How to Batch Rename Files on Mac

Method 1: Finder's built-in Rename tool

1. Select all the files you want to rename.
2. Right-click and choose Rename (it shows how many items are selected).
3. Choose a mode from the first menu, fill in the fields, and check the example at the bottom.
4. Click Rename.

The three rename modes

• Replace Text swaps one piece of text for another in every name, for example "IMG_" to "paris-".
• Add Text puts text before or after each name, such as a client or project name.
• Format gives every file a new name plus an index, counter, or date. You pick the base name, where the number goes, and the starting number.

Made a mistake? Press Command-Z (Edit → Undo) right away to restore the old names.

Method 2: Rename with a Terminal loop

For patterns Finder can't handle, a short shell loop works. This example changes every .jpeg extension in the current folder to .jpg:

for f in *.jpeg; do
  mv -n "$f" "${f%.jpeg}.jpg"
done

The -n flag stops mv from overwriting a file that already has the new name. There's no undo in Terminal, so try it on a copy of the folder first.

Method 3: Batch rename with FinderBuddy

FinderBuddy's Rename tool sits in Finder's right-click menu and supports patterns, numbering, and find and replace in one place. It works on a few files or a folder of hundreds, and pairs well with its other tools. For example, you can convert iPhone photos to JPG and then give them clean, numbered names without leaving Finder.

Set it up in a minute, or see all the tools.

File naming tips that save time later

• Dates first, as YYYY-MM-DD. 2026-09-29-invoice.pdf sorts in date order automatically.
• Pad numbers with zeros. Use 01, 02… 10 so "10" doesn't sort before "2".
• Use hyphens, not spaces. Names like trip-rome-01.jpg work everywhere, including websites and the command line.
• Keep names short and descriptive. Say what the file is, not where it came from.

Numbered names also control page order when you combine files. See how to merge PDF files on Mac.