How to bulk rename video files on Windows

Renaming one video is easy. Renaming 800 of them, so that VID_20240301_183355.mp4, IMG_4471.MOV and export (3).mp4 become something you can actually find, needs a better method. This guide covers four free ways to bulk rename video files on Windows, from the simplest to the most powerful, and then a review-first approach for libraries where every name is different.

Before you rename anything

• Pick a naming convention first. A good default for personal video is YYYY-MM-DD Event - Detail.mp4, for example 2024-03-01 Sam's birthday - cake.mp4. Dates at the front sort correctly in any folder.
• Check what uses the files. Media servers, editing projects and playlists point to file paths. Renaming can break those links until they rescan.
• Test on a copy. Copy one folder somewhere safe and practise there.
• Know your undo. File Explorer supports Ctrl+Z straight after a rename. Most other tools keep their own undo or log.

Method 1: File Explorer (built in, very basic)

1. Open the folder and select the videos you want to rename (Ctrl+A for all).
2. Press F2, type a base name such as Holiday 2024, and press Enter.
3. Windows names them Holiday 2024 (1).mp4, Holiday 2024 (2).mp4 and so on.

It's fast, but every file gets the same base name, and you lose any useful information that was in the old names. It's fine for a folder of clips from one event.

Method 2: PowerToys PowerRename (free, from Microsoft)

Microsoft's free PowerToys adds PowerRename to the right-click menu. It does search and replace across many files with a live preview.

1. Install PowerToys and make sure PowerRename is switched on.
2. Select your videos, right-click and choose Rename with PowerRename.
3. Type what to find and what to replace it with. For example, find _ and replace it with a space.
4. Tick Use regular expressions for patterns. Check the preview column, then click Apply.

PowerRename can also insert the file's creation date using its date variables, which is handy for phone videos.

Method 3: Bulk Rename Utility (free for personal use)

Bulk Rename Utility looks intimidating, but it's very capable. Each numbered panel does one job, and they all apply together.

1. Browse to your folder in the left pane and select the files.
2. Use Replace (3) for simple swaps, such as underscores to spaces.
3. Use Remove (5) to strip a fixed number of characters or specific words.
4. Use Numbering (10) to add a sequence, or Auto Date (8) to add the created or modified date.
5. Use RegEx (1) for pattern-based renames (see below).
6. Check the New Name column, then click Rename. There's an Undo option in the menu if you need it.

Method 4: PowerShell (built in, fully scriptable)

If you're comfortable with a command line, PowerShell can rename thousands of files in seconds. Always preview first with -WhatIf.

Replace underscores and dots with spaces, keeping the extension:

Get-ChildItem "D:\Videos" -File -Include *.mp4,*.mkv,*.mov -Recurse |
  Rename-Item -NewName { ($_.BaseName -replace '[._]+',' ').Trim() + $_.Extension } -WhatIf

Put each file's last-modified date at the front:

Get-ChildItem "D:\Videos" -File -Filter *.mp4 |
  Rename-Item -NewName { $_.LastWriteTime.ToString('yyyy-MM-dd') + ' ' + $_.Name } -WhatIf

When the preview looks right, run the same command again without -WhatIf. PowerShell has no undo, so keep a list of old names first, for example with Get-ChildItem | Select Name | Export-Csv names.csv.

Useful regex patterns for video names

In Bulk Rename Utility, regex applies to the name without the extension unless you tick the option to include it. Tick v2 for the more modern regex engine.

When every file name is different: review-first renaming

Rule-based tools are brilliant when files follow a pattern. They struggle with a library built up over years from many sources, where each name is messy in its own way. That's the case SceneSort Pro is built for.

1. Scan your folders, including external drives and network shares.
2. SceneSort suggests a clean name for each file. It strips technical clutter, fixes separators and capitalisation, and recognises names it has learned.
3. Review the list. Accept, edit or skip each suggestion. Nothing is renamed until you approve it.
4. Apply. Every rename can be undone, and the same scan also finds duplicates and organises files into folders.

It runs entirely on your PC, with no account and no upload.

Quick FAQ

Will renaming a video change its quality?

No. Renaming only changes the entry in the file system. The video and audio inside the file are untouched, and so are its size and creation date.

Can I rename videos using their recording date?

Yes. PowerRename and Bulk Rename Utility can add the file's created or modified date. Be aware that copying files between drives can reset those dates. For phone videos, the date in the original name (like VID_20240301) is often the most reliable source, which is what the regex pattern above uses.

What about the extension?

Leave it alone. Changing .mkv to .mp4 doesn't convert the video. It just stops some players from opening the file. All the methods above keep the extension unless you tell them otherwise.

How do I avoid name clashes?

If two files would end up with the same name, most tools either refuse or add a number. Removing duplicates before a big rename avoids most clashes. See finding duplicate videos with different names.

Does it work on a NAS?

Yes, on a mapped drive or a network path. Renames over the network are slower, and other devices using the share may need to rescan afterwards.

More guides: all video library guides.