Batch rename files on Mac with a name preview

Short answer

To batch rename files on Mac, select them in Finder, right-click and choose Rename. Yuzu Drag offers another route with a before-and-after preview and conflict checks: drag the files, open Actions, and drop on RENAME. Check the proposed names before applying a rule. Renaming changes your original files, not separate copies.

Shortcut note: These steps use the default drag shortcuts. While holding the files, briefly press and release ⌘ for Tools; tap it again for Actions. ⇧ opens Convert. If you changed the shortcuts in Yuzu, use your configured keys instead.

Renaming changes the originals. It does not create a separate set of converted copies. If another workflow depends on the current paths, think through that dependency before renaming an entire folder's contents.

Use Finder for an occasional rename

Finder's built-in batch rename is often enough for a one-time cleanup. Select the intended files, open their context menu, and choose Rename. Depending on the selected mode, Finder can replace matching text, add text, or build formatted names with a sequence.

1. Open the folder containing the files.
2. Select only the items that belong to the same naming job.
3. Right-click the selection and choose Rename.
4. Choose the mode and fill in the fields.
5. Read the example name before applying the change.
6. Inspect the renamed files in Finder.

Start with a few files if the selection includes important working material. A new name can be perfectly valid while still being the wrong name for your project. Finder's example helps explain the rule, but it does not replace checking that you selected the correct files.

Avoid changing filename extensions as a shortcut to changing a file's contents. A rename changes how the item is named, not how its data is encoded. Keep the extension unless you have a separate reason to correct it.

Rename through Yuzu Drag

Yuzu is useful if you already organize files through its drag wheel and want a preview of the selected names. Install it from the download page, then keep the menu-bar app running.

1. Begin dragging the selected files in Finder.
2. Tap ⌘ for Tools, then tap ⌘ again for Actions. A folder or a mixed-kind selection can open directly in Actions.
3. Drop on the RENAME wedge.
4. Choose Replace, Add, Number, or Case in the editor.
5. Wait for the names to finish checking.
6. Review the proposed changes and apply only when the selection and names are right.

The ⇧ tap opens Convert; it is not the rename command. Keep holding the drag while switching groups, then release over the action you intend to run.

What each rule controls

Replace exposes Find and Replace with fields. Use it for a repeated piece of text in the filename, such as an old project label. Check names that do not contain the search text as well as names that do. They may not change in the way you expected.

Add exposes Prefix and Suffix. For example, adding a project identifier can make a group easier to recognize without replacing its existing descriptive names. This is a naming example, not a processed sample.

Number exposes Start, a digit-padding control, and Before or After positioning. The digit control supports one through twelve digits. Review the preview for the actual numbering order; do not assume an unrelated Finder sort is the sequence the job received.

Case offers Original, lower, UPPER, and Title. This changes letter case in the names; it is not a way to distinguish two otherwise identical target paths on a typical case-insensitive volume.

Switching the rule resets the rule options. Treat the modes as separate edits rather than assuming text you entered in one mode remains active after you select another.

Read the preview before applying

The editor shows the first five before-and-after rows, with a count when more items are selected. A larger batch therefore requires more attention than the visible sample alone. The checking process covers the selection, but your own review of what the names mean still matters.

While a preview is refreshing, the editor reports Checking names…. Conflicts can appear as Name exists, Duplicate, or Invalid name. The primary action stays unavailable while the preview is stale or conflicting. Change the rule instead of trying to force the job through a conflict.

Folder access may also be required to rename an item. The editor can show Needs folder access or Folder access on Rename. Grant access only to the intended folder and check the selection again if you have moved files since starting the job.

Plan around changed paths

A rename is a filesystem change. References held by another app, a saved script, or a collaborator may use the old path. Renaming a deliverables folder just before a handoff can therefore create work even when the individual changes succeed.

Keep a record of the old names when that relationship matters. For a sensitive project, work on an appropriate backup copy first and confirm that downstream software can find the renamed items. Do not rely on a preview to discover dependencies outside the selected files.

The actions hub explains Yuzu's file-handling actions. If your immediate problem is simply holding items while switching to another app, the floating shelf guide covers that different job. Keeping temporary staging separate from renaming makes it easier to see which step actually changes your files.

Related links

• Browse the tools hub
• Read the guides
• Download Yuzu Drag