One of the most useful and most unknown tools in the Mac file explorer, Finder. Function that the beta versions of Windows are currently adopting through power toys. Due to its great time savings, the possibility of massively renaming files on Mac, also integrated into the system itself, is a feature to take into account when we need to take advantage of the possibilities of our bitten apple computer.
In today's article we will learn how to use this Finder function, with which we can rename a huge number of files at a stroke. We can even perform the operation with variables, such as sequential numbers, for example.
This function It has been available in the Mac operating system for years, so your team will surely have it integrated. However, it is a function that, despite being located in a fairly accessible and intuitive place, in most cases We simply do not use it because we are unaware of its existence.
Despite this, also we will present you a third-party application that is capable of performing this operation. The main advantage of using this is that it will give you some extra points regarding the use of variables, but we will see that later.
How to Bulk Rename Files on Mac with Finder
The easiest way to mass rename files on Mac is from the own function that includes Finder. To find it, it will actually be very simple. It will be enough to select several items, to later make use of the right mouse click. This is the way we do not usually proceed to rename a file. Normally, due to the use we have made of this function throughout the history, we have always right-clicked on an isolated item, rarely on a selection of several.
Once we have the context menu on our screen by having right clicked, All we have to do is click on the “rename x items” option. This will open a small window where we will have some simple options to follow a generic name change for all the selected items.
By default, the type of renaming by format will be shown. This method will rename all files to a format we set, for example a date and time. We can then attribute a sequential number to all the others, to logically avoid duplication.
Then we will have another option, this one more recommended to rename files massively on Mac, at least from my point of view. Is about use a generic name for all of them, followed by a sequential number. This option is called "Rename." In the small screen that is shown to us, we can select the text of the new file name for our selection. We can also adjust the sequential number at which it will start. Also We can make variations in the format, so that it is displayed next to the name by adding it as part of the text, or leaving it empty to follow our system's preferences regarding whether or not to show file extensions.
When we have completed the massive file renaming screen to our liking, We will only have to click on "Rename". This process could take a few seconds if we have selected a large number of files, or if we are making the massive change from external media and not directly on the system's local disk.
How to rename files with a third-party application
One of the third-party applications that can perform this operation, and almost the only one currently active in the Mac App Store, since The possibility of doing it natively reduces the need to look for an external alternativeit's Rename It.
This application will be able to perform the same functions as the native macOS utility. However, will have some additional features, such as Possibility of moving files after renaming. It is not a very notable feature. Its main strong point is that this, unlike the native utility of the Mac system, is that Yes, you can change file extensions in bulk. This way, if we have many images, for example, we can rename them and leave them all in a standard format. This is really the only compelling reason to use it.
The bad news about using this third-party app to bulk rename files on Mac is that this is a paid application. Although its price is low, the fact of competing with a free and native function that already comes with our computer means that very few users go through the hoop of purchasing it. In my personal case, and given that its interface is old and its availability in the Mac App Store may be discontinued at some point, I would not recommend purchasing it. We can really do everything we need in terms of bulk file renaming from the native Finder function.
See Rename It on the Mac App Store
Price: €2,99
Other ideas to rename files massively
As an additional point, and between native and third-party functions, We have one of the possibilities that we can always go through to do anything, Shortcuts.
From a shortcut, which will also be compatible with iOS devices if we have created it properly, we can perform a massive file renaming. At this point we will have great advantages, such as being able extract files from the Photo Library, give them a generic format with the current date and time, for example, or even removing it from its metadata. We will also have the functions of move files once they are renamed, For example. We can even manage to replicate the strong point of the third-party application that we have seen previously, managing to change the file extensions.
It may take us considerably longer to configure and prepare our shortcut. Despite this, if It is a function that we use regularly, it will be something that will save us time later and give us a lot of comfort when doing it. We encourage you to try it on your Mac, iPad or iPhone, to learn firsthand the possibilities we have to carry out this and other similar processes, because as we have seen during the article, Many times we don't use features simply because we don't know they are there.