Comments on: How to batch change file extensions for Windows files

By: Darius

Darius — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:02:20 +0000

Thank you sir.

Im in process of building a site and need to change all ext from html to php.

Thx for this excellent article.

Regards,
D

By: Scuba Steve

Scuba Steve — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:32 +0000

To fix a directory containing files needing an extension in Windows 7 it is similar to Vista. No files can be selected/highlighted while doing this.

While holding Shift, right click in the directory containing the files, click on “Open command window here”. Type the following: “rename *. *.ext” Without the quotes and ext being the extension you want to use. This is assuming all files in the same directory need the same extension assigned.

By: C.J.

C.J. — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:04:51 +0000

For everyone using this program, PLEASE remember that this program simply changes the extension. It does not replace the process of converting files, such as music and video files. Those are files in a different format altogether. Look for a converter for the respected files instead of trying to rename them. It won’t work.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:29:46 +0000

If all the files are of the same extension then you can do it via the command prompt as well. I recently wanted to change a large (read 500+) group of .rar’s to the .cbr (comicbook reader) file extension. I simply navigated to the directory via the cmd prompt and did ren *.rar *.cbr worked like a charm in less than 10 seconds. Hope this helps.

By: habeyhl

habeyhl — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:23:59 +0000

Thanks for the heads up on Extension Renamer. It’s a little particular about your file structure (i.e., all the files in the directory it’s working on need to be of the same extension for it to work) – but it did the job!

Thanks,
-habeyhl
(follow me on Twitter @habeyhl)

By: Sweatyarmpit

Sweatyarmpit — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:56:05 +0000

@ Toy Yoda

Throw all the files that should be renamed in one folder. Shift+right click the folder and select “Open command window here”.

Insert the following:

ren *.0** *.jpg

All files should be renamed correctly…

By: badbob

badbob — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:06:19 +0000

Extension Rename works where commandline fails! Apps that generate thumbnail files for videos will create files like my_video.avi.jpg. I need it to be my_video.jpg.

ren *.avi.jpg *.jpg

does not work in this scenario but Extension Rename does. Cool!

By: Toy Yoda

Toy Yoda — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:10:32 +0000

This is pretty cool. But what do you do if your files have number padding? I tried using Extension Renamer and it does not allow for this. For example, if your files are named like the following, the program treats the numbers like the extension, but it is not the extension.

file.001
file.002
file.003
file.004

Everytime the program changes the file name into a jpeg it does this:

file.jpg

…as opposed to this:

file.001.jpg

Thus the program freezes. Does anyone have a workaround for this? It is especially frustrating if you have many images as part of an animation. The files need to be sequenced as above. But I often encounter a batchof images that have the number padding but not the extenion. What to do?

TX,

Toy Yoda

By: Corey

Corey — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:28:35 +0000

I have created a Excel picture file with pics and text. I am trying to take this file and transfer it to a photo sharing jpg. I am unable to do this as the file won`t show when i search in the browse my system from the sharing site. I am sure the extension is the problem and won`t display it. I still don`t know how to make it work and get the format i need for it. What can i do?

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:50:51 +0000

It’s been said in different ways from previous posters, but just to show another easy way on Vista to change multiple files that already have a file extension to a different file extension, do the following. As far as I know, this is the least amount of typing using command prompt to accomplish this task.

1) Shift + Right Click in the folder containing the files who’s file extensions you wish to change.

2) Inside the command prompt type “ren * *.(your file extension)”

So to change my .jpg files to .PNG I did “ren * *.png”.

…and presto, chango, all your file extensions now have been changed to the one you specified in the command prompt. To give credit where it’s due, I figured this out by fiddling with the code tsberry posted and adding the additional * before *.(your file extension).

What a great solution! Saves me SO much time. I wish I had found this out years ago…

By: Patrick Mc

Patrick Mc — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:47:44 +0000

You can use biterscripting (http://www.biterscripting.com for free download) for batch renaming files, also batch copying, moving, editing, deleting, files.

Patrick

By: hdjunkie

hdjunkie — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:57:35 +0000

How about run…cmd
cd wherever
rename *.new *.old?

By: azhar

azhar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:15:19 +0000

Hi! to all expert!

I have question in renaming files i.e. word or excel.

I usually do like this “right click” the mouse and choose rename… and then type a new file name without adding the extension file i.e. “.doc” for word and “.xls” for excel. And yet, everytime I rename a file I am prompted error such as “IF YOU CHANGE A FILE NAME EXTENSION THE FILE MAY BECOME UNUSABLE. ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT?” Yes or No!

I opted YES! then it changed different icon on my file(unrecognized icon) and certainly unusable as I could not open the file and says CORRUPT! when I rename it adding the extension file it works! i.e. the new file name in excel is Monthly Report so I have to type Monthly Report.xls – it works this way. BUT previously you don’t need to add the extension file and it will autoadd/fill when you save the file.

Does anyone has an idea? I am using Windows XP Professional (OS).

Any advise is very appreciated
azhar

By: dave seeley

dave seeley — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:06:30 +0000

I love you, man. thanks a million…files that is.

By: NR

NR — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:27:47 +0000

Sir, Thank you for the batch rename information. Like yourself, I would like to rename pic files that have no extension. I don’t understand how this can be accomplished with the Renamer utility. Seems as though I need an extension to begin with. Can you help?

Thanks
NR
Washington DC