How to Rename Files and Folders in Linux (mv and rename)

Applies to: mv and rename on Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and other Linux systems

Linux has no separate “rename” command for single files: you rename a file or folder by moving it to a new name with mv. For many files at once there is rename, which works differently on Debian-based and Red Hat-based systems. We tested every example on Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 13 and AlmaLinux 9.

Rename a file or a folder

mv old-name.txt new-name.txt
mv old-folder new-folder
mv "my file.txt" my-file.txt       # quote names that contain spaces

Renaming a folder with mv works the same as a file; you don’t need -r.

Don’t overwrite by accident

If the new name already exists, mv replaces it without asking. Use:

mv -i report.txt final.txt    # ask before overwriting
mv -n report.txt final.txt    # never overwrite

If the new name is an existing folder, mv moves the item into that folder instead of renaming it.

Rename many files at once

Ubuntu and Debian use the Perl rename, which takes a search-and-replace expression. Install it with sudo apt install rename if it is missing:

rename -n 's/\.JPG$/.jpg/' *.JPG    # -n shows what would change
rename 's/\.JPG$/.jpg/' *.JPG       # do it
rename 's/ /-/g' *                  # replace spaces with dashes

AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and RHEL have the simpler rename from util-linux: text to find, replacement, then the files:

rename -nv .JPG .jpg *.JPG          # dry run, show changes
rename .JPG .jpg *.JPG

Check which one you have with rename --version.

Rename with a loop (works everywhere)

for f in *.jpeg; do mv -n -- "$f" "${f%.jpeg}.jpg"; done

Rename in cPanel or an FTP program

In cPanel’s File Manager, select the file or folder and click Rename. In FileZilla, right-click it and choose Rename.

More examples: rename multiple folders from the command line and rename files and folders to lowercase.