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How to Batch Rename Multiple Files Simultaneously on a Mac

Renaming multiple files on your Mac can be a tedious and time consuming task if done manually one by one. However, macOS provides some easy ways to batch rename multiple files simultaneously, saving you a lot of effort. As a long time Mac user with over 10 years of experience, here is my guide on the quickest methods to batch rename files on your Mac.

Use the Built-in Batch Rename in Finder

The easiest way to batch rename files is using the built-in batch rename functionality in Finder. Here are the steps:

  • Open Finder and navigate to the folder containing the files you want to rename.
  • Select all the files you want to rename by clicking on the first file, then Shift-clicking on the last file to select a continuous range or Command-clicking on individual files.
  • Right click on any selected file and choose Rename X Items from the context menu. Alternatively, you can also click the Action button (gear icon) in the Finder toolbar and select Rename X Items.

This will open the batch rename window with renaming options:

Replace Text

You can find and replace specific text in the file names. Useful for removing or changing common words.

Add Text

Adds text before or after the existing name. Good for adding prefixes or suffixes.

Format

Offers advanced naming formats like name-index, name-date etc. Most flexible option.

The batch rename window provides a live preview so you can see exactly what the new names will look like before committing the change.

Use Third Party File Renaming Software

While Finder’s batch rename gets the job done for basic renaming, third party apps provide more advanced controls and flexibility for power users. Here are some excellent file renaming software for Mac:

1. Better Rename

Better Rename is a very powerful batch renamer for Mac and the best alternative to the popular Bulk Rename Utility on Windows. It lets you create multi-step rename sequences with over 100 actions to manipulate file names and paths.

2. NameChanger

NameChanger provides an intuitive interface to batch rename files with support for wildcards, regex, changing case, adding sequences and more.

3. Renamer

Renamer makes it easy to instantly rename multiple files using shortcuts and saved templates. It has a minimal interface but powerful engine.

4. A Better Finder Rename

A Better Finder Rename integrates directly into Finder and adds advanced batch renaming options including regex support.

Pay attention to user reviews and choose one that best fits your specific renaming needs.

Use Automator to Create Custom Batch Renaming Service

You can use Automator to set up a custom service that will show up in Finder’s right click menu for renaming files.

Here are the basic steps:

  • Open Automator and create a new Service workflow
  • Add a Rename Finder Items action
  • Configure the rename settings
  • Save the workflow as a service

Now you can right click on any files in Finder, choose Services and access this automated renaming workflow.

Rename Files in Terminal Using the mv Command

For advanced users comfortable with the command line, the Terminal offers the most flexibility (but complexity) in batch renaming files.

The mv command can be used to rename one or multiple files in a single command by passing the current and new file name as argument.

Some examples:

// Rename file.txt to new-file.txt
mv file.txt new-file.txt

// Rename all .png files by adding prefix
mv *.png prefix-.png

// Batch rename files numbered sequentially
for f in *.jpg; do mv "$f" "new-${f}"; done

With some shell scripting knowledge, you can create renaming scripts to handle complex global file transformations.

Conclusion

I hope this detailed guide gives you a good overview of the various options available to batch rename multiple files simultaneously on your Mac. Automating this repetitive task can save you a lot of time and effort over manually renaming files one by one.

The key options covered include:

  • Built-in batch rename in Finder
  • Third party apps like Better Rename
  • Custom services via Automator
  • Command line batch renaming in Terminal

My personal recommendation would be to try the Finder batch rename first for basic renaming needs. If you need more advanced functionality, Better Rename offers the best balance of power and ease of use.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I have extensive experience in efficiently managing a large number of files on the Mac using these renaming tools and techniques.

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