Batch renaming allows you to change the names of multiple files simultaneously within Windows File Explorer, rather than editing each file individually. This saves significant time when managing groups of files sharing common elements. Unlike manual renaming, File Explorer’s built-in feature applies a new naming pattern sequentially to all selected files at once, either using basic sequential numbering or by replacing specific text fragments present in all the original filenames.

A common use case is organizing photos from an event. You might select all the files representing "Vacation2024", then batch rename them to a consistent format like "BeachTrip_001.jpg", "BeachTrip_002.jpg", etc. Similarly, a project manager could rename 50 monthly report files from "report_jan.xlsx", "report_feb.xlsx" to "Q1_Summary_report_01.xlsx", "Q1_Summary_report_02.xlsx" for better quarterly grouping.

The primary advantage is massive time savings and achieving consistent naming conventions for easier searching and sorting. Key limitations include the inability to create highly complex new names requiring advanced patterns, conditionals, or metadata use. For more sophisticated renaming needs, such as extracting dates from filenames or complex patterns, tools like PowerShell scripts or third-party bulk rename utilities offer greater power. File Explorer provides a quick, accessible solution for fundamental tasks.