Rename-Item
Renames an item in a PowerShell provider namespace.
Syntax
Rename-Item
[-Path] <String>
[-NewName] <String>
[-Force]
[-PassThru]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[-UseTransaction]
[<CommonParameters>]
Rename-Item
-LiteralPath <String>
[-NewName] <String>
[-Force]
[-PassThru]
[-Credential <PSCredential>]
[-WhatIf]
[-Confirm]
[-UseTransaction]
[<CommonParameters>]
Description
The Rename-Item
cmdlet changes the name of a specified item. This cmdlet does not affect the
content of the item being renamed.
You can't use Rename-Item
to move an item, such as by specifying a path together with the new
name. To move and rename an item, use the Move-Item
cmdlet.
Examples
Example 1: Rename a file
This command renames the file daily_file.txt
to monday_file.txt
.
Rename-Item -Path "c:\logfiles\daily_file.txt" -NewName "monday_file.txt"
Example 2: Rename and move an item
You can't use Rename-Item
to both rename and move an item. Specifically, you can't supply a path
for the value of the NewName parameter, unless the path is identical to the path specified in
the Path parameter. Otherwise, only a new name is permitted.
Rename-Item -Path "project.txt" -NewName "d:\archive\old-project.txt"
Rename-Item : can't rename because the target specified represents a path or device name.
At line:1 char:12
+ Rename-Item <<<< -path project.txt -NewName d:\archive\old-project.txt
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (:) [Rename-Item], PS> Move-Item -Path "project.txt" -De
stination "d:\archive\old-project.txt"
This example attempts to rename the project.txt
file in the current directory to old-project.txt
in the D:\Archive
directory. The result is the error shown in the output.
Use the Move-Item
cmdlet, instead.
Example 3: Rename a registry key
This example renames a registry key from Advertising to Marketing. When the command is complete, the key is renamed, but the registry entries in the key are unchanged.
Rename-Item -Path "HKLM:\Software\MyCompany\Advertising" -NewName "Marketing"
Example 4: Rename multiple files
This example renames all the *.txt
files in the current directory to *.log
.
Get-ChildItem *.txt
Directory: C:\temp\files
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a---- 10/3/2019 7:47 AM 2918 Friday.TXT
-a---- 10/3/2019 7:46 AM 2918 Monday.Txt
-a---- 10/3/2019 7:47 AM 2918 Wednesday.txt
Get-ChildItem *.txt | Rename-Item -NewName { $_.Name -replace '.txt','.log' }
Get-ChildItem *.log
Directory: C:\temp\files
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a---- 10/3/2019 7:47 AM 2918 Friday.log
-a---- 10/3/2019 7:46 AM 2918 Monday.log
-a---- 10/3/2019 7:47 AM 2918 Wednesday.log
The Get-ChildItem
cmdlet gets all the files in the current folder that have a .txt
file
extension then pipes them to Rename-Item
. The value of NewName is a script block that runs
before the value is submitted to the NewName parameter.
In the script block, the $_
automatic variable represents each file object as it comes to the
command through the pipeline. The script block uses the -replace
operator to replace the file
extension of each file with .log
. Notice that matching using the -replace
operator is not case
sensitive.
Parameters
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | cf |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Credential
Note
This parameter is not supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.
Type: | PSCredential |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | Current user |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Force
Forces the cmdlet to rename items that can't otherwise be changed, such as hidden or read-only files or read-only aliases or variables. The cmdlet can't change constant aliases or variables. Implementation varies from provider to provider. For more information, see about_Providers.
Even using the Force parameter, the cmdlet can't override security restrictions.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-LiteralPath
Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it is typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.
For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules.
Type: | String |
Aliases: | PSPath |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | None |
Required: | True |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-NewName
Specifies the new name of the item. Enter only a name, not a path and name. If you enter a path that
differs from the path that is specified in the Path parameter, Rename-Item
generates an error.
To rename and move an item, use Move-Item
.
You can't use wildcard characters in the value of the NewName parameter. To specify a name for multiple files, use the Replace operator in a regular expression. For more information about the Replace operator, see about_Comparison_Operators.
Type: | String |
Position: | 1 |
Default value: | None |
Required: | True |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-PassThru
Returns an object that represents the item to the pipeline. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-Path
Specifies the path of the item to rename.
Type: | String |
Position: | 0 |
Default value: | None |
Required: | True |
Accept pipeline input: | True |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-UseTransaction
Includes the command in the active transaction. This parameter is valid only when a transaction is in progress. For more information, see about_Transactions.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | usetx |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.
Type: | SwitchParameter |
Aliases: | wi |
Position: | Named |
Default value: | False |
Required: | False |
Accept pipeline input: | False |
Accept wildcard characters: | False |
Inputs
You can pipe a string that contains a path to this cmdlet.
Outputs
None
By default, this cmdlet returns no output.
When you use the PassThru parameter, this cmdlet returns an object representing the renamed item.
Notes
Windows PowerShell includes the following aliases for Rename-Item
:
ren
rni
Rename-Item
is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers
available in your session, type Get-PsProvider
. For more information, see about_Providers.
Related Links
PowerShell