How to rename files on Mac: one file or a batch.
Finder is useful when you know the naming pattern. Local AI helps when a folder contains unrelated documents called Scan001.pdf, untitled.docx, and document (3).pdf. Here is how to choose and use each approach.
Free to download and use. One folder, four categories, automatic sorting, and undo. No time limit. Apple Silicon · macOS 14+
The quick answer
Rename one file in Finder
Select a file in Finder, press Return, type the new name, then press Return again. Keep the extension, such as .pdf, so the file continues to open in the expected app. Use Edit > Undo Rename immediately if needed.
Rename a batch in Finder
- Open the folder and select the files you want to rename.
- Control-click the selection and choose Rename.
- Choose Replace Text, Add Text, or Format.
- Check the filename example, then apply the change.
For example, Add Text can give project assets the same client prefix. Format can number a set of photos. These operations apply the pattern you specify; they do not read an invoice to discover its vendor or subject.
Apple’s Finder renaming instructions explain the available options.
Suggest names from document contents with OCDify
- Install OCDify from the Mac App Store on an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 14 or later.
- Complete the approximately 2.4 GB local model download, allowing at least 3 GB free space.
- Select a folder and define the categories that should receive your documents.
- With Full Unlock, enable Smart Rename for a small test folder of document copies. It applies descriptive names during organization.
- Run Organize Files, then check original and new filenames in History. Undo the rename, the move, or both if needed.
The model reads supported document text locally. It can suggest a descriptive name for a generic filename while preserving the extension. It keeps already meaningful names. The precise suggestion depends on the document; the examples below are illustrative.
| Original name | Document text | Suggested name |
|---|---|---|
| Scan001.pdf | Studio rent invoice for October | studio-rent-invoice-oct.pdf |
| untitled.docx | Northwind campaign project brief | northwind-project-brief.docx |
| Proposal_Northwind.pdf | Northwind proposal | Existing name kept |
Try Smart Rename in the interactive feature tour. The browser uses sample data; the actual language model runs in the Mac app.
What to check before renaming
Choose a naming convention you can search: client or vendor, document subject, and date when it matters. Keep the file extension. Review important documents and retain backups for files you cannot easily recreate.
OCDify’s seven-day History lets you undo a move, a rename, or both. Undo refuses to overwrite an existing file, and the file must still be at its recorded location. Organization only affects top-level files inside folders you explicitly select.
Supported content analysis includes readable PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, RTF, EPUB, CSV, XLSX, and PowerPoint documents. Scanned or protected documents may not have extractable text. With Full Unlock, local OCR can read scanned PDFs and text-bearing images; protected files may still be skipped. Media grouping uses file extensions rather than AI understanding of photos or audio.
Questions about renaming files
How do I rename multiple files on a Mac?
In Finder, select the files, Control-click the selection, and choose Rename. Use Replace Text to change a shared word, Add Text to add a prefix or suffix, or Format to give files a consistent base name with a counter. Review the example before applying the change.
Can AI rename files based on their contents?
Yes. OCDify reads supported documents with a local language model on Apple Silicon and suggests descriptive names for generic filenames. Smart Rename applies names while organizing and requires the one-time Full Unlock. Review original and new names in History. Meaningful names are kept, and document contents are not uploaded.
Can OCDify rename scanned PDFs?
With Full Unlock, Apple Vision reads scanned PDFs and text-bearing images locally before classification and renaming. OCR checks up to the first five PDF pages; protected or unreadable files may still be skipped.
Make the rest of the folder easier to find
Automatically organize your Downloads, learn how local file analysis stays private, or compare file organizers for Mac.
Start with one folder.
Download OCDify free from the Mac App Store and get started on your work documents.
Free to download and use: one folder, four categories, automatic sorting, and undo. Optional Full Unlock is available in the app.
Apple Silicon · macOS 14+