How to Quickly Rename Folders on Windows 11 and 10

How to Quickly Rename Folders on Windows

by Heinz Tschabitscher | Jan 4, 2026 | Windows Tips and Resources

Facing a desktop littered with “New Folder” and “Misc” clutter too, dreading the slow process of renaming the lot? Find out here how to quickly rename folders on Windows ⤓ using shortcuts, right‑click menus, and the classic command prompt.

First, Red, Red Sand

Between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers in Central Asia lies a vast sweep of crimson dunes, interrupted only by a turquoise and artificial lake. The Kyzylkum desert calls itself like it is: kyzyl kum means “red sand.”

No renaming needed here. What, though, if one of your Windows folders is begging for a new and better moniker?

How to Quickly Rename Folders on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Renaming in Windows Explorer

Time needed: 1 minute

To rename a folder fast on Windows:

  1. Open Windows File Explorer.

    Here’s how: You can select File Explorer in the Start menu, for example.
    Windows keyboard shortcut: Press Windows E to open Windows Explorer.

  2. Go to the folder that contains the folder you want to rename.

    Example: If you have a folder called “La De Da” in Documents, go to the Documents folder.

  3. Highlight the folder you want to rename.

  4. Now select its name for editing.

    Here’s how: Click the folder name (not the folder icon) once while the folder is selected.
    File Explorer keyboard shortcut: Press F2 to select the current name for editing.
    Using the toolbar or context menu: You can also select Rename in the Explorer toolbar or the folder’s context menu (you can click on the current name with the right mouse button to open the context menu).
    Click “Rename” in Windows File Explorer to rename a folder

  5. Type the name you want to use from now on for the folder.

    Example: Type La De Du to rename the “La De Da” folder.
    Their word: Microsoft include information on using Explorer in Windows help.
    Type to enter a folder’s new name in Windows File Explorer

  6. Press Enter.

Make something to rename: How to Create a New Folder in Windows (Incl. “mkdir”)

Using the Command Line to Rename Folders

To change the name of a folder in Windows PowerShell, CMD.EXE or the MS-DOS command prompt:

  1. Open PowerShell or CMD.EXE.
  2. Type move <current folder name> <new folder name>.
    Paths: If the folder you want to rename is not a folder in the current directory, you can use the full folder path (e.g., C:\Users\…) or, more conveniently, use cd to go to the enclosing folder.
    Whitespace: Surround folder names with quotation marks if they contain whitespace characters.
    Example: Type move 'La De Da' 'La De Du' to rename the folder called “La De Du” in the current directory.
  3. Press Enter.
    Renaming a folder in PowerShell on Windows 11

It’s a… new name!

⇆ Buy La De Du a tea

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How to Quickly Rename Folders on Windows 11 and Windows 10: FAQ

Can I rename a folder without opening its enclosing folder first?

Yes.

To change the name of the folder currently displayed in Windows File Explorer:

  1. Open the folder you want to rename in File Explorer.
  2. Take care that no items are selected.
    Here’s how: Press F5 or choose Select none in the toolbar.
  3. Select Properties in the toolbar.
    No “Properties”: Click the three dots See more button to reveal Properties.
  4. Edit the name as desired.
  5. Click OK.
    Use folder properties to change the folder’s name

(Tested with Windows 11 Version 25H2; first published November 2025, last updated January 2026)

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