How-To Geek
Bulk Rename Tool is a Lightweight but Powerful File Renaming Tool
There’s no need to settle for overly simplistic file renaming tools as long as Bulk Rename Tool is around. It’s lightweight, insanely customizable, portable, and sure to make short work of any renaming task you throw at it.
Bulk Rename Tool is a great portable application (available as an installed version if you crave context menu integration) that blasts through file renaming tasks. The main panel is intimidatingly packed with toggles and variables you can alter; this isn’t a one-click solution by any means. That said, once you get comfortable using the interface it’s lightening fast and extremely flexible. One tip that will save you an enormous amount of frustrating when you get started: make sure to highlight the files you want to change in the file preview window (located in the upper right corner) or else you won’t see the preview and won’t know if the changes you’re making in the control panel are yielding the file names you desire.
Hit up the link below to read more and grab a copy; Bulk Rename Tool is free, Windows only.
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Comments (33)
Jason Fitzpatrick is warranty-voiding DIYer and all around geek. When he's not documenting mods and hacks he's doing his best to make sure a generation of college students graduate knowing they should put their pants on one leg at a time and go on to greatness, just like Bruce Dickinson. You can follow him on Google+ if you'd like.
- Published 03/10/11




Wow does this prog look messy, but if it’s a free batch renamer then I’m in.
For OS X, try Renamer.I have been using it for years and it works great!
http://renamer.com/
I agree, it looks dauntingly messy… but I love the crap out of it. Once you get used to it, it’s so speedy and it’s so nice to not have to dig around in menus and such.
I haven’t tried this one, but Ken’s Rename (http://myprogramspace.blogspot.com/2008/07/krename-multi-file-rename-tool-v0.html) is also free and looks less messy (I’ve use it on a number of occasions and it worked quite well).
messy – check… but I just fell in-love.
There’s amok exif sorter too which is powerful… :D
Irfan View which is a free lightweight photo resizer/manipulator does the same things in addition to a couple of more nice features.
I also use Infranview for renaming as as well as various bulk graphic editing and viewing tasks. It is far more versatile than Bulk Rename Tool. I had no trouble learning how to use Infranview but BRT looks scary.
A.F.5 (http://www.fauland.com/af5.htm) is pretty good as well. free and less cluttered
been using this for years
I’ve been using this Bulk Rename Utility (not Tool) for years, I still get a bit confused with it.
It can also read exif data from jpgs and rename using that info.
The Java-based Actions tool can also perform bulk-renaming functionality, is also free and very fast, and looks much less intimidating. But I still might download this for a head-to-head comparison.
is there something similiar for the unix-world?
This is one of the shittiest UI I’ve ever seen in my life.
that interface is UGLY!
try wildrename:
http://www.cylog.org/utilities/wildrename.jsp
@ irf
I like the prog you linked to!
UI like that, I’d rather rename files on the Command Prompt.
A nightmare of an interface.
By the time you find the right option you can rename those files by hand.
@Tobiwan
you can try pyrenamer (if you use ubuntu you just need to sudo apt-get install pyrenamer)
A little TOO powerfull, it seems. I prefer lupasrename2000 (http://rename.lupasfreeware.org/)
I use pyRenamer under Linux…It works quite well, and has a preview feature so you can see your changes before you commit to any changes…
As Alton Brown would say, it’s a unitasker and I don’t like unitaskers.
I use the free TCC/LE from JP software:
http://www.jpsoft.com/tccledes.htm
It’s an extremely versatile command-line shell, with a rich set of functions. Sure, it’s overkill if all you want to do is rename files, but it can do a huge variety of other tasks, and I use it manyu times a day. I’ve scripted most of my common tasks — much easier than learning Windows Scripting Host.
Plus, it can’t take longer to learn TCC/LE than to figure out the user interface of the Bulk Rename Tol. That thing is BUSY!
Try this >> http://www.den4b.com/?x=products&product=renamer
I’ve been using this for two years now. It’snot messy, interface is simple and elegant. Has all the features the above software has and I believe there are more.. Also, I use this in UBUNTU using WINE, works fine.
I’m not looking for a replacement for RenameMaster.
I use FileMenu Tools
It has got many features
1of them is “Advanced Renamer” and it does the same and you can laso change extension in bulk.
I use Den4b’s ReNamer. Does everything that Bulk Rename Tool does, but fashionably—i.e. superior GUI. Of all the renaming freewares I come across, ReNamer is probably the only one with a sensible interface imo.
http://www.den4b.com/?x=products
i really do need help i want to know how i remove the aero as it blocks my default gateway as i keep getting these messages we cant sign you in so please help me as this is really getting me down
OK, the interface may look messy, but once you play around with it a bit to see what it does, it becomes much more intuitive than you might think. I use this thing all the time. Just remember to choose those files you want to rename first before jiggering with the changes.
Oops, also check the site for both a short tutorial and a manual.
I’ve been using Ant Renamer – http://www.antp.be/software/renamer/
Pretty simple and great program.
A wondrful piece of FREEWARE that has all the same functions but has a clean, logical layout is Lupas renamer.
Much better than this conffusing mess.
http://rename.lupasfreeware.org/
Might give this one a try, thanks. If there are any regex geeks reading, PFrank (http://www3.telus.net/pfrank/) is an excellent batch renaming tool too.
Fastone – apart from being the best FREE image viewer & editor – there is also a fantastic file renamer