General
What is Drive File Renamer?
A web-based tool to rename multiple Google Drive files at once — pick files or a whole folder (subfolders included) through Google's own file picker, build a rename pattern from rules like find & replace/regex, case transforms, metadata insertion, prefix/suffix, date stamping, and sequential numbering, preview every change, then apply it — with full undo after.
Do I need to install anything?
No. There's no browser extension and no software to install. It runs entirely in your browser as a web app — sign in with Google, and you're in.
Does it work on Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, or Chromebook?
Yes — it's a web app, so it works on any device with a modern browser and internet access: Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone/iPad, or Chromebook.
Does Google Drive have a built-in bulk rename feature?
No. Google Drive has never shipped a way to rename more than one file at a time — you rename each file individually through the right-click menu, and that's been true for over a decade. That gap is exactly why bulk-rename tools like this one exist. See the full comparison of options on the alternatives page.
Security & privacy
Does it need access to my whole Google Drive?
No. Drive File Renamer requests only the narrow drive.file OAuth scope, which grants access exclusively to files you explicitly select through the Google Picker. It is technically incapable of listing, reading, or touching any file you didn't pick — including files you own but never selected.
Is my file content ever read or stored?
No. The app only ever reads and changes file names — never file contents. If you turn on metadata-based renaming, it reads file metadata (created/modified date, size, image EXIF fields) for files you've selected, but contents are never accessed or stored.
Can I revoke access after granting it?
Yes, at any time from myaccount.google.com/permissions. Access stops working immediately, and nothing about your existing files changes when you do.
Using the app
Is there a limit on how many files I can rename at once?
Free accounts can rename up to 50 files per run, with unlimited runs. Paid accounts have no per-run limit. Behind the scenes, any large selection is automatically processed in chunks of 250 files at a time, so you never need to split a folder into smaller selections yourself.
What happens if a file fails to rename?
The preview step color-codes every file before anything changes: blue means the name will change, gray means there's nothing to do, and red means the file couldn't be read or renamed (usually a permissions issue or a deleted file). Only files that succeed are written to Drive — a single failure doesn't block the rest of the batch.
Can I undo a rename?
Yes. Every applied batch is saved to history with the time, file count, and a couple of example old → new names. Click Undo on any entry to instantly revert every file in that batch. The last 20 batches are kept; older ones drop off automatically.
Does it mishandle filenames with decimal points, like some other Drive rename tools?
Not anymore — but it briefly did during internal testing, before this ever reached a real user. A file named exactly 100.00 exposed a bug where the .00 got treated as if it were a file extension (the same way .txt or .pdf is), so a suffix rule landed in the wrong place: 100_test.00 instead of 100.00_test. That's the identical bug pattern reported against other Google Drive bulk-rename tools. It was caught by deliberately testing an edge-case filename, never applied to a real file, and fixed by only treating a trailing .xxx as a real extension when it actually looks like one (letters, a handful of characters) rather than assuming every last dot marks a file type.
Can I rename files from a CSV or spreadsheet list?
Not as a direct import today — there's no CSV/spreadsheet upload. In practice, most "rename from a list" needs turn out to be one of the existing rule types in disguise: renaming by a changing number or pattern is regex find & replace, renaming in list order is sequential numbering, and renaming by a real file property is metadata insertion. Unlike a CSV-driven tool, there's no list file to prepare first — you just build the pattern once and it applies to every selected file.
Does it work with Shared Drive folders?
Yes, with one extra step: clicking a Shared Drive folder itself doesn't automatically pull in its contents — that's a Google Drive permissions rule tied to the narrow drive.file scope, not a bug. Open the folder in the picker first, then select the files inside (or press Ctrl+A once you're in).
Pricing
Is Drive File Renamer free?
Yes — the free plan allows up to 50 files per rename run, unlimited runs, every rule type, and full history/undo, with no hidden paywall. Paid plans remove the per-run file cap: $19.99 once, forever, or $7.99/month if you'd rather not commit — billed through Paddle.
Can I cancel a paid plan anytime?
Yes, through the Paddle customer portal link provided at checkout, or by emailing [email protected]. Refunds are available within 14 days of purchase.
Something not covered here? [email protected].