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Rename files in subfolders from Excel
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If your files are spread across dated or product subfolders, you can rename them all in one pass without flattening the folder structure. Add the top folder, and Mass Rename lists every file with the folder it lives in — then renames each one in place, inside its own subfolder.
Add the whole folder, including subfolders
In step 2, click Add a whole folder → and pick the top folder with Include subfolders ticked. The file list shows a count like "1,240 files in 18 folders", and the preview gains a Folder column so you can see where each file sits. Renaming happens on disk, so the files keep their original dates.
Files are only ever renamed within their own folder. You cannot type a new name that moves a file to a different folder: a slash in the New name column is treated as an illegal character and that row is skipped, not guessed.
A mapping example with a Path column
Export the file names first, and the sheet gets a Path column. Fill in column C with the new names, and the folder stays as it is:
Path Old name New name
day1/ day1/IMG_0001.jpg day1/beach-01.jpg
day1/ day1/IMG_0002.jpg day1/beach-02.jpg
day2/ day2/IMG_0001.jpg day2/beach-01.jpgBecause two files can share the bare name IMG_0001.jpg in different folders, the Old name column uses the relative path. If a row only gives the bare name and matches files in more than one folder, those rows show up as ambiguous — add the folder to disambiguate.
Questions about renaming inside folders
Can it rename files that sit in different subfolders in one batch?
Yes. Add the top folder with Include subfolders ticked, and every file from every subfolder appears in one list. Each file is renamed inside its own folder, so a photo in day1/ stays in day1/.
How do I match a specific file when several folders have the same name?
Put the relative path in the Old name column, for example day1/IMG_0001.jpg. If you only write the bare name and it matches files in more than one folder, those rows are flagged as ambiguous instead of guessed.
Does it move files between folders?
No. The new name can only change the file name, not the folder. Files always stay in the folder they were found in; a slash in the new name is treated as an illegal character.
Why is there an extra Path column?
When files come from subfolders the exported list adds a Path column so each row names the exact file. That path is also what you can paste back into the Old name column to match it again.
How many files can I rename in subfolders for free?
The free tier covers 50 files per batch across all folders, the same limit as every other mode. Unlock to include the rest.
Renaming from a flat list instead? See renaming from a CSV, or build names from several columns with a multi-column template.