back to original state.
ren *.zwrkocj *.

cta January 23, 2015 at 5:34 pm

How to append the name of the parent folder onto the prefix of the file name?
Reply
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