How to Batch Rename Photos on Mac (Finder & More)

Batch renaming photos on a Mac lets you rename dozens or hundreds of files at once, saving you from the tedious task of renaming each one individually. This guide shows you how to do it using the built-in Finder app, plus a couple of alternative methods for more advanced needs. You’ll be able to add a custom name, insert a date, or create a sequential numbering system in just a few clicks.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac running macOS Mojave (10.14) or later – earlier versions have a similar but less flexible rename tool.
• The photos you want to rename, stored in a single folder on your Mac (they can be in subfolders, but Finder will only rename files in the same folder unless you select them from different folders).
• Time to review the new names – renaming is immediate and undoable only if you haven’t done other actions in between.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Finder and navigate to the folder containing your photos. You can use the Finder window’s sidebar or press Command+Shift+O to open the Pictures folder.
2. Select all the photos you want to rename. Click the first file, then hold Shift and click the last file to select a contiguous range, or hold Command and click each file to select non-adjacent ones. To select everything in the folder, press Command+A.
3. Right-click (or Control-click) on any one of the selected files. From the context menu, choose Rename X Items (where X is the number of files you selected). Alternatively, with the files selected, click the Rename button in the Finder toolbar (if visible) or press Enter – but note that pressing Enter renames only the first selected file, so use the right-click method.
4. In the pop-up window, you’ll see a dropdown menu at the top left. It defaults to Replace Text. Click it to see the three options:
   • Replace Text: Finds a specific string of characters in the current file names and replaces it with something else. For example, change “IMG” to “Vacation”.
   • Add Text: Inserts text either before or after the current name (without the extension).
   • Format: Gives you the most control – you can set a custom name, add a date, and apply a counter.
5. For most batch renaming, choose Format. Now set the options:
   • Name Format: Choose from “Name and Counter”, “Name and Date”, or “Name and Index”. “Name and Counter” is the most common – it adds a sequential number (e.g., 1, 2, 3…). “Name and Index” does the same but starts from 0 and you can set the starting number. “Name and Date” appends the current date (or the file’s creation date, depending on your choice).
   • Custom Name: Type the base name you want, e.g., “Beach Trip”.
   • Where: Choose where to place the number/date – after the name (e.g., “Beach Trip 1”) or before the name (e.g., “1 Beach Trip”).
   • Start Numbers At: (only for Counter/Index) Enter the starting number, usually 1.
   • Date/Time: (only for Date) Choose the format, e.g., “2025-01-15” or “15 Jan 2025 at 14.30”.
6. Click the Rename button. Finder will instantly rename all selected files. A progress bar may appear briefly for large batches.
7. Check the result. If you’re not happy, press Command+Z immediately to undo the rename (this works only if you haven’t done anything else after the rename).

Common Mistakes

• Selecting files from different folders: Finder’s rename tool only works on files in the same folder. If you select files from multiple folders, the rename option will be greyed out.
• Not checking the “Where” option: If you choose “before name”, your files will be named “1 Beach Trip.jpg” instead of “Beach Trip 1.jpg”. Double-check before clicking Rename.
• Overwriting existing files: If your new names collide with existing files (e.g., you have a file named “Beach Trip 1.jpg” already and your batch creates another), Finder will ask for confirmation. It’s safer to use a unique custom name or start the counter at a high number.
• Renaming the extension: The rename tool never changes the file extension (the part after the dot). It only renames the base name. That’s good – don’t try to change extensions this way.
• Using “Replace Text” with an empty “Replace with” field: This will simply delete the text you searched for, which might be what you want, but double-check the preview (Finder shows a live preview of the new name next to the old one).

Tips

• Use the preview: As you type, Finder shows a preview of the new name for the first file (e.g., “IMG_1234.jpg → Beach Trip 1.jpg”). Use this to verify your settings.
• Start with a copy: If you’re unsure, duplicate the folder first (right-click > Duplicate) and test on the copy.
• Include dates for sorting: Using “Name and Date” with the format “2025-01-15” will make files sort chronologically by name, which is handy for organizing trips.
• Use “Replace Text” to clean up: If your photos have names like “IMG_20250115_123456.jpg”, you can use Replace Text to remove “IMG_” or to change the underscore to a dash.
• Keyboard shortcut for undo: If you make a mistake, press Command+Z immediately. Finder does not have a “rename history” – once you do something else, you can’t revert.

Troubleshooting

“Rename X Items” is greyed out. This happens when you have files selected from different folders, or you have a folder selected (Finder can rename folders too, but not mixed with files). Make sure all selected items are in the same folder and are all files (or all folders).

The rename didn’t do anything. Check if you left the “Custom Name” field empty. If you choose “Name and Counter” and leave the custom name blank, Finder will just use the counter (e.g., “1.jpg”). Also check that “Start Numbers At” is set correctly – if you start at 1 but you already have files named “1.jpg”, you’ll get a conflict.

I renamed the wrong files. Immediately press Command+Z to undo. If you’ve done other actions since, you can try to restore from Time Machine or a backup, but that’s a last resort.

I need to rename files in subfolders too. Finder’s rename tool only works on the files you select, not recursively. You’ll need to go into each subfolder and repeat the process, or use a third-party app like “Name Mangler” or “A Better Finder Rename” that can process folders recursively.

The rename works but the files are out of order. Finder sorts files alphabetically before renaming. If your files are named “IMG_10.jpg”, “IMG_2.jpg”, etc., the counter will follow the alphabetical order, not the numeric order. To avoid this, rename them in a way that includes the original number (e.g., use “Replace Text” to change “IMG_” to “Trip_”), or sort by date before selecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I batch rename photos on a Mac without using third-party software? Yes, the built-in Finder rename tool (available since macOS 10.10) can rename multiple files at once with options for replacing text, adding text, or using a format with a counter/date.

Does batch renaming change the file format (e.g., from .jpg to .png)? No, the Finder rename tool never changes the file extension. It only renames the base name. To change the format, you need to convert the files using an image editor or a converter.

Can I undo a batch rename? Yes, if you do it immediately after the rename (before doing any other action), press Command+Z. If you’ve done other things, the undo history is gone.

How do I rename photos with a date in the filename? Use the “Format” option and choose “Name and Date”. You can select the date format (e.g., “2025-01-15” or “15 Jan 2025”). The date will be the file’s creation date by default, but you can choose “Date Modified” or “Date Added” from the dropdown next to “Date”.

Can I batch rename photos on an external drive or SD card? Yes, as long as the drive is connected and the files are in a single folder. The rename process works the same as on the internal drive.

What if I want to rename photos with a pattern like “IMG_001.jpg” to “Vacation_01.jpg”? Use the “Replace Text” option: find “IMG_” and replace with “Vacation_”. Then, if you need a different numbering, you can use “Format” with a counter, but you’ll lose the original numbers. To keep the original numbers, you’d need a more advanced tool.

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