Renaming an open file is often restricted by the operating system but depends on factors like the operating system and how the application locking the file handles access. When an application opens a file, it frequently obtains an exclusive or shared lock to prevent conflicts and data corruption. Renaming the file while locked usually fails because the system sees it as an in-use resource, effectively preventing the operation within the same file system location. However, specific applications (like media players) might permit renaming, particularly on systems like Linux where files are referenced by inodes rather than names.

For example, attempting to rename a currently open Microsoft Word document using File Explorer typically results in an error message stating the file is in use by another program. Conversely, you might successfully rename an open MP4 media file being played by VLC on Linux/Unix systems. This is because VLC accesses the file via its underlying identifier and continues playing even if the visible name changes in the directory listing.

The ability to rename an open file offers flexibility in workflows where changing names concurrently is beneficial. However, its limitations involve potential data loss risks if applications crash or if renaming occurs during critical operations, making it vital to proceed cautiously. This behavior remains largely OS and application-dependent, with no widespread future shifts expected, so users should save work and close files before renaming as the safest practice, especially for critical documents.